Mrs Robinson grew up in a working-class area of east Belfast. She was first elected councillor for Castlereagh Borough Council in 1989 and served three times as mayor. Elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly she has served as member for Strangford since 1998; acting as deputy whip for the DUP and health spokesperson.

Mrs Robinson is an Evangelical Pentecostalist and has described herself as a born again and again Christian. Her expressed views on homosexuality caused controversy last year and led to her being dubbed "Wicked witch of the north" and voted as "UK bigot of the year 2008" by gay rights association Stonewall.

In April this year, both Iris and Peter Robinson came under fire after Commons MPs' expenses accounts were leaked to the press. The couple were branded "swish family Robinson" after claims that they were receiving £571,939.41 a year in various salaries and expenses, with a further £150,000 in salaries being paid to four of the couple's family members.

Peter and Iris Robinson will celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary next July. They have three children, Jonathan, Gareth and Rebekah. They are the first husband and wife ever to represent Northern Ireland constituencies in Parliament at the same time.

What is your earliest childhood memory?
I can go back to when I was three or four. My mum had put a little gate at the back of the house to keep me in. I remember climbing over it and going out into the middle of the road and being knocked down by a coal lorry. I wasn't hurt, because the driver just stopped. My leg was about to go in under the wheel and everybody rushed out. I was made a fuss of, and, of course, I enjoyed that.

What sort of childhood did you have?
Up until my father died when I was seven, I probably had quite a normal childhood. My dad had fought in the war and came home very ill with various tropical diseases contracted in Burma and Borneo. My dad was an Englishman. He was about 6ft 2in and was the sweetest-natured, kindest man. I called him my gentle giant. Once he died it became very abnormal and I sort of became mother to my five siblings. Times were hard, my mother went out to work so when I came home from school I cooked and cleaned. I did it with a willingness to help my mum.
It was a difficult childhood, but looking back I suppose it prepared me for the work I do now. My political life has always centred on helping people, and I believe I was born to it given my background. I don't see it as a job of work, I see it as a calling.

What subjects did you enjoy/not enjoy at school?
Because I was left-handed I was told that I could never write shorthand, or get any sort of speed up, if I could write it. But I held the record from when I was 18 or 19 in Pitman shorthand. I did the RSA Stage III advanced exams and I hold 240 words a minute. I was also good at sprinting. I loved athletics.
I didn't particularly like maths. I had a teacher who, because I was taller than him in my intermediate school, picked on me. I think it was the small man syndrome. I had a hard time in maths and I developed migraines simply because of the fear of having him for four periods every Thursday. But Peter says I can add up very quickly when he owes me some money!
However, in the end I got very friendly with the teacher. He died of cancer and Peter and I were basically the people who looked after him, visiting him and caring for him.

You turned 60 in September. How does that feel?
I have no hangups about age. I have a very youthful outlook. Dealing with people every day and their problems takes your concentration away from yourself. I am privileged to do what I do and see it as a calling. Sixty is the new 40!

How did you celebrate your birthday?
We had a lovely party. We had just come back from our holidays and my children had the house all decorated with balloons and banners. Peter had bought me some lovely jewellery in America and I got some beautiful gifts from friends and family. We had a lovely dinner out at a local restaurant with family. It was wonderful.

Would you ever consider cosmetic surgery?
I suppose as you get older you think it mightn't be a bad idea, but I've had so much surgery in my life that was necessary that I don't honestly think I could embark on it.
My mother is 89 and she is a fantastic looking woman despite all her ailments. I think I've got her genes in terms of skin.

Any hobbies?
I have just started horseriding lessons. I have always had this desire to do it and fulfilled my ambition a few weeks ago. I thought I better do it while I can still climb up on a horse and my joints are still able to do it.

Do you prefer high street or designer fashions?
I'm a great one for mix and match, but I always buy in Northern Ireland. I think if you put your money into something good, you will get the benefit of it over a period of time. And you learn by your mistakes. There are some beautiful shops in Northern Ireland. I would go up to Coleraine and down onto Bloomfield Avenue (in east Belfast) – you can hardly beat it for shoes, lingerie and outfits.
People think because I'm in London that I'm out shopping and having a wonderful time, but I can honestly say it must be a couple of years since I have gone into proper shops in London.

