This is an accepted version of this page
116-692: The 'Comprehensive Agreement' is the name given to a proposed agreement between the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and Sinn Féin in Northern Ireland , which collapsed in failure in 2004. While those talks did fail, it was expected that the same principles, modifying and building on the Belfast Agreement would form the basis for a future deal in Northern Ireland. This Irish history article
232-550: A perverse incentive to use more energy and increase their carbon footprint to those who signed up to it since they could claim £1.60 for every £1 spent on heating with, for example, wood pellets. With no cost controls, it could cost the public purse up to £490 million. Foster refused calls to step down as First Minister over her alleged role in the RHI scandal. In January 2017 this led Martin McGuinness to resign in protest and
348-797: A 19-year-old man, and alleged serious financial irregularities associated with the scandal. In the 2010 general election , the party suffered a major upset when its leader, Peter Robinson, lost his Belfast East seat to Naomi Long of the APNI on a swing of 22.9%. However, the party maintained its position elsewhere, fighting off a challenge from the Ulster Conservatives and Unionists – New Force in Antrim South and Strangford and from Jim Allister's Traditional Unionist Voice in Antrim North . The DUP were strongly criticised after
464-649: A DUP fundraiser in May 2018, with his main financial backer, Arron Banks , stating that he would support a bid by Farage to seek office as a DUP candidate after the end of his tenure as Member of the European Parliament in 2019. In her capacity as Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment in 2012, Foster oversaw the establishment of a green energy scheme, which led to the Renewable Heat Incentive scandal (RHI scandal). The scheme gave
580-493: A Protestant loyalist volunteer militia —called the (Ulster) Third Force —which would work alongside the police and army to fight the Irish Republican Army (IRA). They organized large rallies where men were photographed in military formation waving firearms certificates . Paisley declared: "This is a small token of the men who are placed to devastate any attempt by Margaret Thatcher and Charles Haughey to destroy
696-555: A Tory PM." The DUP would later withdraw their support over new Prime Minister Boris Johnson's revised proposal for a deal with the EU. At the 2019 UK general election , the DUP lost vote share and lost two of its seats. Due to the RHI scandal and deadlock between the DUP and Sinn Féin, Northern Ireland did not have an Executive and the Assembly did not meet for three years. In January 2020,
812-448: A basis of moving forward to devolution?", with responses to be received to its party headquarters by 8 November. It was part of the party's policy of consultation with its electorate before entering a power-sharing government. On 24 November 2006, Ian Paisley refused to nominate himself as First Minister of Northern Ireland designate. There was confusion between all parties whether he actually said that if Sinn Féin supported policing and
928-478: A big Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) majority. He won the seat with a 19.9% swing to the DUP and a majority of 64, with Alliance Party leader Oliver Napier 928 votes behind, unseating the MP former Vanguard Progressive Unionist Party leader and UUP candidate William Craig on 3 May 1979. The main plank of Robinson's campaign was that he was the only candidate in the constituency who totally opposed power-sharing with
1044-555: A campaign of mass civil disobedience . There were strikes and mass protest rallies. On 23 June 1986, DUP politicians occupied the Stormont Parliament Building in protest at the Agreement, while 200 supporters protested outside and clashed with police. The DUP politicians were forcibly removed by police the next day. On 10 July, Paisley and deputy DUP leader Peter Robinson led 4,000 loyalist supporters in
1160-475: A deal whereby his close ally, Paul Givan , would become First Minister. In return, he would let Westminster pass Irish language law for Northern Ireland, which the DUP had earlier agreed to implement by signing the New Decade, New Approach agreement. Most DUP MLAs opposed Poots's decision, forcing him to step down. On 22 June, Jeffrey Donaldson was confirmed to be succeeding Poots, as the only candidate in
1276-654: A large rally on the Shankill Road in support of the loyalists on hunger strike; Paisley addressing the British government, said "We as the Protestant people of Ulster... say you have a right to give our prisoners safety". Robinson, in support, read out a letter from loyalist paramilitary prisoners: "...often it is the sacrifice of a few that improves the life and standards for many, we are, if necessary, ready to make that sacrifice." Later interviewed about his role in
SECTION 10
#17327728614801392-606: A loyalist area afflicted by the strike and asking the SDLP to send a car to rescue them. He was campaign manager for East Belfast MP William Craig in the 1974 general election but the relationship was short-lived. He first stood in the election to the Northern Ireland Constitutional Convention on 1 May 1975 in Belfast, East. Although he started in fifth place, he failed to get elected and
1508-477: A pair of Catholic nuns in the street in Portrush , County Antrim , yelling "Popehead, Popehead". Robinson initially gained employment as an estate agent for R.J. McConnell & Co and later with Alex, Murdoch & Deane in Belfast, and then he became the DUP's first general secretary in 1975. Robinson had by 1970 come to Paisley's notice after writing a pamphlet called The North Answers Back which attacked
1624-465: A police investigation, which recommended that Robinson should not be prosecuted following allegations made by the BBC in relation to the scandal, he resumed his duties as First Minister. The Official Assembly Commissioner's Investigation and Report cleared Robinson of any wrongdoing. In September 2015, Robinson again stood aside to allow Arlene Foster to become acting First Minister after his bid to adjourn
1740-594: A political settlement for Northern Ireland. In the election to the convention, the UUUC (which included the DUP) won 53% of the vote. The UUUC opposed a power-sharing government and recommended only a return to majority rule (i.e. unionist rule). As this was unacceptable to nationalists, the convention was dissolved. The DUP opposed UK membership of the European Economic Community (EEC). In June 1979, in
