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Peter is not for quitting

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Ken Reid
News
For a man who lost his Westminster seat last week, Peter Robinson was in a pretty defiant mood.

"I'm not quitting," he told me.

The Assembly party had given him a standing ovation while others had given their support over the weekend.

He accepted personal circumstances had worked against him in East Belfast, but argued the DUP had enjoyed an excellent election in other constituencies.

There would be financial challenges for the executive in the days ahead as well as the issue of unionist unity, he said.

But there was a life beyond politics and if he felt there was someone better suited to move things forward than he would gladly step aside.

On the double jobbing issue, the original plan was for Peter Robinson to be the only DUP MP who would remain as an MP.

The party would now look at the best way forward.

It is widely speculated Sammy Wilson would prefer to stay in both Stormont and Westminster.

Perhaps that may be the way forward but the Finance minister today confirmed he will step aside like the rest of his colleagues.

Sir Reg Empey will talk to his party's executive on Saturday and is likely to announce his intention to stand aside.

A leadership election will follow and already a number of names are being mentioned including Danny Kennedy, Basil McCrea, Tom Elliott and Michael McGimpsey.

When things settle down at Westminster, there will new list of names for the House of Lords.

I would be shocked if former DUP leader Ian Paisley wasn't included.

We should find out shortly.

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