Who is your style icon?
I did admire Princess Diana. She was a very tall young woman and she gave life to the pumps – the little flat shoes – which I love. I also love to wear my stilettos. I loved Diana's style and how she carried it with her height. I'm 5ft 7in, but I would love to have been taller.

Are there any female politicians in Northern Ireland whose style you admire?
Arlene (Foster) is a very attractive lady and I've noticed she has some lovely outfits. She is a sharp dresser. But I don't think there are any others that would stand out for me.

And any stylish men in Northern Ireland politics?
Obviously I have to wave the flag for Peter. He is a very dapper, sharp dresser.

Do you pick his outfits?
No, he does everything now himself. I taught him well. He is a very neat dresser, and so is Nigel (Dodds), as are a number of men in the other parties. I think our men rate very well compared to the women, and I don't say that in any sense to be judgmental to the other ladies, but it does sometimes leave a lot to be desired.
What is the secret to a good marriage?
Peter and I met when I was 17 and we married when I was 20. None of us can say we have the perfect marriage. You have your ups and downs, but it's about talking through things, it's about give and take. We have been very blessed. Peter's my best friend and I care greatly about him.

Is Peter romantic?
Outside of his political career he is very quiet and unassuming. But he has his moments.

Does he do anything that annoys you?
There's nothing really that annoys me. Sometimes I get anxious that he just spends too much time working into the wee hours and I would like that to be better dealt with, but apart from that we get on very well. He has been one of my greatest supporters and encouragers all throughout my married life.

What prompted you to write your autobiography?
It was the right thing to do to address some areas of my life. You hear so many rumours and so many bits of nonsense being passed round that I thought it was an opportune time to put my views over. It went very well.

Are the rumours you are referring to those which claim Peter was violent towards you?
Yes. If I weren't the person I was it could destroy you. But I refused to let that happen because there's not a better man as Peter as a husband. You have so little power to redress anything that's doing the rounds and I had listened to this for years and I just felt it was time to get my view over. (The rumours) are very hurtful and it's taught me never to believe everything I read in the press.
It's always been a horrible thing to even contemplate people thinking. I just wish people would be much more thoughtful and considerate and dismiss those sorts of things, because they've got to start somewhere with someone. It's just one of the sad factors of being in profile in Northern Ireland and I suppose it comes with the territory, but at the same time I'm a human being with feelings and so is Peter and my children.

In June 2008, shortly after a physical assault on a gay man in Northern Ireland, you made comments on the BBC Radio Ulster's Stephen Nolan Show offering to recommend homosexuals to psychiatric counselling. While condemning the attack, you claimed during the broadcast that homosexuality was an "abomination" and made you feel "sick" and "nauseous". Do you regret expressing your views so vociferously?
The only thing I regret is that it was that type of platform, rather than a one-to-one sitting down talking about faith and scripture and the way scripture deals with the issue.
It stemmed from wanting to defend the integrity of Mary Whitehouse (the broadcasting standards campaigner). They were making fun of her and that's where it actually started. I hadn't gone on with the intention of addressing the issue, but one thing led to the other.
Stephen was pushing questions, but at the end of the day I ended very clearly with 'we love the sinner, not the sin'.
I was delighted, obviously, that the Ombudsman defended my right to quote scripture. I think it was an important landmark in terms of what Christians can say. It was a very difficult period in my life, but it was truth and I don't regret that.

Did you ever fear for your personal safety following the broadcast?
I did have some difficult events to deal with – people that were quite vociferous when I was out shopping. But I took it in my stride and anyone that I could speak to, I said that my comments were made in love and not in any judgmental way. In a number of cases you were able to get through to the person, in others you weren't.
Not too many people spoke out about the offensive nature of the T-shirts that were worn at the gay parade several years back, which said 'Jesus is a fag'. I felt that was so obscene and yet if you speak out about that you are immediately homophobic, you are immediately a bigot, and yet no one would say the same about the gay community having done what they did in terms of likening my Saviour to a fag. Political correctness has gone basically bonkers. You've almost to stop to think before you say something and to be afraid to speak up or speak out is not good.

