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£1000 fine for DUP after 'administrative oversight' over Arlene Foster's appointment as leader

Failure to notify the Electoral Commission of Arlene Foster's appointment as leader has cost the DUP £1000. Picture by Niall Carson/PA Wire
Failure to notify the Electoral Commission of Arlene Foster's appointment as leader has cost the DUP £1000. Picture by Niall Carson/PA Wire Failure to notify the Electoral Commission of Arlene Foster's appointment as leader has cost the DUP £1000. Picture by Niall Carson/PA Wire
By John Manley

THE DUP has been fined £1,000 for failing to tell the Electoral Commission about its change of leadership.

Arlene Foster succeeded Peter Robinson as DUP leader in December 2015 but the party did not notify the electoral watchdog as required.

A DUP spokesman blamed "an administrative oversight".

"The Electoral Commission have indicated to us that they consider the matter closed," the spokesman said.

Mrs Foster's appointment was ratified by the DUP's 90-member executive on December 18 2015.