The UUP has hit out at the DUP and Sinn Fein for voting down a Special Advisers Bill which would have cut the number of Special Advisers (SPADs) posts and limited the amount they were being paid.

TUV leader Jim Allister put forward the bill which was supported by the UUP, SDLP and Alliance Party, however The DUP and Sinn Fein did not support the bill on Tuesday.

UUP leader Mike Nesbitt hit out at the "arrogance" of the two parties.

Mr Nesbitt said: "We cannot be ignorant to the fact that the big topic among the public this last week has been about a SPAD leaving an extremely well paid job and getting £45,000 'compensation' despite the fact that she is walking into another well paid job as an Assembly Member.

"The DUP seem to think they have a blank cheque amongst their voter base. That is not the message we are getting on the doorsteps where we are being told that the DUP are demonstrating total disrespect for the electorate.

"There was a real irony to watch Sinn Fein, the party of the Industrial Wage, putting their hands up to defend £92,000 plus salaries. The fact that Sinn Fein as a party benefits financially from each of its Special Advisers was of course not lost on the rest of us and the public will not be deceived either."

Alliance MLA Stewart Dickson said: "OFMDFM in particular needs reformed, as it currently contains eight SPADs. There is clearly something broken in the system when the Department with the smallest amount of practical responsibility has so many SPADs, while other Departments only have one. 

"There is no doubt openness and transparency needs increased in political life. Efficiency also needs improved, especially when we seek to make savings in many other areas. Reform of the SPAD system is an effective way to do this. 

"But while the DUP and Sinn Fein continue to argue publicly over a number of issues, it appears the only thing they can agree on is to protect their ridiculous numbers of SPADs."

(CD/LM)