PETER ROBINSON has stated he is “not quitting” as DUP leader and First Minister but that if he ever felt his leaving politics would be best for Northern Ireland and his party then he would stand down.
Mr Robinson, who was endorsed by his Assembly colleagues to remain on as First Minister and DUP leader by acclamation and ovation on Monday, put the loss of his seat to Alliance’s Naomi Long in East Belfast down to not having enough time to clear his name over personal and financial controversies affecting him.
“I do recognise around myself the election came too soon for me to be able to have cleared myself through the various inquiries of the groundless allegations that have been made,” he told UTV political editor Ken Reid.
He was asked would he consider resigning if in the next 12 months it was clear events around his personal year were damaging the DUP. He replied, “Whatever is best for Northern Ireland and the Democratic Unionist Party is my top priority. If Peter Robinson walking into the sunset is best for Northern Ireland, for the Democratic Unionist Party, then that is what I would do.
“We will not allow the press to make that judgment; we will make those judgments ourselves.”
Mr Robinson said he welcomed the support of his colleagues, adding that the DUP had performed “remarkably” well in the election in winning eight seats against opposition from the Traditional Unionist Voice and against the Tory-Ulster Unionist alliance of UCUNF (Ulster Conservatives and Unionists-New Force).
Controversies around his wife Iris and controversy over land deals had not cost the party any seats.
“We have seen off our two unionist opponents: the TUV have been decimated, they are on the floor; the Ulster Unionist strategy has been rejected by the electorate of Northern Ireland,” he said.
“I am not quitting,” he said. He appeared convinced that if he had had sufficient time inquiries would have cleared him of any allegations and that would have allowed him retain his seat.
“If I was an ordinary voter on the street and had listened relentlessly to the press attacks on me I would understand them having misgivings and that was my concern that I was not going to have the opportunity of clearing my name before I would go before the electorate.”
Mr Robinson said that “in the context of party politics within unionism there has been a very strong endorsement of the policy and strategy and direction of the DUP”.