1856-581: A position which he held until 1979 and which afforded him the opportunity to exert extraordinary influence within the fledgeling party. In 1977, Robinson was elected as a councillor for the Castlereagh Borough Council in Dundonald , and in 1979 , he became one of the youngest Members of Parliament (MP) when he was narrowly elected for Belfast East . He held this seat for 31 years until his defeat by Naomi Long in 2010 , making him
1972-463: A protest in which they 'occupied' the town of Hillsborough . Hillsborough Castle is where the Agreement had been signed. On 7 August, Robinson led hundreds of loyalist supporters in an invasion of the village of Clontibret , in the Republic of Ireland. The loyalists marched up and down the main street, vandalised property, and attacked two Irish police officers ( Gardaí ) before fleeing back over
2088-400: A second term as First Minister and Deputy First Minister respectively shortly afterwards. On 6 April 2011 Robinson attended the funeral of murdered PSNI officer, Ronan Kerr , becoming the first DUP leader to attend a Catholic Mass. In 2012, Robinson was involved in the historic visit of Queen Elizabeth II to Northern Ireland, when she shook hands with Martin McGuinness. Robinson supported
2204-630: A strategic unionist rethink in the wake of the Anglo-Irish Agreement was rejected by their respective leaders, Ian Paisley and James Molyneaux . He was elected to the Northern Ireland Forum on 30 May 1996 and served in it until it completed its work in 1998. On 25 June 1998, he was elected MLA for Belfast East in the Northern Ireland Assembly election . He was subsequently re-elected to
2320-430: A strict interpretation of Sharia law . Pastor McConnell was found not guilty of two charges related to his sermon in 2016 - improper use of a public electronic communications network and causing a grossly offensive message to be sent by means of a public electronic communications network . On 30 May, leaders of Northern Ireland's Muslim community met with Robinson at Stormont Castle and accepted his clarification of
2436-556: Is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Democratic Unionist Party The Democratic Unionist Party ( DUP ) is a unionist , loyalist , British nationalist and national conservative political party in Northern Ireland . It was founded in 1971 during the Troubles by Ian Paisley , who led the party for the next 37 years. It is currently led by Gavin Robinson , who initially stepped in as an interim after
SECTION 20
#17327728614802552-559: Is a retired Northern Irish politician who served as First Minister of Northern Ireland from 2008 until 2016 and Leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) from 2008 until 2015. Until his retirement in 2016, Robinson was involved in Northern Irish politics for over 40 years, being a founding member of the DUP along with Ian Paisley . Robinson served in the role of General Secretary of the DUP from 1975,
2668-665: Is also Eurosceptic and supported Brexit . The DUP evolved from the Protestant Unionist Party and has historically strong links to the Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster , the church Paisley founded. During the Troubles , the DUP opposed sharing power with Irish nationalists or republicans as a means of resolving the conflict, and likewise rejected attempts to involve the Republic of Ireland in Northern Irish affairs. It campaigned against
2784-748: Is also a fan of his local Belfast football team Glentoran . Robinson is an evangelical Pentecostal Christian. Despite originally attending Ian Paisley 's Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster , he left in the late 1970s and joined Elim Pentecostal Church and then the Assemblies of God . Robinson was the driving force behind the DUPs secular appeal and leaving the FPCU was perhaps a part of this strategy. He owns property in Belfast. In 2014 he and his wife sold their luxury villa in Florida and London apartment. He
2900-764: Is author of a number of books and pamphlets on local politics and history including: The Union Under Fire (1995); Sinn Féin – A Case for Proscription (1993); Hands off the UDR (1990); Their Cry was no Surrender (1986); Ulster in Peril (1984); Carson – Man of Action (1984); It's Londonderry (1984); A War to be Won (1983); Self-Inflicted (1981); Ulster the Facts (1981); Savagery and Suffering (1975); Capital Punishment for Capital Crime (1974); Give Me Liberty (no date); Ulster—the Prey (no date). On 25 May 2015, he suffered
3016-627: The 2003 Northern Ireland Assembly election , the DUP argued for a "fair deal" that could command the support of both unionists and nationalists. After the results of this election the DUP argued that support was no longer present within unionism for the Good Friday Agreement. They went on to publish their proposals for devolution in Ireland entitled Devolution Now . These proposals have been refined and re-stated in further policy documents including Moving on and Facing Reality . In
3132-550: The British Parliament to the Northern Ireland Assembly, negotiating a power-sharing deal with Sinn Féin. This process ensured that devolution in Northern Ireland was able to be fully completed. At the 2011 Assembly election , both the DUP and Sinn Féin increased their number of seats. Robinson had led the DUP to its best ever Assembly election result. Robinson and McGuinness were sworn in for
3248-634: The Iris Robinson scandal . Arlene Foster was designated to discharge the duties of First Minister until his return. Robinson faced claims that he knew his wife had obtained £50,000 from two developers for her teenage lover but did not tell the proper authorities, leading to him asking the House of Commons and the Northern Ireland Assembly to carry out an inquiry into his conduct. After an OFMdFM lawyer advised Robinson that he had committed no wrongdoing, he returned to active duty as First Minister despite
3364-526: The Northern Ireland Assembly in 2003 and again in 2007 . Robinson was Minister for Regional Development , which has overall responsibility for the Department for Regional Development (DRD), between 29 November 1999 to 27 July 2000 and 24 October 2001 to 11 October 2002. He was responsible for the introduction of free fares on public transport for the elderly and helped formulate the 25-year Regional Development Strategy for Northern Ireland and devise
