Robinson - I'll not be pushed
PETER Robinson has rejected a challenge by Sir Reg Empey to follow his lead by resigning the party leadership.
Announcing his decision to step down in the autumn, Sir Reg suggested his DUP counterpart, who was similarly defeated in the Westminster election, should do the same.
But the First Minister voiced his "disappointment that Sir Reg should try to shift the focus from the UUP's problems" and vowed that he was intent on continuing as leader.
"I have a job of work to do and I intend to complete it with the support of the party," said Mr Robinson.
"Our election slogan was 'Let's keep Northern Ireland moving forward' and that's what the electorate want rather than petty inter-unionist squabbling," he added.
Speaking after a three-hour meeting of his party's 100-strong ruling executive in Templepatrick on Saturday, Sir Reg called on Mr Robinson to follow his example in standing down as party leader.
"Perhaps both of us could leave the stage and allow a fresh leadership to look at the situation anew without any baggage," he said.
"There is an opportunity now to have a fairly clean slate - with a new leadership - to look forward to the next decade because we're going to have to think as unionists long-term, not short-term."
His comments were also dismissed by the DUP MP Sammy Wilson, who claimed Sir Reg had exposed the "fear the UUP hold for Peter Robinson's ability as a rival"
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Weather for Belfast
Monday 28 May 2012
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Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 25 C
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Sunny spells
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