Peter Robinson Withstands the Clamor Over Scandal

The leader of the Democratic Unionist Party  Peter Robinson received so much required support from the members of his party notwithstanding the poignancy of scandal involving his wife Iris.

Photo: Peter Robinson Withstands the Clamor Over Scandal

Deputy Leader Nigel Dodds, flanked by party faithful including former leader the Rev Ian Paisley, said they had resisted pressure from the media and their political opponents to ditch Mr Robinson.

Mr Dodds said: "The Democratic Unionist Party officers, Assembly Group, Parliamentary Party and European Member, and in due course there will be a meeting of the party Executive, unanimously agreed despite attempts by members of the press and our political opponents to press the Rt Hon Peter Robinson to resign as party leader - we offer him our wholehearted support and our desire for him to remain in office as leader of the Democratic Unionist Party."

Mr Robinson has been facing calls for his resignation after a TV documentary claimed he failed to report his wife Iris to the parliamentary authorities for obtaining loans for her young lover to run a Belfast cafe.

The DUP leader said he has done nothing wrong and had told his wife, who is now said to be receiving acute psychiatric treatment from the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, to pay back the loans.

The DUP decision comes in defiance of the major political damage caused after the Robinsons were plunged into crisis when it emerged that Mrs Robinson had secured £50,000 from two wealthy developers to help her 19-year-old lover Kirk McCambley set up the restaurant business in south Belfast.

The Press Association has contributed to the report.