Fresh double jobbing row
I'm just off the phone from the East Belfast MLA Dawn Purvis who isn't happy about some new amendments the DUP have put down on her anti-double jobbing bill. The bill, which would stop MLAs also serving as councillors, was subject to a lengthy debate last month. It is due to go through what's known as its further consideration stage in the assembly next week.
Ms Purvis wants the ban to come into force in time for next May's Stormont and council elections. However a DUP amendment would delay the measure coming into force until May 2014. The DUP's Peter Weir says his party believes the end to dual assembly council mandates should be phased in, not introduced in "one fell swoop". Another DUP amendment would reduce allowances paid to councillors who are also MLAs during the period before the full ban comes into force.
I'm 
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