Ian Paisley thanks supporters after surviving recall petition

Q Radio News / Press Association

Ian Paisley has thanked the voters of North Antrim for their "unwavering support" after Westminster's first ever recall petition fell short of the threshold required to unseat him.

The MP also hailed his family and "true friends" for sticking by him after he narrowly avoided a by-election.

Mr Paisley would have been ousted as an MP if 10% of the electorate in his North Antrim constituency - 7,543 voters - signed the petition. In the event 7,099 people signed it (9.4%).

The petition device, created following the Westminster expenses scandal, was initiated after Mr Paisley was banned from the House of Commons for 30 sitting days for failing to declare two 2013 family holidays paid for by the Sri Lankan government.

A parliamentary watchdog found in July that a year after the luxury holidays, Mr Paisley lobbied then prime minister David Cameron not to support a UN probe into alleged Sri Lankan human rights abuses.

LISTEN: Ian Paisley MP speaks to Q Radio news after recall petition fails to force a by-election:

In a statement Mr Paisley said the "electorate had spoken".

"In July I apologised for a mistake made almost six years ago."

"The electorate was asked to pass judgment. 90.6% have accepted my apology.

"The electorate has clearly spoken.

"I would like to thank my true friends, family, the electorate who have stood by me with unwavering support. Hallelujah."

The long-standing Democratic Unionist, whose late father the Reverend Ian Paisley founded the party, is currently suspended from the DUP pending its own internal investigation into his conduct.

Three centres were opened in North Antrim for the last six weeks to give voters the opportunity to sign the petition. Constituents were also able to put their name to the petition via post.

BREAKING: Chief Electoral Officer Virginia McVea has announced a petition to remove North Antrim MP Ian Paisley has been unsuccessful. 10% of the electorate (7,543 people) needed to sign to bring about a by-election. 9.4% signed, amounting to 7,099 people. pic.twitter.com/nKT0szURCM

— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) September 20, 2018

Northern Ireland's Chief Electoral Officer Virginia McVea announced the outcome in Belfast around 1.25am on Thursday morning after a count that commenced at midnight.

"The petition has not been successful," she said.

Ms McVea communicated the outcome to Speaker John Bercow's office in London before making the announcement. Mr Paisley, who was not there in person, was informed by text message.

Afterwards Ms McVea rejected criticism that has been levelled at her by Sinn Fein for only opening three centres where people could sign the petition, when the maximum permitted was 10.

She said there had been "unprecedented" access afforded, with the longest ever electoral period in the region and voters able to access postal ballots on demand.

Ian Paisley Jnr will retain his seat as North Antrim MP- a petition to remove him failed to gain enough signatures to force a by-election. Chief Electoral Officer Virginia McVea responds to criticism over having just 3 venues for signing. More on @qnewsdesk in the morning! pic.twitter.com/3VfdGOCcTX

— Simon Hunter (@simezsez) September 20, 2018

"There has never been access to an electoral event like that before," she said.

"And the three designated places were the three hubs within the North Antrim constituency. Legislation allows for one up to a maximum in any constituency of ten across the UK and we decided on three."

Ulster Unionist leader Robin Swann said it was clear there was no public appetite for a by-election.

"I respect that outcome," he said.

"However I would caution Ian Paisley not to see this as some sort of victory or endorsement of his actions in acting as a paid advocate for a foreign government and bringing North Antrim and the House of Commons into disrepute.

"Rather I would urge him to use the time that he has been suspended from Parliament and the DUP, to reflect on the severity of what he has done and the embarrassment he has brought on Northern Ireland. He should demonstrate some humility."

Mr Paisley's Commons ban has left current Prime Minister Theresa May shorn of one of her 10 DUP MP confidence and supply allies during a period that could witness several crucial Brexit votes.

IMAGE: Mr.Paisley apologised to the House of Commons in July

It has also given the DUP another headache at a time when the party is under intense scrutiny at public inquiry hearings in Northern Ireland examining its handling of the botched green energy scheme that brought down Stormont powersharing.

An investigation by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards found the cost of the hospitality afforded Mr Paisley and his family may have been "significantly more" than his £50,000 estimate.

It found the Sri Lankan holidays included business-class air travel, accommodation at first-class hotels, helicopter trips and visits to tourist attractions for the North Antrim MP and his wider family.

The trips also included meeting with Sri Lankan governmental figures.

Mr Paisley's threshold for registering such hospitality in 2013 was around £660.

In March 2014, Mr Paisley wrote to Mr Cameron to lobby against a proposed United Nations resolution setting up an international investigation into alleged human rights abuses in Sri Lanka.

In the wake of the watchdog report, Mr Paisley apologised for what he described as an "unintentional failure" to declare the holidays.

In the 2017 general election, Mr Paisley retained his North Antrim seat with a landslide 20,000-plus majority, securing nearly 59% of the vote.