Dv8's play, To be straight with You, was on during the recent Ulster Bank Festival at Queen's and is due to tour Europe and America. It features a taped recording of your comments on the Stephen Nolan show. How do you feel about that?
It's only one of many areas where they keep playing it over and over. Stephen Nolan did it for about six weeks.
I'm not going to be a censor, that's not my role. I'll speak out about my faith and my beliefs and I fear no one. I've been vindicated in my right to express my views as a Christian.

You were invited to the play, but declined the offer?
Why would I? I don't need to put my hand in the fire to know it will burn me.

You have spoken openly about having had a hysterectomy at 34 and having suffered from post-natal depression. Those must have been difficult times?
I love children and I couldn't believe when I had my first son (Jonathan) I just had this numbness and no real feeling for the baby. I fed my son and I looked after him well, but there was no bonding instinct. Really I worked myself out of it, because in those days there was no counselling, there was no help except to throw you a valium and I wouldn't take that. I had a family that supported me and Peter was just wonderful, coming home from work and looking after the baby to give me a few hours sleep. It took nine months, but then everything fell into place. Jonathan was a loved and delightful child.
It took me six years to have a second child, because I think part of the feeling was that it might happen again, thank God it didn't. With Gareth, it was an instant bonding. Then I only had one ovary and I got pregnant with Rebecca, my little daughter and that was just the icing on the cake. She's the most beautiful young lady and I am so proud of her. I am proud of all my children.

You are an Evangelical Pentecostalist and your faith is very important to you?
I came to the Lord when I got married. Peter's mum and dad were very devout and wonderful Christians.
I don't think I could go on without my faith, it's brought me through so many ups and downs. We have seen some horrendous times during the Troubles; my children carrying live bombs which have come in the mail; I've seen death notices in the paper for Peter, I've had wreaths, I've had mass cards, and there's been all the other untold stresses that have come with the calling we have both had.
Manys a time Peter and I would have gone through very dicey areas to do our constituency work and house calls. If I didn't have that grasp of who I am and my faith, you couldn't have got through all of that. But it has been a high cost in terms of my family life and the sacrifice. People see the house, they see success, but that's not what it means to me – anything I have, I have earned.
Do you pray for your enemies?
I do pray for my enemies. I pray for those that would hurt, or manipulate or make life difficult, because if you don't you can become bitter and that is not what Christ wants from us.

Do you pray for Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness?
Yes I do.

What is your favourite book?
Obviously my Bible. It is an amazing book for correction, for direction and a comfort. I read it every day.
I love writers particularly in scripture such as Bob Gass.

What is your favourite film?
Gone with the wind. I watch it every Christmas and I could nearly do it word for word. I love the gustiness of the storyline and the acting is superb.

What sort of music do you like to listen to?
In my early days I loved Bruce Springsteen. Now, more often than not, I would play Robin Marks who is a local gospel singer. He sings the most beautiful and haunting, spiritual songs.

Are there any people living, or dead, you would like to invite to a dinner party?
I would love to have Moses, Jacob and Christ round a table to hear what they have to say. To see them face-to-face would be awesome, but some day I will.

Is there any one ambition you would like to fulfil?
Politically, I would hope that people would feel able to support me and see beyond the media hype over the last number of months. I hope that that integrity and desire to serve them will come through in terms of the next election.
I hope I can reassure people that what I am about is not about Iris Robinson, it's about doing what I can to help resolve issues and problems. That's all I've ever been interested in.

Have you any plans to retire?
I don't think I could ever retire. I just hope that ageism isn't something that creeps in to any election that I stand in. I can do a day's work to match any man. I don't like bringing gender into any equation, but I've so much still to do and so much want to be part of the political life because I see good times ahead. When you love what you do it's a gift.