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| Peter Robinson: Northern Ireland first minister to quit within weeks | Peter Robinson: Northern Ireland first minister to quit within weeks |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Peter Robinson will step down from his roles as Northern Ireland first minister and Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader within weeks, his party has confirmed. | Peter Robinson will step down from his roles as Northern Ireland first minister and Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader within weeks, his party has confirmed. |
| In an interview with the Belfast Telegraph, he said there are "massive pressures" involved in his work. | In an interview with the Belfast Telegraph, he said there are "massive pressures" involved in his work. |
| The 66-year-old suffered a heart attack in May, but has denied he made his decision to leave for health reasons. | The 66-year-old suffered a heart attack in May, but has denied he made his decision to leave for health reasons. |
| He took over as first minister and DUP leader from Ian Paisley in 2008. | He took over as first minister and DUP leader from Ian Paisley in 2008. |
| Read more: Peter Robinson - a life in Northern Ireland politics | Read more: Peter Robinson - a life in Northern Ireland politics |
| Mr Robinson is one of the founding members of the DUP and has had a political career lasting more than 40 years. | Mr Robinson is one of the founding members of the DUP and has had a political career lasting more than 40 years. |
| Target | Target |
| The party will hold its annual conference this weekend, and Mr Robinson said it would be "disrespectful" to members to give the impression he would be leading them into the next Northern Ireland Assembly election, set for May 2016. | The party will hold its annual conference this weekend, and Mr Robinson said it would be "disrespectful" to members to give the impression he would be leading them into the next Northern Ireland Assembly election, set for May 2016. |
| On Wednesday, Mr Robinson and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness announced they had struck a political deal with the British and Irish governments to end a near-three-month crisis at Stormont. | On Wednesday, Mr Robinson and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness announced they had struck a political deal with the British and Irish governments to end a near-three-month crisis at Stormont. |
| That deal included an agreement on the devolution of corporation tax powers to Northern Ireland's ruling executive, which had been a long-term target for Mr Robinson. | That deal included an agreement on the devolution of corporation tax powers to Northern Ireland's ruling executive, which had been a long-term target for Mr Robinson. |
| He told the newspaper: "I have told the party officers that I don't intend to fight the next assembly election for a wide range of reasons and not simply because those objectives have been achieved. | He told the newspaper: "I have told the party officers that I don't intend to fight the next assembly election for a wide range of reasons and not simply because those objectives have been achieved. |
| "I very much take the two-term view of politics at the top." | "I very much take the two-term view of politics at the top." |
| Achievement | Achievement |
| Mr McGuinness said he considered Mr Robinson to be a friend, and added they had a "good working relationship" during more than seven years of leading the executive together. | Mr McGuinness said he considered Mr Robinson to be a friend, and added they had a "good working relationship" during more than seven years of leading the executive together. |
| "We've managed to do what a previous administration under both the SDLP and Ulster Unionists couldn't do - they collapsed on three occasions and we have never collapsed. | "We've managed to do what a previous administration under both the SDLP and Ulster Unionists couldn't do - they collapsed on three occasions and we have never collapsed. |
| BBC News NI political editor Mark Devenport | BBC News NI political editor Mark Devenport |
| This confirms what has been almost an open secret within DUP circles. | This confirms what has been almost an open secret within DUP circles. |
| The suggestions were that once the recent political negotiations had concluded, Peter Robinson would be looking towards his retirement. | The suggestions were that once the recent political negotiations had concluded, Peter Robinson would be looking towards his retirement. |
| "That's a pretty incredible achievement given that we're talking about the DUP and Sinn Féin. | "That's a pretty incredible achievement given that we're talking about the DUP and Sinn Féin. |
| "I will remember him as the man who was the key architect, along with Ian Paisley, in bringing the DUP into the [Northern Ireland political] institutions." | "I will remember him as the man who was the key architect, along with Ian Paisley, in bringing the DUP into the [Northern Ireland political] institutions." |
| Successors | Successors |
| Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers said Mr Robinson had been a "central figure" in politics for more than four decades. | Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers said Mr Robinson had been a "central figure" in politics for more than four decades. |
