A day late, Robinson comments on Paisley
AFTER more than 24 hours of silence on Ian Paisley's retirement from politics, DUP leader Peter Robinson finally released two statements about his predecessor.
Less than two hours after TUV leader Jim Allister had questioned Mr Robinson's lack of comment on the historic decision, suggesting it was evidence of division between the Paisley and Robinson wings of the DUP, Mr Robinson made his first public comment on the North Antrim MP's retirement.
He said that the party will be formally marking its former leader's retirement but gave no reason for not commenting on Mr Paisley's announcement for more than a day.
When his decision to retire was announced on Tuesday there was praise for the DUP founder from a host of figures, including Prime Minister Gordon Brown, the Ulster Unionists, former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and even Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness - but Mr Robinson said nothing until yesterday.
Despite News Letter inquiries on Tuesday, Mr Robinson declined to give any statement on his predecessor's departure from politics.
Yesterday morning, Mr Allister, who is running against the DUP in North Antrim at the General Election, probed the party over the issue, saying: "One would have thought that after spending almost 40 years as leader of the Democratic Unionist Party his successor to that position, Peter Robinson, would having something to say on the retirement of Dr Paisley from Parliament."
Mr Paisley's former assistant, now fiercest opponent, added: "It is apparent that the DUP is a party riven by petty divisions and personality clashes."
But less than 90 minutes later, Mr Robinson responded, stating of Mr Paisley: "Receiving the support of a constituency for 40 years in Parliament however is a significant one and the party will be marking this milestone in the future."
In an in-depth interview with the News Letter last week, Mr Paisley spoke of his fears that the current Executive will not achieve as much as the one he led because Mr Robinson does not have as good a relationship with Martin McGuinness as he had.
However, in a second statement yesterday, released three hours after Mr Allister's questions over his silence, Mr Robinson said that Mr Paisley was fully behind his decisions as leader.
He said: "Dr Paisley, along with the rest of the party, supports the way the party is going forward."
Mr Paisley's son, Ian Paisley Jnr, who is likely to run against Mr Allister in North Antrim, said that he was not commenting on the issue.
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Tuesday 14 February 2012
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