A DUP MP has been fined for breaking donation rules over fundraising dinners with top Tory Michael Gove. Ian Paisley has been fined £1,300 by the Electoral Commission over the breaches in finance rules relating to fundraising dinners.
He accepted money from two local councils to purchase tables at the event at the Tullyglass hotel in Ballymena in September 2017.
In addition to the fine, Mr Paisley has agreed to pay back a total of £2,600 to the two councils. As public bodies, councils are not permitted to donate to political parties under the terms of the Political Parties Elections and Referendums Act 2000.
The case hinged on whether the event in the heart of Mr Paisley's North Antrim constituency was a business-related event or a party
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