3480-577: The Northern Ireland Executive . Robinson was elected unopposed to succeed Ian Paisley as leader of the DUP on 15 April 2008, and was subsequently confirmed as First Minister of Northern Ireland on 5 June 2008. In January 2010, following a scandal involving his wife Iris , Robinson temporarily handed over his duties as First Minister to Arlene Foster under the terms of the Northern Ireland Act 2006 . Following
3596-639: The Northern Ireland civil rights movement and defended the Stormont government . Robinson became chairman of the Lagan Valley branch of the DUP's predecessor the Protestant Unionist Party upon its formation. In 1970 he was prominent in Paisley's campaign to win the North Antrim seat in the 1970 UK general election Robinson and for a time served as Paisley's private secretary. In 1971 Robinson
Comprehensive Agreement - Misplaced Pages Continue
3712-617: The Northern Ireland peace process of the 1990s, the DUP was initially involved in the negotiations under former United States Senator George J. Mitchell that led to the Good Friday Agreement of 1998, but withdrew in protest when Sinn Féin, an Irish republican party with links to the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA), was allowed to participate while the IRA kept its weapons. The DUP opposed
3828-556: The Red Sky scandal in which DUP ministers attempted to influence a decision at a meeting of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive . The decision related to an £8 million contract of east Belfast firm Red Sky. The Housing Executive cancelled Red Sky's contract after a BBC Spotlight investigation into the company, which was shown to be overcharging taxpayers. The DUP cited "sectarian bias" in relation to
3944-654: The Royal Ulster Constabulary but instead he joined the Lagan Valley unit of the Ulster Protestant Volunteers (UPV) , a paramilitary organisation tied to Ian Paisley's Free Presbyterian Church . Robinson also joined the Ulster Constitution Defence Committee . As a young man Robinson embraced a populist anti-Catholic fundamentalism; a former classmate alleged Robinson and a friend harassed
4060-604: The Sunningdale Agreement of 1973, the Anglo-Irish Agreement of 1985, and the Good Friday Agreement of 1998. In the 1980s, the DUP was involved in setting up the loyalist paramilitary movements Third Force and Ulster Resistance , the latter of which helped smuggle a large shipment of weapons into Northern Ireland. For most of the DUP's history, the Ulster Unionist Party was the largest unionist party in Northern Ireland; however, by 2004,
4176-524: The Ulster Unionist Party . Paisley, a well-known Protestant fundamentalist minister, was the founder and leader of the Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster . He would lead both the DUP and the Free Presbyterian Church for the next 37 years, and his party and church would be closely linked. When the DUP formed, Northern Ireland was in the midst of an ethnic-nationalist conflict known as the Troubles , which began in 1969 and would last for
4292-527: The first election to the European Parliament , Paisley won one of the three Northern Ireland seats. He topped the poll, with 29.8% of the first preference votes. He retained that seat in every European election until 2004, when he was replaced by Jim Allister , who resigned from the DUP in 2007 while retaining his seat. During 1981, the DUP opposed the then-ongoing talks between British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and Taoiseach Charles Haughey . That year, Paisley and other DUP members attempted to create
4408-532: The general election on 7 June 2001, Robinson's wife, Iris , joined him in Parliament as MP for Strangford . Robinson's electoral success was marked when he was elected Deputy Leader of the DUP in 1980. He was elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly for Belfast East on 20 October 1982 where he served as Chairman of the Environment Committee until it was dissolved in 1986. In 1986 he
4524-481: The 10-year Regional Transport Strategy. Robinson was Minister of Finance and Personnel from 8 May 2007 to June 2008. On 4 March 2008, Ian Paisley announced that he would step down as Leader of the DUP and First Minister that May. On 14 April 2008, Robinson was nominated unanimously by the DUP MLAs as leader-designate with Nigel Dodds as deputy leader-designate and on 17 April 2008 they were both ratified by
4640-467: The 1980s and 1990s, DUP councillors attempted to exclude Sinn Féin councillors by ignoring them, boycotting their speeches, or drowning them out by making as much noise as possible – such as by heckling and banging tables. In early January 1994, the UDA released a document calling for the repartition of Ireland with the goal of making Northern Ireland wholly Protestant. The plan was to be implemented should
4756-518: The 2003 Northern Ireland Assembly election, the DUP won 30 seats, the most of any party. In January 2004, it became the largest Northern Ireland party at Westminster , when MP Jeffrey Donaldson joined after defecting from the UUP. In December 2004, English MP Andrew Hunter took the DUP whip after earlier withdrawing from the Conservative Party , giving the party seven seats, in comparison to
Comprehensive Agreement - Misplaced Pages Continue
4872-402: The Agreement in the Good Friday Agreement referendum , in which the Agreement was approved with 71.1% of the electorate in favour. The DUP's opposition was based on a number of reasons, including: The DUP contested the 1998 Northern Ireland Assembly election that resulted from the Good Friday Agreement, winning 20 seats, the third-highest of any party. It then took up two of the ten seats in
4988-499: The British Army withdraw from Northern Ireland. The Irish Catholic/nationalist-majority areas would be handed over to the Republic, and those left in the rump state would be "expelled, nullified , or interned ". DUP press officer Sammy Wilson spoke positively of the document, calling it a "valuable return to reality" and lauded the UDA for "contemplating what needs to be done to maintain our separate Ulster identity". During
5104-477: The British mainland, but not Northern Ireland, advocating a 'Leave' vote. On 4 October 2016, First Minister Arlene Foster and DUP MPs held a champagne reception at the Conservative Party conference , marking what some have described as an "informal coalition" or an "understanding" between the two parties to account for the Conservatives' narrow majority in the House of Commons . The relationship between
