Peter Robinson steps down as First Minister!

[under the bar]

How many weeks until we read that headline?  Sammy next for the hot seat I'd say. 

[Maguire01]

It won't be Sammy. Possibly Arlene.

[T Fearon]

Wouldn't write Peter off yet,he has a Charlie Haughey like ability to withstand pressure and internal opposition.

[theskull1]

Tony has found a sidekick

[Aaron Boone]

Hypothetical then. Arlene for Fermanagh next up.

[BennyCake]

Hypothetical then. Arlene for Fermanagh next up.

Has Peter Canavan stepped down too?

[orangeman]

Hypothetical then. Arlene for Fermanagh next up.

Tommy Elliott to jump the ditch to the DUP and wear his UDR uniform to Stormont for all public engagements.

[All of a Sludden]

Northern Ireland's first minister Peter Robinson has come under fire for defending a pastor who made controversial comments about Muslims.

James McConnell of the Metropolitan Tabernacle in north Belfast, described Islam as "heathen" and "satanic", and said he did not trust Muslims.

Mr Robinson said he would not trust Muslims involved in violence or those devoted to Sharia law.

But he said he would "trust them to go to the shops" for him.

Police said they were investigating "a hate crime motive" after complaints about Mr McConnell's remarks.

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Mr McConnell made his remarks on Sunday 18 May, telling his congregation "a new evil had arisen" and "there are cells of Muslims right throughout Britain".

"Islam is heathen, Islam is satanic, Islam is a doctrine spawned in hell," he said.

He said he agreed with the late MP Enoch Powell, whose 1968 "Rivers of Blood" speech criticised immigration.

"Enoch Powell was a prophet, he called it that blood would flow on the streets and it has happened," he said.

Peter Robinson, Democratic Unionist Party first minister, who made the comments in an interview with the Irish News newspaper, has attended the evangelical church in the past.

'False prophesy'
Mr Robinson said that Mr McConnell had been demonised because of his remarks, and that there "isn't an ounce of hatred in his (the pastor's) bones".

Peter Robinson made his comments in an interview with the Irish News reporter John Manley
Peter Robinson made his comments in an interview with Irish News politics reporter John Manley
Mr Robinson said that it was a duty of any preacher to denounce what he described as "false prophesy".

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It's simply incredible... that someone with a duty to try and represent and protect the interests of all the people living in the place he is presiding over, should endorse these kind of words"

George Galloway MP
Respect
He went on to say that he would not trust Muslims either, particularly with regard to those who had been involved in violence, or those who are "fully devoted to Sharia law, I wouldn't trust them for spiritual guidance".

However, Mr Robinson said he would trust Muslims to "go down to the shops" for him or to deal with a number of other "day to day issues".

Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness of Sinn Féin called on Mr Robinson to show leadership in promoting equality, tolerance and mutual respect for all.

In response, Mr Robinson said on Twitter that he would not "take lectures from a self-confessed leader of a bloody terrorist organisation".

The two men have been meeting the Turkish ambassador on Wednesday.

Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers said: "I haven't seen Peter's comments in detail, but I feel that what Pastor McConnell said was wrong.

Theresa Villiers
Theresa Villiers said she condemned Mr McConnell's remarks
She added: "It's a matter for the first minister how he responds to these remarks - people obviously have different perspectives. For myself, I do condemn the remarks made by Pastor McConnell and don't believe they are justified - Islam is a peaceful religion."

A prominent member of the Muslim community said he was angered by Mr Robinson's support of the pastor.

'Utterly disgraceful'
Khalid Anis from the Islamic Society of Britain told BBC Radio Ulster's Nolan Show that he was shocked that a prominent politician in a position of leadership can speak "with such a double tongue".

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I seriously doubt that such sentiments will play well in a number of countries from which Invest NI are seeking to attract much-needed jobs and investment"

Danny Kinahan
Ulster Unionist Party
Mr Anis said that for a person in authority, like Mr Robinson, to make such remarks was "utterly disgraceful".

The Muslim Association of Britain said: "The pastor's comments not only hurt thousands of Muslims living peacefully in Northern Ireland, but also promote hatred and bigotry against all Muslims in the UK.

"The words of Mr Robinson demonstrate his lack of leadership, when as a representative he should be sensitive to the constituents he represents."

Respect MP George Galloway said Peter Robinson's comments "render him unfit to be the first minister".

"It's simply incredible... that someone with a duty to try and represent and protect the interests of all the people living in the place he is presiding over should endorse these kind of words," he said.

'Demeaning'
Ulster Unionist assembly member Danny Kinahan said Mr Robinson's comments had "caused a great deal of hurt and offence to many people".

"I do not believe that sweeping generalisations can be applied to an entire religion encompassing many hundreds of millions of people worldwide, and I seriously doubt that such sentiments will play well in a number of countries from which Invest NI are seeking to attract much-needed jobs and investment," he said.

Stewart Dickson of the Alliance Party said: "As first minister, Peter Robinson has a duty to represent the country and I am dismayed by his comments that he would only trust a Muslim to get him something from a shop.

"That is extremely demeaning and disrespectful to an entire religion."

Green Party leader Steven Agnew said: "Our first minister has sent out a message to the rest of the world that Northern Ireland is a closed and unwelcoming society."

[imtommygunn]

Be interesting to see if Cameron speaks up about this.

Once again though I suspect he won't be held accountable for anything.  Embarassment.

[give her dixie]

Its time Stormont was shut down as it is only a breeding ground for bigotry.

[AQMP]

Even by Robinson's standards some of this was pretty bizarre.

[armaghniac]

Green Party leader Steven Agnew said: "Our first minister has sent out a message to the rest of the world that Northern Ireland is a closed and unwelcoming society."

Well that's pretty accurate.

Calling a spade, a spade?

[All of a Sludden]

Its time Stormont was shut down as it is only a breeding ground for bigotry.

If Stormont was to close would it have much of an effect on the average industrial wage?

Unbelievable that neither the SDLP or even the lap dogs in Sinn Fein aren't calling for Robinson's head on this one.

[seafoid]

So many muslims pay the taxes that make the UK's 9bn subvention to NI possible.

Ulster really has the weirdest prod sects.

[imtommygunn]

It's a big status quo which no one wants to ruin though someone from SF has obviously been giving out some flak as he's been giving out on twitter about them.