Last night, after watching the BBC Spotlight investigation into “Robinsongate” I felt it was self-evident why Peter Robinson should resign. This morning I hear calls from senior politicians – like Sir Reg Empey, Leader of the UUP, and David Ford, Leader of the Alliance Party – that Iris Robinson should leave political office immediately. However, that’s not enough. The First Minister should resign and all senior politicians should call upon him to do so.
Sir Reg, on BBC Radio Ulster this morning, was typically analytical – calling for a transcript of the programme and suggesting that investigations might be required. However, for Sir Reg’s benefit, let me make clear why Peter Robinson must resign as First Minister.
Clause IX of the Northern Ireland Executive Ministerial Code of Conduct states that Ministers should “declare any personal or business interests which may conflict with their responsibilities. The Assembly will retain a Register of Interests. Individuals must ensure that any direct or indirect pecuniary interests [my emphasis] which members of the public might reasonably think could influence their judgement are listed in the Register of Interests.”
In short, the code makes clear that all Ministers – including the First Minister – must put his public duty ahead of his private duty. It was clear that he did not.
Neither Peter Robinson nor his wife made the authorities aware that Iris was accepting cash donations from property developers to support her lover’s business venture.
According to last night’s programme, Peter Robinson, while he may only have discovered in March last year that his wife was having an affair, was aware that his wife had been funding Kirk McCambley.
It would appear from last night’s programme that Mr Robinson, eventually, insisted that his wife return this money to the property developers who provided it. However, he made no public acknowledgement, at the time he was made aware of it, that his wife was involved in Mr McCambley’s business. He therefore breached the Ministerial Code of Conduct.
Moreover, as someone in high political office, it must surely have seemed odd to Mr Robinson that a personal friend of the Robinson family – Kirk McCambley – was considered the only suitable candidate for the Lock Keeper’s Inn by Castlereagh Council, when Mr Robinson will have been aware that Mr McCambley had been bank-rolled by his wife. Moreover, surely questions must have arisen in Mr Robinson’s mind (unless he was fully aware of the situation) when a personal friend of his wife’s was awarded the tenancy of the Lock Keeper’s Inn by the Council – a council upon which his wife served.
In short, if the programme was accurate last night, and Mr Robinson was aware of his wife’s pecuniary interest in Mr McCambley, and failed to highlight this, he was in breach of the Code. He was also in breach of the Code by not making the authorities aware that his wife had failed to declare her pecuniary interest in Mr McCambley’s business to Castlereagh Council, The Northern Ireland Assembly and to the authorities at Westminster.
If he fails to resign the Northern Ireland Executive will lose all credibility – as well as all politicians who fail to call for his resignation.
One wonders how or why it was so easy for Mrs R to get a couple of property developers to come up with cheques for £25K each. One who did not want the money back had been the developer of a huge number of houses in an area where the granting of planning permission was in the gift of Castlereagh council.
Politics depends on enough people having confidence in a party and its leader.
Robinson is now a figure of derision.
1. He went to Stormont and joked and laughed in the chamber while his wife went to hospital after a sucicide attempt.
2. His wife committed adultery with a 19 year old.
3. He was involved in a cover up over money.
4. The TV appearance re his wife was not about her adultery it was about his future being in jeopardy.
5. The jar has been opened on his dealings with developers over the years and will not be easy to close as every planning approval in Castlereagh will be scrutinised.
Paisley Dynasty – finished 2008
Robinson Dynasty – finished 2010.
DUP Dynasty – finished 2011
Good prediction.
lol
If it was peter robinson who was guity for adultery or if it was even he, that was the person who was responsible for the 50k, he should resign, the people who are to blame are iris, kirk, selwyn black.
So to say that peter robinson should resign is the biggest load of rubbish ever said.
Anyway who wants x-terrorist saints running the show, you might as well bring the yorkshire ripper out of jail to help as well.
John, the adultery is not the issue – as the post clearly articulates. The issue relates to the public duty of the First Minister. Also you may believe that to ask for Mr Robinson’s resignation is “rubbish” but most people don’t agree with you. When I last looked a Belfast Telegraph web poll was showing that 75% of voters felt Mr Robinson should resign.
Mr Robinson will be replaced as First Minister by another DUP MLA. But, hopefully, after the next election, the DUP’s importance in Northern Ireland politics will be significantly reduced – to be replaced by politicians less inclined toward biblical moralising and more focused on public service.
Again its wrong to say that mr robinson does not do his public duties or services, maybe iris has failed but NOT peter.
Sorry for you and others, biblical moralising is in the law of the land, so to make that point also is wrong.
Also to make the other point “that” hopefully the DUP will not be the largest party in government is good news, tell me, really, how the heck is that sensible, do you really want certain people who have done more harm than iris robinson to be in charge.
I think its time for people to wise up.
I’m pretty confident that Conservative and Unionist candidates will take a significant share of the vote at the next general election. That is to be welcomed. My hope is that, over time, Northern Ireland’s political system will be normalised so that we will have no need for sectarian Parties at all – DUP, UUP, Sinn Fein, SDLP and the rest of our local Parties. In time the absurd system of politics here, based on religious tribe, will go away. In some senses the Robinsons have helped with the normalisation process by showing how hypocritical “Christian politicians” are.
As for your point about the law, this is nonsense. Our system of common law is based on ethical systems that pre-date even Christianity. Are you suggesting that there were no systems of morality – based on human altruism – before Christianity? In many respects Christian based morals are anti-moral in that they assume that people do good only for redemption. My view is that people should do good for the benefit of mankind.
You are only saying those things because the DUP kick your pants at the last election, plus I think by your response you clearly have problems with what the HOLY BIBLE says concerning the Gay issue.
Why is it John Dynes, that so many Christians, particularly the fundamental variety, have such an interest in other peoples sexual orientation. If you use the bible as a reason then you are cherry picking its contents to suit your own agenda. It also says people who work on the sabbath should be stoned, and I hope you don’t like shrimp, for that is another no no. As for not allowing yourself to come into contact with “unclean” women who are on their monthly cycle, that must be a bit of a minefield for you doing the shopping at Tescos.
Iris Robinson has demonstrated her own hypocrisy by vilifying the gay community, comparing them to paedophiles, and then she herself gets involved in an adulterous affair with someone who, when compared to her age, is not much more than a child himself.
We don’t need the bible in politics, We may have peace now, but our politics are still tribal. It’s time for a change, and maybe a Peter Robinson resignation could be the beginning of that change!
Well said Joe.
You need joe to help you !.
John I got bored with your puerile, mal-formed sentences and moronic bible-babble. However, the solidarity of a fellow secularist is always to be welcomed.
What! I can’t believe it, really it was me who gave your blog credibility.
iris robinson isnt she the one who said homosexuals could be cured..i think shes the one who needs therapy for her own sexual appetite.i feel sorry for mr robinson for his private life being dragged into the public gaze and humiliated and embarresd by his wife..Hes the one left to pick up the pieces.
It looks like “old Peter” is going to be your boss.
Now! is the time for Peter Robinson to RESIGN from POLITICS as we now know “that” his Shady dealing is clear.