5220-597: The DUP had overtaken the UUP in terms of seats in both the Northern Ireland Assembly and the UK House of Commons . In 2006, the DUP co-signed the St Andrews Agreement and the following year agreed to enter into power-sharing devolved government with Sinn Féin , who agreed to support the Police Service , courts, and rule of law. Paisley became joint First Minister of Northern Ireland . However,
5336-513: The DUP held its first ever leadership election in May 2021, with Edwin Poots becoming leader after narrowly defeating Jeffrey Donaldson. This caused a fracture in the party. Some DUP members spoke of their "disgust" at the way in which Foster had been ousted. There were claims that Poots supporters engaged in bullying and intimidation during the leadership election, and some party members walked out before his speech. Police also investigated claims
5452-549: The DUP on 27 seats, the same number as Sinn Féin. In the 2017 UK general election, the DUP had 10 seats overall, 3 seats ahead of Sinn Féin. With no party having received an outright majority in the UK Parliament, the DUP entered into an agreement to support government by the Conservative Party. A DUP source said: "The alternative is intolerable. For as long as Corbyn leads Labour, we will ensure there’s
5568-474: The DUP over the issue, Traditional Unionist Voice , a seat which he retained until Diane Dodds won the seat back for the DUP in 2009. MP Gregory Campbell warned on 6 April 2007 that his party would be watching to see if benefits flow from its agreement to share power with Sinn Féin. On 31 May 2008, the party's central Executive Committee met at the offices of Castlereagh Borough Council where Ian Paisley formally stepped down as party leader and Peter Robinson
5684-543: The DUP said that it had cut its links with the URM in 1987. In the mid-1980s, the Irish republican party Sinn Féin began to contest and win seats in local council elections. In response, the DUP fought elections under the slogan "Smash Sinn Féin" and vowed to exclude Sinn Féin councillors from all council business. Their 1985 manifesto said "The Sinn Féiners must be ostracised and isolated" at all local government bodies. Throughout
5800-547: The DUP's Save Ulster from Sodomy campaign to prevent the decriminalisation of homosexuality in Northern Ireland. On 30 October 2008, in his first extensive interview as First Minister (for Hearts and Minds on BBC Northern Ireland ), Peter Robinson stated that homosexuality was against Christian theology . Robinson's wife, Iris, had quoted the Bible which said that homosexuality was an abomination and that with help, gay people could be "turned around". A police investigation
5916-451: The DUP's 120-member executive committee. He formally became leader on 31 May 2008. As he was nominated by the largest party, Robinson was ratified by the Northern Ireland Assembly as First Minister with Sinn Féin 's Martin McGuinness as deputy First Minister on 5 June 2008. On 11 January 2010 Robinson announced that he was temporarily stepping down from the position of First Minister to clear his name over BBC allegations arising from
SECTION 50
#17327728614806032-491: The DUP's only Member of the European Parliament (MEP), Jim Allister , and seven DUP councillors left the party in protest, founding the Traditional Unionist Voice . Ian Paisley was succeeded as DUP leader and First Minister by Peter Robinson (2008–2015), then by Arlene Foster (2015–2021). After Foster was ousted, Edwin Poots briefly became leader and nominated Paul Givan as First Minister, but
6148-492: The DUP. Although he had recently suffered a heart attack, he stated his health was not the main reason behind his decision to stand down. He did not contest the 2016 Northern Ireland Assembly election . The Ulster Defence Association (UDA) , a Loyalist paramilitary group, were a decisive factor in Robinson being elected to the Belfast East constituency during the 1979 general election . Robinson had an association with
6264-529: The Government's deadline of 26 March, but did agree to setting up an executive on 8 May 2007. On 27 March 2007, the party's sole Member of the European Parliament (MEP), Jim Allister , resigned from the party, in opposition to the decision to enter a power-sharing government with Sinn Féin. He retained his seat as an independent MEP as leader of his new hard-line anti-St Andrews Agreement splinter group that he formed with other disaffected members who had left
6380-521: The House of Commons Andrea Leadsom , Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson, former International Development Secretary Priti Patel , Sports Minister Tracey Crouch , Defence Select Committee chair Julian Lewis , and European Research Group chair Jacob Rees-Mogg headlined various fundraising events for the DUP from 2017 onwards. Former UK Independence Party leader Nigel Farage also spoke at
6496-549: The IRA in December 1987. He also was a pallbearer with DUP politician Sammy Wilson at the funeral of UDA leader Ray Smallwoods , who served half of a 15-year sentence for the attempted murder of Bernadette McAliskey in 1981. On 7 August 1986, in protest at the Anglo-Irish Agreement , Robinson led a group of loyalists into the village of Clontibret in County Monaghan in the Republic of Ireland to demonstrate
6612-399: The IRA ourselves!" In December, Paisley claimed that the Third Force had 15,000–20,000 members. James Prior , Secretary of State for Northern Ireland , replied that private armies would not be tolerated. The Anglo-Irish Agreement was signed by the British and Irish governments in November 1985, following months of talks between the two. The Agreement confirmed there would be no change in
6728-417: The Northern Ireland Executive collapsed. A snap election followed after Sinn Féin refused to re-nominate a deputy First Minister. In this Northern Ireland Assembly election , held in March 2017, the DUP lost 10 seats, leaving them only one seat and 1,200 votes ahead of Sinn Féin, a result described by the Belfast Telegraph as "catastrophic". The withdrawal of the party whip from Jim Wells in May 2018 left