| "He has championed the interests of Northern Ireland with unparalleled effectiveness, determination and dedication," she said. | "He has championed the interests of Northern Ireland with unparalleled effectiveness, determination and dedication," she said. |
| "Peter was key to the agreement reached this week and he can be rightly proud of his contribution." | "Peter was key to the agreement reached this week and he can be rightly proud of his contribution." |
| Lord Morrow, the DUP chairman, said Mr Robinson had been the "tactician behind all of the major advances" made by the party in the last 15 years. | Lord Morrow, the DUP chairman, said Mr Robinson had been the "tactician behind all of the major advances" made by the party in the last 15 years. |
| "He has led our party and our country through some of the most delicate and difficult phases of the political process," Lord Morrow added. | "He has led our party and our country through some of the most delicate and difficult phases of the political process," Lord Morrow added. |
| "There were times when lesser men would have given up and simply walked away, but Peter endured and has worked hard for the people of Northern Ireland." | "There were times when lesser men would have given up and simply walked away, but Peter endured and has worked hard for the people of Northern Ireland." |
| Enormity | Enormity |
| Mr Robinson suggested in the interview that two separate successors could take on his roles. | Mr Robinson suggested in the interview that two separate successors could take on his roles. |
| Many within the DUP expect North Belfast MP Nigel Dodds to become party leader and Arlene Foster, the current finance minister, to become first minister. | Many within the DUP expect North Belfast MP Nigel Dodds to become party leader and Arlene Foster, the current finance minister, to become first minister. |
| Mr Dodds said Mr Robinson had been a "towering figure" in the party since its foundation who had made "huge personal sacrifices in the service of others". | Mr Dodds said Mr Robinson had been a "towering figure" in the party since its foundation who had made "huge personal sacrifices in the service of others". |
| "Mere words cannot convey the enormity of the thanks owed to Peter by the DUP and by everyone who values progress in Northern Ireland," he said | "Mere words cannot convey the enormity of the thanks owed to Peter by the DUP and by everyone who values progress in Northern Ireland," he said |
| "He has dedicated his life to the defence of the union and to building a better life for our people." | "He has dedicated his life to the defence of the union and to building a better life for our people." |
| Goodbye | Goodbye |
| Liam Clarke, the Belfast Telegraph's political editor, who spoke to the first minister, said Mr Robinson had wanted to "make a good legacy". | Liam Clarke, the Belfast Telegraph's political editor, who spoke to the first minister, said Mr Robinson had wanted to "make a good legacy". |
| "The party officers have asked him to remain on until the assembly is on a firm footing, which he reckons will probably be the new year," he said. | |
| "He wants to complete a few little things, but he's not talking about a really long goodbye." | "He wants to complete a few little things, but he's not talking about a really long goodbye." |
| Alliance Party leader David Ford, said Mr Robinson's decision to step aside had been "the worst-kept secret in politics". | Alliance Party leader David Ford, said Mr Robinson's decision to step aside had been "the worst-kept secret in politics". |
| "He has played a very significant part in Northern Ireland politics," he said. | "He has played a very significant part in Northern Ireland politics," he said. |
| "In the early years, some of us thought that was fairly detrimental - in recent years he's been more positive. | "In the early years, some of us thought that was fairly detrimental - in recent years he's been more positive. |
| "We will see over the coming months exactly what [Mr Robinson's] legacy will be." | "We will see over the coming months exactly what [Mr Robinson's] legacy will be." |
| Modernised | Modernised |
| Jim Allister, a former DUP MLA who broke away from the party to form the Traditional Unionist Voice, said Mr Robinson was "undoubtedly quite tetchy and doesn't like being challenged". | Jim Allister, a former DUP MLA who broke away from the party to form the Traditional Unionist Voice, said Mr Robinson was "undoubtedly quite tetchy and doesn't like being challenged". |
| "But it would be churlish not to say that he has been a good politician," Mr Allister added. | "But it would be churlish not to say that he has been a good politician," Mr Allister added. |
| Prof Jon Tonge, who co-authored a major academic study on the DUP, said Mr Robinson was leaving with a "strong track record" having "modernised" the party. | Prof Jon Tonge, who co-authored a major academic study on the DUP, said Mr Robinson was leaving with a "strong track record" having "modernised" the party. |
| He added: "There's a significant legacy there and there are no big wins ahead, so it's a logical time to stand down." | He added: "There's a significant legacy there and there are no big wins ahead, so it's a logical time to stand down." |