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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Robinson to follow Paisley path | Robinson to follow Paisley path |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Peter Robinson will become the next Northern Ireland first minister when Ian Paisley steps down in May. | Peter Robinson will become the next Northern Ireland first minister when Ian Paisley steps down in May. |
| The East Belfast MP, 59, was the choice of the 36-strong Democratic Unionist Party assembly group on Monday. | The East Belfast MP, 59, was the choice of the 36-strong Democratic Unionist Party assembly group on Monday. |
| He will take over from the Rev Ian Paisley - with North Belfast MP Nigel Dodds as deputy leader. | He will take over from the Rev Ian Paisley - with North Belfast MP Nigel Dodds as deputy leader. |
| Assembly members unanimously agreed the joint nomination which will go to the party's 120-member executive committee on Thursday for formal ratification. | Assembly members unanimously agreed the joint nomination which will go to the party's 120-member executive committee on Thursday for formal ratification. |
| In a statement, the DUP assembly group revealed the joint nomination was proposed by East Antrim MP Sammy Wilson and seconded by Stormont Environment Minister Arlene Foster. | In a statement, the DUP assembly group revealed the joint nomination was proposed by East Antrim MP Sammy Wilson and seconded by Stormont Environment Minister Arlene Foster. |
| "We are respectful that the process is not complete. Therefore DUP representatives will be making no further comment until after the executive meeting on Thursday evening," it said. | |
| Mr Paisley, has led the DUP since its formation in 1971. Mr Robinson has been deputy leader for 28 years, with one short break. | Mr Paisley, has led the DUP since its formation in 1971. Mr Robinson has been deputy leader for 28 years, with one short break. |
| Mr Robinson becomes leader-designate until Mr Paisley officially stands down. | Mr Robinson becomes leader-designate until Mr Paisley officially stands down. |
| He is to meet the Republic's leader elect, Brian Cowen, later. | He is to meet the Republic's leader elect, Brian Cowen, later. |
| Mr Robinson has been an MP for almost 30 years. He is the party's main tactician and its director of elections during a period which has seen it forge ahead of the rival Ulster Unionists. | Mr Robinson has been an MP for almost 30 years. He is the party's main tactician and its director of elections during a period which has seen it forge ahead of the rival Ulster Unionists. |
| As finance minister, he has played a key role in the executive. | As finance minister, he has played a key role in the executive. |
| The low point of a highly successful political career was his arrest in Monaghan following the "invasion of Clontibret" in the 1980s and critics still raise his involvement with the Ulster Resistance Movement. | The low point of a highly successful political career was his arrest in Monaghan following the "invasion of Clontibret" in the 1980s and critics still raise his involvement with the Ulster Resistance Movement. |
| He is about to succeed a man whom he called "the best leader Northern Ireland ever had". | He is about to succeed a man whom he called "the best leader Northern Ireland ever had". |