6844-404: The Rev Ian Paisley", amongst other offers, to secure the bill. Members of the DUP were lambasted by the press and voters, after MPs' expenses reports were leaked to the media. Several newspapers referred to the "Swish Family Robinson" after Peter Robinson, and his wife Iris, claimed £571,939.41 in expenses with a further £150,000 being paid to family members. Further embarrassment was caused to
6960-467: The SDLP. He was re-elected to the House of Commons in 1983 , 1986 (along with other unionist MPs, he resigned his seat in protest at the Anglo-Irish Agreement on 17 December 1985 and was re-elected in the by-election the next year), 1987 , 1992 , 2001 and 2005 . In the 2010 UK general election he lost Belfast East to Naomi Long of the Alliance Party. Robinson served on the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee from 1997 to July 2005. In
7076-457: The UDA that predated the 1979 election by several years. The UDA canvassed for Robinson's election campaign, displayed his posters at their headquarters and did "sterling service" at polling booths. In 1984 Robinson and UUP politician John Carson negotiated on behalf of loyalist paramilitary prisoners held at Magilligan Prison on hunger strike in protest at not being segregated from republican prisoners. The pair and Ian Paisley both spoke at
SECTION 60
#17327728614807192-411: The URM helped smuggle a large shipment of weapons into Northern Ireland, which were shared out between the URM, the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) and the Ulster Defence Association (UDA). Most, but not all, of the weaponry was seized by police in 1988. In 1989, URM members attempted to trade Shorts ' missile blueprints for weapons from the apartheid South African regime. Following these revelations,
7308-408: The UUP and its founding arguably stemmed from worries of the Ulster Protestant working class that the UUP was not paying them enough heed. The DUP opposed the Sunningdale Agreement of 1973. The Agreement was an attempt to resolve the conflict by setting up a new assembly and government for Northern Ireland in which unionists and Irish nationalists would share power. The Agreement also proposed
7424-420: The UUP's five, Sinn Féin's four, and the Social Democratic and Labour Party 's (SDLP) three. In the 2005 UK general election , the party reinforced its position as the largest unionist party, winning nine seats, making it the fourth largest party in terms of seats in the British House of Commons behind Labour, the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats. In terms of votes, the DUP was the fourth largest party on
7540-416: The Ulster Defence Association (UDA) threatened members of Donaldson's campaign team. Poots admitted party members were "bruised" but denied claims of intimidation. Several party members resigned, including councillors. On 17 June 21 days after becoming DUP leader, Poots announced he would be resigning after an internal party revolt. He said he would stay in post until a successor was elected. He had agreed
7656-471: The Union". The DUP helped organize a loyalist 'Day of Action' on 23 November 1981, to pressure the British government to take a harder line against the IRA. Paisley addressed a Third Force rally in Newtownards , where thousands of masked and uniformed men marched before him. He declared: "My men are ready to be recruited under the crown to destroy the vermin of the IRA. But if they refuse to recruit them, then we will have no other decision to make but to destroy
7772-464: The assembly was rejected. His action was a response to a murder for which a member of Sinn Féin , a party in the Northern Ireland Executive, had been questioned. He resumed his duties on 20 October 2015. On 19 November 2015, he announced that he would be stepping down as First Minister and as leader of the DUP. Robinson subsequently stepped down as First Minister on 11 January 2016 and has now fully retired from frontline politics. Peter David Robinson
7888-522: The border. Robinson was arrested and convicted for unlawful assembly . On 10 November 1986, a rally was held in which DUP politicians Paisley, Robinson and Ivan Foster announced the formation of the Ulster Resistance Movement (URM). This was a loyalist paramilitary group whose purpose was to "take direct action as and when required" to bring down the Agreement and defeat republicanism. Recruitment rallies were held in towns across Northern Ireland and thousands were said to have joined. The following year,
8004-470: The continued existence of the BBC (as the DUP, UKIP and Conservatives had made a number of statements criticising the institution) and support for same-sex marriage . However, in an interview with BBC Radio 5 Live deputy leader of the DUP Nigel Dodds told BBC Newsline that the DUP was "against discrimination based on religion ... or sexual orientation". On 10 September 2015, Peter Robinson stepped aside as First Minister and other DUP ministers, with
8120-429: The creation of a Council of Ireland, which would facilitate co-operation between the governments of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. The DUP won eight seats in the 1973 election to the Assembly . Along with other anti-Agreement unionists, the DUP formed the United Ulster Unionist Council (UUUC) to oppose the Agreement. In the February 1974 UK election , the UUUC won 11 out of 12 Northern Ireland seats, while
8236-416: The decision. The party suspended DUP councillor Jenny Palmer , who sat on the executive board, after she confessed that DUP special adviser Stephen Brimstone pressured her into changing her vote at the meeting. In the 2015 general election , when the result was expected to be a hung parliament , the issue of DUP and the UK Independence Party forming a coalition government with the UK Conservative Party
8352-407: The event, saying, "We recognise that this will be a difficult ask for Her Majesty The Queen and a significant step for republicans. The process has required us all to reach out and take decisions outside our comfort zone. It is the right decision and a step forward for Northern Ireland." On 19 November 2015, Robinson announced he would be stepping down as Northern Ireland First Minister and leader of
8468-471: The exception of Arlene Foster , resigned their portfolios. Arlene Foster became leader of the DUP on 17 December 2015, and served as First Minister of Northern Ireland from January 2016 to January 2017. Two days before the UK Brexit referendum , held on 23 June 2016, the DUP paid £282,000 for a four-page glossy wrap-around to the free newspaper Metro , which is distributed in major towns and cities in
