Woodward refuses to speculate on Robinson future
Northern Ireland Secretary Shaun Woodward has refused to speculate about the future of DUP leader Peter Robinson, after this week's revelations about his wife Iris's affair and financial dealings with a 19-year-old.
Mr Robinson was attempting to clear his name today after insisting he did not know of his wife’s irregular financial dealings with her teenage lover.
He has ordered an official inquiry into his own conduct on discovering his wife had secured £50,000 (€55,600) from two wealthy developers to help her 19-year-old lover set up a restaurant business in south Belfast.
At the office of the DUP headquarters in his East Belfast constituency he said: “I have consistently indicated that I have done nothing wrong, that I acted properly.
“But me believing that and saying it, in my view, is not sufficient because I am being, if you like, tried by the press and therefore I think that we need to have an investigation.”
Mr Woodward said today: “It is a responsibility on everyone in the Assembly to understand that the consequences of allowing the political process to slide would undoubtedly have an impact on the broader canvas.
“And that if anybody were to be selfish enough to think this is a moment when that can be allowed to be put in the deep freeze, even some may wish to unpick, they would be extremely irresponsible, foolish and would be playing very, very dangerous games.”
Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Mr Woodward said that the First Minister had to be allowed the opportunity to clear his name.
But he went on: “I’m very conscious of the fact that while all that is happening, he is First Minister and the business of devolution, the business of the Executive must go on.
“I hope he will be able to resume the responsibilities as First Minister to ensure that the work of the Executive continues and that includes the talks on policing and justice devolution.”
