North Antrim MP Ian Paisley is instructing Belfast solicitor Paul Tweed following newspaper allegations that he failed to declare £100,000 in hospitality from the Sri Lankan government.

The Daily Telegraph claims Mr Paisley and his family took two expenses-paid trips to Sri Lanka in 2013.

In a letter published on Mr Paisley’s Twitter account, Mr Tweed wrote: “My client totally denies the defamatory inferences arising from the article in today’s Daily Telegraph including those relating to his registration obligations as an MP.

“He has now referred this matter, and a full explanation, to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards.”

Mr Tweed, senior partner at TWEED, is one of Northern Ireland’s most senior defamation solicitors.

He recently parted ways with Johnsons Solicitors to set up his own boutique law firm in Belfast, Dublin and London.