8584-778: The first time some alleged aspects of my wife's affair and her financial arrangements" and that he would be "resolutely defending attacks on my character and contesting any allegations of wrongdoing". A series of investigations cleared Robinson. According to a report on the website of the Families Acting for Innocent Relatives (FAIR) non-governmental organisation, in 2007 Peter Robinson wrote to its director Willie Frazer , telling him he "might find it much easier to get co-operation with political representatives if you were genuinely involved in Victim Support rather than opposition politics". Robinson's principal private secretary
8700-693: The inaccurate report was evidence that the BBC were leading a smear campaign against him. On 8 January 2010 the BBC Northern Ireland programme Spotlight reported on how his wife, Iris, had obtained £50,000 for Kirk McCambley, 19 at the time, while in a sexual relationship with him. On the day before the Spotlight programme, Peter Robinson had made an emotional statement to the Press Association , BBC, UTV and RTÉ in regard to
8816-480: The island of Ireland. At the local government election of 2005 , the DUP emerged as the largest party at local government level with 182 councillors across Northern Ireland's 26 district councils. The DUP had a majority of the members on Castlereagh Borough Council , which had long been a DUP stronghold and was home to party leader Peter Robinson , also in Ballymena Borough Council , home to
8932-424: The lack of security along the Irish border. The loyalists attacked the unmanned Garda station in the village and daubed loyalist slogans on the walls. They then held a parade along the main street and attacked two Gardaí . More Gardaí arrived shortly after and fired shots in the air, scattering the loyalist crowd. Robinson was arrested and held at Monaghan Garda station. He pleaded guilty to unlawful assembly and
9048-589: The leadership contest. Jeffrey Donaldson was ratified as DUP leader on 30 June 2021, and said his top priority was to get rid of the Northern Ireland Protocol , the post- Brexit trade arrangements. Hours after he became leader, MLA Alex Easton left the DUP, saying the party no longer had any "respect, discipline or decency". This meant the DUP were no longer the biggest party in the Assembly. Peter Robinson (Northern Ireland politician) Peter David Robinson (born 29 December 1948)
9164-585: The longest-serving Belfast MP since the 1800 Act of Union . In 1980, Robinson was elected as the deputy leader of the DUP. Following the re-establishment of devolved government in Northern Ireland as a result of the Good Friday Agreement , Robinson was elected in 1998 as the Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Belfast East . Robinson subsequently served as Minister for Regional Development and Minister of Finance and Personnel in
9280-485: The loyalist hunger strike, asked if he regarded the UDA as terrorists, he insisted that they were "counter-terrorists" and refused to condemn the UDA and Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) by name. Following the signing of the 1985 Anglo-Irish Agreement Robinson tried to enlist the paramilitary group to join demonstrations including taking over towns at night. UDA sources claimed UDA members met Robinson at DUP headquarters, who would instruct his police bodyguard to sit outside
9396-601: The main parties signed the New Decade, New Approach agreement and the Executive was re-formed with Foster as First Minister and Michelle O'Neill of Sinn Féin as deputy First Minister. In April 2021, it was reported that the majority of DUP MLAs and MPs had signed a letter of no confidence in Foster. She therefore announced that she would step down as DUP leader in May and as First Minister in June. After Foster's announcement,
9512-417: The multi-party power-sharing Executive. While serving as ministers, they refused to sit at meetings of the executive committee in protest at Sinn Féin's participation. The Executive ultimately collapsed over an alleged IRA espionage ring at Stormont (see Stormontgate ). The Good Friday Agreement relied on the support of a majority of unionists and a majority of nationalists in order for it to operate. During
9628-544: The next thirty years. The conflict began amid a campaign to end discrimination against the Catholic / Irish nationalist minority by the Protestant/unionist government and police force. This protest campaign was opposed, often violently, by unionists who viewed it as an Irish republican front. Paisley had led the unionist opposition to the civil rights movement. The DUP were more hardline or loyalist than
9744-587: The ongoing investigations by the Police Service of Northern Ireland and the Assembly Commissioner for Standards and Privileges. While the police investigation into the conduct of the Peter and Iris Robinson concluded in a recommendation not to prosecute in 2011, the Standards and Privileges enquiry remained incomplete three years after it was ordered by the Assembly. It was delayed as Iris Robinson
9860-415: The organisation was intended to act as a protector for beleaguered unionists who were under attack from the IRA. The organisation subsequently imported arms from South Africa, resulting in Paisley and Robinson dissociating themselves from the organisation. He was photographed wearing the group's beret at an Ulster Resistance demonstration. In the late 1970s, Robinson became widely known as the organiser of
9976-501: The parties was formalised after the 2017 United Kingdom general election with the signing of the Conservative–DUP agreement . In October 2017, the DUP held a similar reception at the Conservative Party conference, which was attended by leading Conservative figures including First Secretary of State Damian Green , Brexit Secretary David Davis , then- Chief Whip Gavin Williamson , and party chairman Patrick McLoughlin . This
10092-526: The party when its deputy leader, Nigel Dodds, had the highest expenses claims of any Northern Ireland MP, ranking 13th highest out of all UK MPs. Details of all MPs' expenses claims since 2004 were published in July 2009 under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 . In January 2010, Peter Robinson was at the centre of a high-profile scandal relating to his 60-year-old MP/MLA wife Iris Robinson 's infidelity with
