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| Robinson 'wanted' as DUP leader | Robinson 'wanted' as DUP leader |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Peter Robinson is an "outstanding leader of unionism" who the DUP wants to keep as its leader, acting first minister Arlene Foster has said. | Peter Robinson is an "outstanding leader of unionism" who the DUP wants to keep as its leader, acting first minister Arlene Foster has said. |
| Mr Robinson stepped down for six weeks to care for his wife Iris and clear his name amid claims over her finances. | Mr Robinson stepped down for six weeks to care for his wife Iris and clear his name amid claims over her finances. |
| Mrs Foster said her time as head of the NI administration was temporary. | Mrs Foster said her time as head of the NI administration was temporary. |
| Meanwhile, Gregory Campbell of the DUP restated the party view that there was not enough confidence in the community to devolve policing and justice powers. | |
| The devolution issue has caused a major rift between the DUP and Sinn Fein as Sinn Fein want the powers to be devolved immediately. | |
| However, on Tuesday Mr Campbell, the MP for East Londonderry, said: "The confidence in the community isn't there at the moment." | |
| "We have to work until it is and when it is and we can verify that, we then proceed - but not until then. It doesn't matter how many first ministers come and go, it doesn't matter how many scandals there are or aren't, that remains the issue." | "We have to work until it is and when it is and we can verify that, we then proceed - but not until then. It doesn't matter how many first ministers come and go, it doesn't matter how many scandals there are or aren't, that remains the issue." |
| Sinn Fein have warned that progress needs to be made quickly on the devolution issue or the power sharing government could collapse. | |
| Outlining her temporary role, Mrs Foster said: "After six weeks either Peter comes back or there is a new election to the Office of First Minister and Deputy First Minister." | Outlining her temporary role, Mrs Foster said: "After six weeks either Peter comes back or there is a new election to the Office of First Minister and Deputy First Minister." |
| She said that anyone in the party who was supporting the leader in public but saying they believed his position was untenable in off-the-record conversations to the press should "have the courage of their convictions and come out". | She said that anyone in the party who was supporting the leader in public but saying they believed his position was untenable in off-the-record conversations to the press should "have the courage of their convictions and come out". |
| "He is not stepping down, he is just stepping aside for a short period of time to deal with very understandable issues in relation to his wife and, indeed, the one political allegation that has been made against him," she said. | "He is not stepping down, he is just stepping aside for a short period of time to deal with very understandable issues in relation to his wife and, indeed, the one political allegation that has been made against him," she said. |
| In Northern Ireland politics, when all options appear to lead to a dead end, there's always a secret passageway if you know where to look The BBC's Jim Fitzpatrick Devolution pushed further towards edge | In Northern Ireland politics, when all options appear to lead to a dead end, there's always a secret passageway if you know where to look The BBC's Jim Fitzpatrick Devolution pushed further towards edge |
| On Monday night a BBC Panorama programme reported not all of the money received by Iris Robinson's young lover, Kirk McCambley, has been paid back to a property developer, Ken Campbell. | |
| Mr Campbell's solicitor said the money had been an interest-free loan of £25,000 and that £5,000 had still to be repaid, adding, "our client expects to be fully repaid and Mr McCambley's debt cleared." | |
| Mrs Robinson, the MP for Stangford, had obtained the £25,000 from Mr Campbell and a further £25,000 from another developer, the late Fred Fraser. She failed to register the transactions with the Westminster or Stormont authorities. | |
| The Northern Ireland assembly is to investigate the conduct of both Robinsons. | The Northern Ireland assembly is to investigate the conduct of both Robinsons. |
| The Committee on Standards and Privileges said an investigation would be conducted to see if any breaches of the assembly's code had occurred. | The Committee on Standards and Privileges said an investigation would be conducted to see if any breaches of the assembly's code had occurred. |
| Its chairman Declan O'Loan said: "It is clearly in the public interest that an official investigation is carried out in order to establish the full facts in relation to the issues raised in the BBC's recent Spotlight programme." | Its chairman Declan O'Loan said: "It is clearly in the public interest that an official investigation is carried out in order to establish the full facts in relation to the issues raised in the BBC's recent Spotlight programme." |
| Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he had talked with Mrs Foster on Monday evening. | Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he had talked with Mrs Foster on Monday evening. |
| "I urge all politicians in Northern Ireland, whatever the turbulence of recent events, to remain focused on the business of government, and to recognise the crucial importance of intensifying engagement in those issues which remain to be solved," he said. | "I urge all politicians in Northern Ireland, whatever the turbulence of recent events, to remain focused on the business of government, and to recognise the crucial importance of intensifying engagement in those issues which remain to be solved," he said. |
| FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme | |
| Earlier, the DUP assembly team said it offered Mr Robinson its "wholehearted support". | Earlier, the DUP assembly team said it offered Mr Robinson its "wholehearted support". |
| Other NI political parties seemed less than convinced by the DUP's shuffling of its decks. | Other NI political parties seemed less than convinced by the DUP's shuffling of its decks. |
| The DUP's chief critic Jim Allister said he suspected Mr Robinson's stepping aside may still be a precursor to his departure as DUP leader, whilst the Ulster Unionists claimed the appointment of Arlene Foster only intensified the crisis in public confidence in devolution. | The DUP's chief critic Jim Allister said he suspected Mr Robinson's stepping aside may still be a precursor to his departure as DUP leader, whilst the Ulster Unionists claimed the appointment of Arlene Foster only intensified the crisis in public confidence in devolution. |
| Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen welcomed Mr Robinson's decision to continue work on what he called the crucial issue of the devolution of justice and policing powers. | Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen welcomed Mr Robinson's decision to continue work on what he called the crucial issue of the devolution of justice and policing powers. |
| There was a fresh round of talks between the DUP and Sinn Fein on the issue on Monday night, and more discussions are expected on Tuesday. | There was a fresh round of talks between the DUP and Sinn Fein on the issue on Monday night, and more discussions are expected on Tuesday. |