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| Arlene Foster looks set to replace Peter Robinson as DUP leader in January | |
| (about 17 hours later) | |
| Arlene Foster looks set to be the next leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) as no other DUP member has put their name forward for the role. | Arlene Foster looks set to be the next leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) as no other DUP member has put their name forward for the role. |
| The current leader Peter Robinson said on Twitter that he will step down on 11 January, the day MLAs are due to return to Stormont after the Christmas break. | The current leader Peter Robinson said on Twitter that he will step down on 11 January, the day MLAs are due to return to Stormont after the Christmas break. |
| Mr Robinson added the deadline for nominations to replace him has passed and Mrs Foster is the only candidate.. | Mr Robinson added the deadline for nominations to replace him has passed and Mrs Foster is the only candidate.. |
| She said she is "up for the challenge" and will work with Sinn Féin. | She said she is "up for the challenge" and will work with Sinn Féin. |
| 'Exciting time' | 'Exciting time' |
| "I'm looking forward to leading the Democratic Unionist Party, if that's the will of the party, because I believe I have the vision, the ability to take the party forward into what I've said is the next 100 years of Northern Ireland," Mrs Foster said. | "I'm looking forward to leading the Democratic Unionist Party, if that's the will of the party, because I believe I have the vision, the ability to take the party forward into what I've said is the next 100 years of Northern Ireland," Mrs Foster said. |
| She added that it would be an "exciting time" for unionists because Northern Ireland celebrates the centenary of its foundation as a state in 2021. | She added that it would be an "exciting time" for unionists because Northern Ireland celebrates the centenary of its foundation as a state in 2021. |
| Mrs Foster is Northern Ireland's finance minister and has held a number of ministerial posts since 2007. | Mrs Foster is Northern Ireland's finance minister and has held a number of ministerial posts since 2007. |
| She is a former member of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) but opposed the 1998 Good Friday Agreement and defected to the DUP in 2004. | She is a former member of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) but opposed the 1998 Good Friday Agreement and defected to the DUP in 2004. |
| However, she told the BBC she was prepared to lead a government alongside Sinn Féin | However, she told the BBC she was prepared to lead a government alongside Sinn Féin |
| "I have worked with Sinn Féin, I recognise that they have a mandate in terms of the numbers that they have that give them seats in the executive," said said. | "I have worked with Sinn Féin, I recognise that they have a mandate in terms of the numbers that they have that give them seats in the executive," said said. |
| "I have worked there since 2007 as the minister of the environment, then as the minister for enterprise trade and investment and now the minister for finance. | "I have worked there since 2007 as the minister of the environment, then as the minister for enterprise trade and investment and now the minister for finance. |
| "I'll continue to work for what is right for Northern Ireland and what is good for the people of Northern Ireland." | "I'll continue to work for what is right for Northern Ireland and what is good for the people of Northern Ireland." |
| Mr Robinson said the proposal to endorse Mrs Foster as DUP leader will be "put to a specially convened meeting of the DUP electoral college" next Thursday, 17 December. | Mr Robinson said the proposal to endorse Mrs Foster as DUP leader will be "put to a specially convened meeting of the DUP electoral college" next Thursday, 17 December. |
| He said the electoral college's decision will then be put to the DUP's central executive committee, for "ratification immediately thereafter". | He said the electoral college's decision will then be put to the DUP's central executive committee, for "ratification immediately thereafter". |
| Earlier on Wednesday, DUP MP Sammy Wilson ruled himself out of the contest. | Earlier on Wednesday, DUP MP Sammy Wilson ruled himself out of the contest. |
| Mrs Foster has also been tipped to replace Mr Robinson as first minister of Northern Ireland. | Mrs Foster has also been tipped to replace Mr Robinson as first minister of Northern Ireland. |
| She has served as acting first minister on two occasions, when Mr Robinson stepped aside temporarily in 2010 and again earlier this year. | She has served as acting first minister on two occasions, when Mr Robinson stepped aside temporarily in 2010 and again earlier this year. |