Northern Ireland

DUP's Trevor and Linda Clarke to refer themselves for investigation after planning business concerns

DUP MLA Trevor Clarke with his wife, party councillor Linda Clarke
DUP MLA Trevor Clarke with his wife, party councillor Linda Clarke DUP MLA Trevor Clarke with his wife, party councillor Linda Clarke

THE DUP's Trevor and Linda Clarke say they will refer themselves for investigation over conflict of interest concerns within the planning process.

An Irish News investigation this week revealed South Antrim MLA Mr Clarke is running a sideline business lobbying on behalf of planning applicants.

It was also revealed his wife, a councillor for Antrim and Newtownabbey, did not declare an interest and continued to participate in votes for applications he lobbied on.

Mr Clarke earns thousands of pounds as a partner in Versatile Consultancy, which has been the agent for several applications in the Antrim area in recent years.

Files show correspondence between Mr Clarke and council officials about the applications, while a constituency office worker also sent emails "on behalf of Trevor Clarke MLA". He also spoke in favour of one application when it came before the council's planning committee this year.

DUP MLA Trevor Clarke with party leader Arlene Foster, and inset, how The Irish News revealed Mr Clarke's planning consultancy business
DUP MLA Trevor Clarke with party leader Arlene Foster, and inset, how The Irish News revealed Mr Clarke's planning consultancy business DUP MLA Trevor Clarke with party leader Arlene Foster, and inset, how The Irish News revealed Mr Clarke's planning consultancy business

The MLA, who has faced calls to "consider his position", rejected concerns that his business is a conflict of interest and breaches the assembly code of conduct, which prohibits paid advocacy.

Mr Clarke lost his assembly seat in March 2017's election, but was selected in June that year to replace Paul Girvan after he became an MP.

Mrs Clarke did not absent herself from a planning committee meeting in May 2017 when her husband made representations on two applications, and no declarations of interest were made, according to the minutes.

The applications did not involve Versatile but in correspondence on one of the proposals, Mr Clarke told officials he was "working alongside the agent who is currently out of the country".

The code of conduct requires councillors to withdraw from discussions where they have a "pecuniary interest, direct or indirect", and declare significant private or personal non-pecuniary interests.

The DUP's Trevor and Linda Clarke with party leader Arlene Foster
The DUP's Trevor and Linda Clarke with party leader Arlene Foster The DUP's Trevor and Linda Clarke with party leader Arlene Foster

The couple have declined to answer questions from The Irish News.

In a DUP statement issued late on Tuesday night, a spokesman on their behalf said: "Trevor and Linda Clarke will be asking the respective ombudsmen to investigate this matter.

"They will work with any statutory investigation to prove they made all the relevant declarations and adhered to all rules."

It is unclear how Mr Clarke intends to proceed with this, as Stormont's collapse means there has been no standards commissioner in post to investigate complaints against MLAs for nearly two years.

The former commissioner, Douglas Bain, has said the Secretary of State should intervene with legislation at Westminster to appoint a new commissioner.

The DUP did respond yesterday when asked whether the party would be pressing for the Northern Ireland secretary to make the appointment.

However in a statement, a DUP spokesman said: "It is important those in public office are seen to hold to the highest standards in transparency.

"Whether it is the Northern Ireland Local Government Commissioner for Standards or the Northern Ireland Assembly Commissioner for Standards, these are the proper mechanisms to investigate this matter.

"The party will consider the findings of any investigation."

Another of the planning committee members is DUP councillor John Smyth, who has worked in Mr Clarke's office.

A DUP spokesman for Mr Smyth has said he was unaware of Versatile and "at all times" considered applications "only on the planning merits of the case".

In a further statement from the DUP, Mr Smyth said he would "cooperate with any statutory investigation", but the party did not say if he intended to refer himself for investigation.

"At all times, I have acted in an open and transparent way. I reject any insinuations made against my character and will cooperate with any statutory investigation," he said.