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DUP farewell to founder Paisley DUP farewell to founder Paisley
(30 minutes later)
The DUP leader Ian Paisley will hand over leadership of the party to Peter Robinson this weekend.The DUP leader Ian Paisley will hand over leadership of the party to Peter Robinson this weekend.
More than 350 people will attend a farewell dinner which the party is hosting for him in Belfast on Friday.More than 350 people will attend a farewell dinner which the party is hosting for him in Belfast on Friday.
DUP members will be joined by dignitaries including the Speaker of the House of Commons, the first minister of Wales and the NI secretary.DUP members will be joined by dignitaries including the Speaker of the House of Commons, the first minister of Wales and the NI secretary.
The £100 a plate dinner will signal the last official function for the only man ever to lead the DUP.The £100 a plate dinner will signal the last official function for the only man ever to lead the DUP.
You can watch the speech live on the BBC News website from 1930 BST.
On Saturday, he will hand over the reins to his successor, Peter Robinson, who must wait until next Thursday before following his political mentor as first minister.On Saturday, he will hand over the reins to his successor, Peter Robinson, who must wait until next Thursday before following his political mentor as first minister.
Merger
Speaking to the BBC earlier on Friday, Mr Paisley said he did not think there would be any need for two main unionist parties in the future.Speaking to the BBC earlier on Friday, Mr Paisley said he did not think there would be any need for two main unionist parties in the future.
Campaign
He said a DUP merger with the Ulster Unionists "would be hard to achieve".He said a DUP merger with the Ulster Unionists "would be hard to achieve".
However, he thinks the parties should co-operate during election campaigns.However, he thinks the parties should co-operate during election campaigns.
Mr Paisley has led the DUP since its formation in 1971. Peter Robinson has been deputy leader for 28 years, with one short break, and was appointed leader by unanimous decision of the party's assembly group.Mr Paisley has led the DUP since its formation in 1971. Peter Robinson has been deputy leader for 28 years, with one short break, and was appointed leader by unanimous decision of the party's assembly group.
BBC NI political editor Mark Devenport said: "On the verge of stepping down as DUP leader, Ian Paisley is in expansive form reflecting on his 40 years in politics.BBC NI political editor Mark Devenport said: "On the verge of stepping down as DUP leader, Ian Paisley is in expansive form reflecting on his 40 years in politics.
"Some may see him as the Dr No who became Dr Yes, but he believes his policy has remained the same."Some may see him as the Dr No who became Dr Yes, but he believes his policy has remained the same.
"He describes his decades of protest politics as very important and insists he only struck a deal once republicans met his bottom line on policing, disarmament and the use of violence."He describes his decades of protest politics as very important and insists he only struck a deal once republicans met his bottom line on policing, disarmament and the use of violence.
"However, he does concede that a bout of serious ill health in 2004 brought home to him that if he was going to achieve peace he had to do it quickly."However, he does concede that a bout of serious ill health in 2004 brought home to him that if he was going to achieve peace he had to do it quickly.
"On the future he reckons Peter Robinson will prove a very good successor. He regards a merger with the Ulster Unionists as hard to achieve, but wants both parties to work together to maximise the unionist vote.""On the future he reckons Peter Robinson will prove a very good successor. He regards a merger with the Ulster Unionists as hard to achieve, but wants both parties to work together to maximise the unionist vote."