10208-562: The party's deputy leader, Gavin Robinson , being appointed as interim leader and later confirmed as party leader in May 2024. The Democratic Unionist Party evolved from the Protestant Unionist Party , which itself grew out of the Ulster Protestant Action movement. The DUP was founded on 30 September 1971 by Ian Paisley , leader of the Protestant Unionist Party, and Desmond Boal , formerly of
10324-435: The party's founder Ian Paisley, and finally Ards Borough Council . As well as outright control on these councils, the DUP was also the largest party in eight other councils – Antrim Borough Council , Ballymoney Borough Council , Banbridge District Council , Belfast City Council , Carrickfergus Borough Council , Coleraine Borough Council , Craigavon Borough Council and Newtownabbey Borough Council . On 11 April 2006, it
10440-410: The pro-Agreement unionists failed to win any. On 15 May 1974, anti-Agreement unionists called a general strike aimed at bringing down the Agreement . The strike coordinating committee included DUP leader Paisley, the other UUUC leaders, and the leaders of the loyalist paramilitary groups . The strike lasted fourteen days and brought Northern Ireland to a standstill. Loyalist paramilitaries helped enforce
10556-402: The relationship and stated that there had been no financial wrongdoing. The programme maintained that when Robinson found out about the financial aspects of his wife's relationship he insisted that the money she had lobbied two property developers for and which she subsequently lent and gave to her lover be returned in full. It claimed that he did not tell the proper authorities what he knew about
10672-446: The report. In May 2014, Robinson was widely criticized after he told The Irish News that he supported Whitewell Metropolitan Tabernacle Pastor James McConnell's right as a pastor to make remarks about Islam . In a sermon the pastor had stated "Islam is heathen, Islam is satanic, Islam is a doctrine spawned in hell." Robinson said that like the pastor he would not "trust them" for spiritual guidance, speaking of Muslims who follow
10788-535: The resignation of Jeffrey Donaldson . It is the second-largest party in the Northern Ireland Assembly , and won five seats in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom at the 2024 election . The party has been mostly described as right-wing and socially conservative , being anti-abortion and opposing same-sex marriage . The DUP sees itself as defending Britishness and Ulster Protestant culture against Irish nationalism and republicanism . It
10904-623: The right to speak, the right to express their views." On 28 May 2009 the Planning Service of Northern Ireland granted a developer planning permission for six houses to be built on land, part of which, was Robinson's rear garden on the Gransha Road in the Dundonald area of East Belfast. On 30 March 2010, the BBC reported that Robinson had purchased a piece of land from a developer for £5, enabling him to sell part of his back garden for nearly £460,000. Robinson later claimed that
11020-664: The room and wait. Robinson also made contact with the UVF to coordinate strike action against the Anglo-Irish Agreement; following criticism Robinson insisted he was only fulfilling his responsibilities as Belfast co-ordinator for the protests. In this period Robinson attended rallies in Keady and Portadown where masked men paraded in military formation. In a profile by World in Action in 1986 Robinson acknowledged that he
11136-439: The rule of law that he would nominate himself on 28 March 2007 after the Assembly elections on 7 March 2007. The Assembly meeting was brought to an abrupt end when the building had to be evacuated because of a security breach. Paisley later released a statement through the press office stating that he did in fact imply that if Sinn Féin supported policing and the rule of law, he would go into a power-sharing government with them. This
11252-596: The situation. He also accepted an invitation to the Belfast Islamic Centre. After meeting members of the Islamic community he said he would be visiting the Centre again, a place where he felt welcome and respected. Robinson married Iris Collins on 26 July 1970; they have three children, Jonathan, Gareth and Rebekah. His wife has joined him as a councillor , an MLA and an MP. Their son, Gareth Robinson
11368-520: The status of Northern Ireland without the consent of a majority of its citizens , and proposed the creation of a new power-sharing government. It also gave the Irish government an advisory role on some matters in Northern Ireland. Both the DUP and UUP mounted a major protest campaign against the Agreement, dubbed " Ulster Says No ". Both unionist parties resigned their seats in the British House of Commons, suspended district council meetings, and led
11484-473: The strike by blocking roads and intimidating workers. On the third day of the strike, loyalists detonated four car bombs in Dublin and Monaghan , killing 33 civilians. The strike led to the downfall of the Agreement on 28 May. Following the downfall of the Agreement, in 1975 the British government set up a Constitutional Convention , an elected body of unionists and nationalists which would seek agreement on
11600-450: The transactions between the four, despite being obliged by the Northern Ireland Executive ministerial code of conduct to act in the public interest at all times. Later that day Robinson's solicitors said he was thoroughly satisfied that he had at all times acted properly and fulfilled all requirements, and would robustly challenge any allegation to the contrary. On the following day, Robinson maintained that he had "learned from Spotlight for
11716-635: Was a founding member of the DUP and was General Secretary of the DUP between 1975 and 1979. He had previously shared the post of honorary secretary of the party on an unpaid basis with Desmond Boal . Robinson was active in the 1974 Ulster Workers' Council strike against the Sunningdale Agreement , which had been signed in December 1973. A senior loyalist politician recalled walking into the Ulster Workers' Council HQ on Hawthornden Road to find Peter Robinson and Jim Allister "giggling", phoning SDLP headquarters claiming to be Catholics in distress in
11832-491: Was adjudged medically unfit to respond to the enquiry. The report was finally completed at the beginning of 2014, and finally made publicly available on 28 November 2014. Section 13 of the report stated that the three BBC allegations against Robinson "even if established after investigation", did not breach of the Code of Conduct. On 5 February 2010, Robinson and McGuinness oversaw the devolution of policing and justice powers from
