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| Robinson formally resigns as MP | Robinson formally resigns as MP |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Iris Robinson, wife of DUP leader Peter Robinson, has formally resigned as an MP, the Treasury has announced. | Iris Robinson, wife of DUP leader Peter Robinson, has formally resigned as an MP, the Treasury has announced. |
| The former Strangford MP has been at the centre of a cash procurement controversy. | The former Strangford MP has been at the centre of a cash procurement controversy. |
| Mrs Robinson has applied for the Chiltern Hundreds, the system used by MPs who wish to resign. | Mrs Robinson has applied for the Chiltern Hundreds, the system used by MPs who wish to resign. |
| She is also expected to leave her posts as an assembly member for Strangford and as a councillor for Castlereagh in the near future. | She is also expected to leave her posts as an assembly member for Strangford and as a councillor for Castlereagh in the near future. |
| However, a spokesman for the speaker of the Stormont Assembly confirmed on Wednesday that no letter of resignation from Mrs Robinson had been received by his office as yet. | However, a spokesman for the speaker of the Stormont Assembly confirmed on Wednesday that no letter of resignation from Mrs Robinson had been received by his office as yet. |
| At the weekend, the DUP said that Mrs Robinson was leaving the party and would be stepping down as an MP and MLA. | |
| Last month, she issued a statement saying she was leaving politics due to ill health; however, news that she was stepping down came earlier than expected. | |
| In response to a query from the BBC, a DUP party spokesman said Mrs Robinson's resignation letters were "being processed". | In response to a query from the BBC, a DUP party spokesman said Mrs Robinson's resignation letters were "being processed". |
| "Our priority has been the health of Mrs Robinson. Other individuals should take this into consideration. | "Our priority has been the health of Mrs Robinson. Other individuals should take this into consideration. |
| "As the resignations will take effect from the date on the letter, the day they are formally submitted should not be of concern," he said. | "As the resignations will take effect from the date on the letter, the day they are formally submitted should not be of concern," he said. |
| Meanwhile, Castlereagh Council will meet later to decide on the terms of its inquiry into the conduct of Mrs Robinson. | Meanwhile, Castlereagh Council will meet later to decide on the terms of its inquiry into the conduct of Mrs Robinson. |
| 'Establish the truth' | |
| Mrs Robinson, who is a Castlereagh councillor and a Northern Ireland Assembly Member, procured money from two property developers to help her teenage lover Kirk McCambley to open a cafe. | Mrs Robinson, who is a Castlereagh councillor and a Northern Ireland Assembly Member, procured money from two property developers to help her teenage lover Kirk McCambley to open a cafe. |
| She then attended the council meeting during which the cafe lease was awarded to Mr McCambley but broke the law by not declaring her financial interest. | She then attended the council meeting during which the cafe lease was awarded to Mr McCambley but broke the law by not declaring her financial interest. |
| Cllr Michael Copeland said the inquiry should be independent and transparent. | Cllr Michael Copeland said the inquiry should be independent and transparent. |
| Details of Mrs Robinson's financial and personal relationship with Mr McCambley, who runs the Lock Keeper's Inn cafe in south Belfast, were revealed in a BBC Spotlight programme last week. | Details of Mrs Robinson's financial and personal relationship with Mr McCambley, who runs the Lock Keeper's Inn cafe in south Belfast, were revealed in a BBC Spotlight programme last week. |
| ROBINSON STORY SO FAR 6 January: Peter Robinson says his wife Iris tried to take her own life last March after admitting an affair with teenager Kirk McCambley 7 January: BBC's Spotlight reveals details of Iris Robinson's financial affairs - she obtained £50,000 from two property developers to help her lover launch a café and asked him for £5,000 for herself 10 January: DUP says Iris Robinson is receiving acute psychiatric treatment 11 January: Peter Robinson steps aside from his role as first minister for a six-week period - DUP colleague Arlene Foster becomes acting first minister amid renewed focus on resolving her party's problems with Stormont power-sharing colleagues Sinn Fein Timeline: Robinson allegations | ROBINSON STORY SO FAR 6 January: Peter Robinson says his wife Iris tried to take her own life last March after admitting an affair with teenager Kirk McCambley 7 January: BBC's Spotlight reveals details of Iris Robinson's financial affairs - she obtained £50,000 from two property developers to help her lover launch a café and asked him for £5,000 for herself 10 January: DUP says Iris Robinson is receiving acute psychiatric treatment 11 January: Peter Robinson steps aside from his role as first minister for a six-week period - DUP colleague Arlene Foster becomes acting first minister amid renewed focus on resolving her party's problems with Stormont power-sharing colleagues Sinn Fein Timeline: Robinson allegations |
| Mr Copeland, who will chair Wednesday's night's council meeting, said that anyone who had watched the programme "could only conclude that Castlereagh must be seen in an open, transparent way to subject itself to investigation by an independent, outside body". | Mr Copeland, who will chair Wednesday's night's council meeting, said that anyone who had watched the programme "could only conclude that Castlereagh must be seen in an open, transparent way to subject itself to investigation by an independent, outside body". |
| The UUP councillor added that an inquiry was needed "to primary establish the truth, to examine the processes that Castlereagh Borough Council went through during the events referred to in the television programme and to rebuild the trust that is necessary between people who represent the electorate in bodies such as councils". | The UUP councillor added that an inquiry was needed "to primary establish the truth, to examine the processes that Castlereagh Borough Council went through during the events referred to in the television programme and to rebuild the trust that is necessary between people who represent the electorate in bodies such as councils". |
| He described that trust as "the basis and foundation of our democracy". | He described that trust as "the basis and foundation of our democracy". |
| Mr Copeland explained that councillors were expected to discuss the identity of the individuals or body which will conduct the investigation and set the terms of reference to which they must adhere. | Mr Copeland explained that councillors were expected to discuss the identity of the individuals or body which will conduct the investigation and set the terms of reference to which they must adhere. |
| He also said that the inquiry would have "financial implications for the people of Castlereagh" but said the issue was "of such importance that getting at the truth will be the primary objective". | He also said that the inquiry would have "financial implications for the people of Castlereagh" but said the issue was "of such importance that getting at the truth will be the primary objective". |
| The Alliance party group on Castlereagh Borough Council have already written to Northern Ireland's main public spending watchdog, the Comptroller and Auditor General, to ask for a full and independent inquiry. | The Alliance party group on Castlereagh Borough Council have already written to Northern Ireland's main public spending watchdog, the Comptroller and Auditor General, to ask for a full and independent inquiry. |