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DUP to reshuffle ministerial team Dodds may leave finance ministry
(9 minutes later)
There are strong indications that DUP deputy leader and finance minister Nigel Dodds will step down from the Stormont Executive.
DUP leader Peter Robinson is preparing to reshuffle his executive team as the party comes to grips with its worst European election since 1979.DUP leader Peter Robinson is preparing to reshuffle his executive team as the party comes to grips with its worst European election since 1979.
Mr Robinson pledged to reconnect with the electorate following the poll which saw the TUV's Jim Allister snatch 40% of the party's vote. The poll saw the TUV's Jim Allister snatch 40% of the party's vote.
It had been thought that Mr Dodds would continue as a minister but there are signs he wants to stay at Westminster.
It is believed an announcement on a new team could be made within days.It is believed an announcement on a new team could be made within days.
BBC NI political editor Mark Devenport said Mr Dodds also wanted to concentrate on the party's efforts to "reconnect with the grassroots supporters who may have deserted it for Jim Allister's Traditional Unionist Voice".
"The DUP reshuffle was signalled during the European election campaign when Peter Robinson pledged to end double jobbing by MPs," he said.
"The DUP leader said he would remain an MP and first minister and one other MP would also stay on in the Executive.
"It had been believed, for reasons of continuity in the challenging finance job, this might be Nigel Dodds. But there are indications he would prefer to focus on Westminster.
"Other DUP ministers such as Sammy Wilson, Gregory Campbell and Jeffrey Donaldson will also have to decide whether they prefer to remain at Westminster or concentrate on Stormont."
'Contenders'
There is speculation that Nelson McCausland is a possibility to take Mr Campbell's post as culture minister.There is speculation that Nelson McCausland is a possibility to take Mr Campbell's post as culture minister.
Edwin Poots is viewed as a contender to return to the Executive, while Peter Weir may be a new face.Edwin Poots is viewed as a contender to return to the Executive, while Peter Weir may be a new face.
Mr Robinson signalled last month that he intends to end double-jobbing and remove most of the party's MPs from ministerial posts as well as committee chairs.
In future MPs will have to choose between Stormont and Westminster.
On Monday, the DUP's Diane Dodds was beaten into third place behind Jim Nicholson from the Conservatives and Unionists, although she did not reach the quota.On Monday, the DUP's Diane Dodds was beaten into third place behind Jim Nicholson from the Conservatives and Unionists, although she did not reach the quota.
Sinn Féin's Bairbre de Brun topped the poll - smashing the DUP's 30-year-long record of securing the most votes in European elections.Sinn Féin's Bairbre de Brun topped the poll - smashing the DUP's 30-year-long record of securing the most votes in European elections.
Mr Robinson said the DUP must learn from its worst ever European election result - and could learn lessons from Sinn Fein.Mr Robinson said the DUP must learn from its worst ever European election result - and could learn lessons from Sinn Fein.
"I'm not one who regularly blogs but I did read one comment which I thought was pertinent where it said Sinn Fein have an awful lot to learn from the DUP in terms of governance but the DUP have an awful lot to learn from Sinn Fein in terms of communicating with their base."I'm not one who regularly blogs but I did read one comment which I thought was pertinent where it said Sinn Fein have an awful lot to learn from the DUP in terms of governance but the DUP have an awful lot to learn from Sinn Fein in terms of communicating with their base.
"There's a lot of truth in that.""There's a lot of truth in that."
Diane Dodds is now an MEP without reaching the quota Peter Robinson said lessons had to be learned
The DUP had 32% of the entire first preference vote in 2004, this time it fell to 18.2%.The DUP had 32% of the entire first preference vote in 2004, this time it fell to 18.2%.
Former DUP MEP Jim Allister, now the leader of Traditional Unionist Voice, polled more than 66,000 votes, but was later eliminated.Former DUP MEP Jim Allister, now the leader of Traditional Unionist Voice, polled more than 66,000 votes, but was later eliminated.
On Monday, Mr Robinson told the BBC that there was "nothing more certain to make people stay at home" than unionist bickering and division.On Monday, Mr Robinson told the BBC that there was "nothing more certain to make people stay at home" than unionist bickering and division.
"We had a three way split for the unionist vote and the consequences can be seen," he said."We had a three way split for the unionist vote and the consequences can be seen," he said.
"I am disappointed. I believe that a very significant section of our support base stayed at home. There's a message in that for us. We have to connect and communicate with those people. We have to win those votes out."I am disappointed. I believe that a very significant section of our support base stayed at home. There's a message in that for us. We have to connect and communicate with those people. We have to win those votes out.
"We have to face up to the fact that while a large portion of the unionist electorate find it very difficult to have Sinn Fein in government, I think that we did the right thing.""We have to face up to the fact that while a large portion of the unionist electorate find it very difficult to have Sinn Fein in government, I think that we did the right thing."