11948-504: Was also member of Castlereagh (borough). They were the first husband and wife ever to represent Northern Ireland constituencies in Parliament . His daughter, Rebekah, served as his private secretary for his Advice Centre in the East Belfast constituency. Hazel Kerr serves as the office's main secretary. He is a supporter of Rangers and Tottenham Hotspur and has expressed admiration for former Spurs player Gareth Bale . Robinson
12064-473: Was announced that three DUP members were to be elevated to the House of Lords : Maurice Morrow , Wallace Browne , the former Lord Mayor of Belfast , and Eileen Paisley , a vice-president of the DUP and wife of DUP Leader Ian Paisley. None, however, sit as DUP peers. On 27 October 2006, the DUP issued a four-page letter in the Belfast Telegraph newspaper asking "Are the terms of Saint Andrew's
12180-566: Was born on 29 December 1948 in Belfast , Northern Ireland, the son of Sheila and David McCrea Robinson. Robinson was educated at Annadale Grammar School and Castlereagh College, now part of the Belfast Metropolitan College . In 1966 Robinson first heard Ian Paisley speak at a rally at Ulster Hall and shortly afterwards left school to devote himself to the Protestant fundamentalist cause. Robinson considered joining
12296-469: Was considered by Nigel Farage (leader of UKIP). The then Deputy Prime Minister and leader of the Liberal Democrats , Nick Clegg , warned against this "Blukip" coalition, with a spoof website highlighting imagined policies from this coalition – such as reinstating the death penalty , scrapping all benefits for under 25s and charging for hospital visits. Additionally, issues were raised about
12412-581: Was fined IR£ 17,500 in a Drogheda court. There was also violence both before and after a court appearance in Dundalk , when both Robinson and Ian Paisley were attacked. Republicans also threw stones and petrol bombs at flag-waving Robinson supporters. At his trial one of the judges described him as "a senior extremist politician". In November 1986, Paisley and Robinson spoke at the Ulster Hall demonstration which launched Ulster Resistance (UR),
12528-495: Was following a statement issued by 12 DUP MLAs stating that what Ian Paisley had said in the chamber could not be interpreted as a nomination. In February 2007, the DUP suggested that it would begin to impose fines up to £ 20,000 on members disobeying the party whip on crucial votes. On 24 March 2007 the DUP party executive overwhelmingly endorsed a resolution put to them by the party officers that did not agree to an establishment of devolution and an executive in Northern Ireland by
12644-581: Was found to have been involved, in February 2010, in trying to have criticism of the DUP's working relationship with Sinn Féin censored from FAIR's website. UUP leader Reg Empey asked whether this amounted to party political use of the office. Seven months later FAIR's funding by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) was stopped following allegations of financial irregularities in the group. Frazer stepped down as director after reading
12760-546: Was himself forced to step down after three weeks. In June 2021, he was succeeded by Jeffrey Donaldson . In protest against the Northern Ireland Protocol , Givan resigned as First Minister in February 2022, collapsing the Northern Ireland Executive . On 30 January 2024, Donaldson announced that the DUP had agreed a deal with the UK government that resulted in power-sharing being restored. Donaldson resigned as leader on 29 March 2024 after being charged with historical sex offences, with
12876-467: Was initiated amid claims "her comments breached hate crime laws. No charges were brought." Peter Robinson supported his wife's statements, saying: "It wasn't Iris Robinson who determined that homosexuality was an abomination, it was The Almighty . This is the Scriptures . It is a strange world indeed where somebody on the one hand talks about equality, but won't allow Christians to have the equality,
12992-571: Was involved, alongside other DUP leaders, in the launch of Ulster Resistance at the Ulster Hall, an event chaired by the DUP. Robinson was later photographed wearing a beret at an Ulster Resistance rally. The DUP later severed links with Ulster Resistance in 1987. Robinson resigned briefly as DUP Deputy Leader in 1987 when the Task Force Report , written jointly with UUP members Harold McCusker MP and Frank Millar and calling for
13108-464: Was overtaken by his running mate Eileen Paisley . Robinson was elected as a councillor for Castlereagh Borough Council for the Castlereagh C area in the local government elections on 18 May 1977, a seat he held until his resignation from the council on 2 July 2007. Robinson was selected as DUP candidate for Belfast East during the 1979 general election , a seat which previously had
13224-504: Was ratified as the new leader, with Nigel Dodds as his deputy. On 11 June 2008, the party supported the government's proposal to detain terrorist suspects for up to 42 days as part of the Counter-Terrorism Bill , leading The Independent newspaper to dub all of the party's nine MPs as part of "Brown's dirty dozen". The Times reported that the party had been given "sweeteners for Northern Ireland" and "a peerage for
13340-735: Was reciprocated in November, when Damian Green and Conservative Chief Whip Julian Smith attended the DUP's conference, with Smith giving a keynote address. The third such annual DUP reception at the Conservative conference took place in October 2018, with Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond and former Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson addressing the DUP conference a month later. Prominent Conservative MPs such as Environment Secretary Michael Gove , Leader of
13456-425: Was relying on the UDA for "muscle" in the unionist confrontation with the British government over the Agreement, but justified the strategy on the basis that Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher had ignored the elected representatives of unionism and "other means" were necessary. Robinson and UUP MP Harold McCusker were pallbearers at the funeral of UDA commander John McMichael , who was assassinated at his home by
#479520