East Antrim MLAs vote for free hot drinks at Stormont

In a decision far removed from the critical issues over the future of the entire Stormont edifice, MLAs on the Assembly’s Social Development Committee formally voted that it should be provided with hot beverages.

Alliance chief whip Stewart Dickson of Alliance told the session: “It might be helpful to have a cup of tea or coffee to commence the meeting.”

The TUV leader Jim Allister said that he thought members of the committee would “survive without it”.

He highlighted the amount involved, saying: “It costs £500 of taxpayers’ money.”

With considerable understatement, Ulster Unionist MLA Roy Beggs said: “It’s not the biggest problem we face at the moment.”

The committee’s Sinn Fein deputy chairman, Fra McCann, put it to members: “People in favour of the reintroduction of tea and coffee on the committee – can they put their hands up please?”

East Antrim representatives Roy Beggs and Stewart Dickson, along with North Belfast MLA Paula Bradley (DUP) all voted in favour.

The TUV’s Jim Allister, was the only MLA on the committee to vote against the proposal.