Mr & Mrs Robinson

[Ulick]

Ziggy he may be referring to the fact that if the Assembly collapses then there will be an election in 6 weeks.

[Declan]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320473045429#ht_500wt_1182

[orangeman]

Telling a tale ?



Peter Robinson is backed by the DUP's assembly team 

The statement was read by Nigel Dodds, deputy leader of the DUP
The DUP's full assembly team have offered their leader Peter Robinson their support as he faces pressure to quit as NI First Minister.

He could be forced to resign after a BBC Spotlight programme on his wife, Iris's private life and finances.

But Nigel Dodds said Mr Robinson had their "wholehearted support" and they wished him to remain as their leader.

He was speaking as the first minister prepares to answer urgent questions at a special session of the NI Assembly.

Mr Dodds, the party's deputy leader, who had been tipped to take over as leader, said that despite attempts by elements of the press and the DUP's political opponents to force Mr Robinson from office, the party was firmly behind him.

He said they wanted him to express their "desire for him to remain in office as leader of the DUP".

The party deputy leader said that at a combined meeting of DUP MLAs, party officers, the parliamentary party and their European member, it was agreed unanimously to offer Mr Robinson their full support.

Ian Paisley snr and Ian Paisley jnr, along with Peter Weir, George Robinson and Ian McCrea were among the small number of DUP MLAs who remained in the assembly chamber while Mr Dodds delivered his party's statement in support of Mr Robinson.  

[Aerlik]

I think  what alot of folk on here don't seem to realise is the demographics of the DUP electorate.  They are for the most part blue-collared/unemployed/unemployable who have been brainwashed for the past 40-odd years by Eoin Mor and when the shit hits the fan, I doubt if they will change their stance.  In other words, I find it extremely unlikely that there will be a massive swing to either the TUV or to the UUP.  The DUP will IMO survive this on a platform of fear and anti-Irish/anti-catholic rhetoric.  And sure who knows there might even be a Loyalist parade arranged somewhere contentious to seal the deal.

[Ulick]

Looks like they are going to get Arlene Forster to take over as First Minister (temporarily).

[fairplay]

  Iris stands down as she claims she's nuts.

  Iris issues a statement re. her affair which took place 18 months ago.

  Peter states he found out about this affair when she was about to "top" herself 10 months ago.

  Spotlight are about to put the Robinsons under the "spotlight".

  It's all set up that whatever comes out,Iris will take the hit and in turn will put it down to  mental problems
  that she has been having.

  End result-Peter is still in power and Iris goes back to the kitchen sink

But will Panorama reveal tonight?

[ziggysego]

Dobbs has just made a statement. Peter Robinson has the full backing of the DUPs.

Eamon Mallie says there's a sting in the tail and twist in Dobb's statement. We'll know in 6 weeks...

?

Don't know what Mallie bes on about half the time.

20 mins ago he said the Peter has 6 hats and he should take 2 of the off. Is he losing it or being cryptic?

2 mins ago he said Hello Arlene, what a twist!

[orangeman]

Looks like they are going to get Arlene Forster to take over as First Minister (temporarily).

She'd need to mellow a bit from her performance on Nolan this morning.


Or maybe she's just what the DUP need at the minute to keep the electorate on side ??

[Ulick]

Don't know what Mallie bes on about half the time.

20 mins ago he said the Peter has 6 hats and he should take 2 of the off. Is he losing it or being cryptic?

2 mins ago he said Hello Arlene, what a twist!

I know what you mean. I got one of his twitters last week at two in the morning. I'd swear he was pissed as a fart because I couldn't make head nor tail out of it.

[Main Street]

Apart from the hypocritical escapades of the horny one, wider public interest would be minimal if there was no sex for sale.
Is there anything of substance to affect the influence of the fundamentalist religious political party with their electorate?
The fundamentalist sentiments of their electorate are not going to change are they?

[lynchbhoy]

the political environment in the 6 counties is one of polar jumps to the two main parties - dup and sf.
The people are still so suspicious of each other, the prev top two of uup and sdlp are now almost defunct.
if the dup start to slip, then there is a chance that the uup will be able to steal back their power as the main unionist side.
However unionist voters will not want to divide and split their vote and hand 'power' to sf.

so the dup need to have some fire and brimstone taig hating relic as figurehead. peter robinson had the past history to back up his reputation as a former taig hater who had changed his tack at least professionally to suit his new power sharing lead role.
if this dreaded vote of confidence is to precede robinson then standing down - after guaging opinion outwith and from within his own party, they will need an equally venomous figurehead to lead.
I'd suggest that arlene being female wont do it - unless the likes of paisley sr and co are convinced that they need to win the womens votes.
fenian hater campbell would be an obv choice.

the heat on robinson to abdicate will be from inside dup only - unless the charges of financial malpractice can be levelled at peter himself ...then he'd have to go.
the ordinary dup voter wont really give a fiddlers about financial impropriety and extra marital affairs  (I could say that half of the population would like to have the chance of both or either if possible).
this next few weeks will display what kind of power ian paisley still has in the dup...

[Bensars]

reports on Slugger

Speaker announced it a couple of minutes ago - Peter Robinson has written to Speaker to designate Arlene Foster to exercise the functions of the office of first minister

[spiritof91and94]

14:31
Peter Robinson designates Arlene Foster as first minister for a six-week period

[barelegs]

Foster to preform First Ministers role for 6 weeks.

After that a First Minister needs to be re- nominated.

If McGuinness isn't re-nominated as Deputy First Minister there will be new assembly elections.

[omagh_gael]

could this be Punt slipping away silently or will he re-emerge after the 6 weeks? Unlikely i think.