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Peter Robinson to miss key vote after suspected heart attack Peter Robinson to miss key vote after suspected heart attack
(36 minutes later)
Northern Ireland’s first minister, Peter Robinson, will miss a crucial vote in the Stormont assembly that could threaten power sharing after suffering a suspected heart attack.Northern Ireland’s first minister, Peter Robinson, will miss a crucial vote in the Stormont assembly that could threaten power sharing after suffering a suspected heart attack.
The 66-year-old was admitted to the Ulster hospital on the eastern outskirts of Belfast after feeling unwell on Monday morning. He was transferred to Belfast’s Royal Victoria hospital where his family are at his bedside. The Robinson family have appealed for privacy at this stage.The 66-year-old was admitted to the Ulster hospital on the eastern outskirts of Belfast after feeling unwell on Monday morning. He was transferred to Belfast’s Royal Victoria hospital where his family are at his bedside. The Robinson family have appealed for privacy at this stage.
There had been some speculation that a critical debate on welfare reform would be postponed. But the debate in the regional parliament is scheduled to go ahead on Tuesday afternoon.There had been some speculation that a critical debate on welfare reform would be postponed. But the debate in the regional parliament is scheduled to go ahead on Tuesday afternoon.
Confirming the first minister’s illness, a spokesman for his Democratic Unionist party said: “The first minister felt unwell this morning and has been admitted to the hospital for some further tests.”Confirming the first minister’s illness, a spokesman for his Democratic Unionist party said: “The first minister felt unwell this morning and has been admitted to the hospital for some further tests.”
The DUP leader had been about to enter a difficult week in Ulster politics with warnings that the Northern Ireland executive might collapse over a failure to implement the welfare reform bill.The DUP leader had been about to enter a difficult week in Ulster politics with warnings that the Northern Ireland executive might collapse over a failure to implement the welfare reform bill.
The two nationalist parties in the five-party power-sharing coalition at Stormont, Sinn Féin and the SDLP, had vowed over the weekend to veto the bill, which paves the way for cuts to the public sector and spending.The two nationalist parties in the five-party power-sharing coalition at Stormont, Sinn Féin and the SDLP, had vowed over the weekend to veto the bill, which paves the way for cuts to the public sector and spending.
Both parties confirmed on Monday that they would use a “petition of concern” – a parliamentary mechanism designed to veto bills that do not have the support of each religious/political community in the region – to shoot down the welfare bill.Both parties confirmed on Monday that they would use a “petition of concern” – a parliamentary mechanism designed to veto bills that do not have the support of each religious/political community in the region – to shoot down the welfare bill.
Robinson and the DUP have insisted Sinn Féin and the SDLP had signed up to welfare reforms as part of the Stormont house agreement at the start of this year. The cuts to jobs and services are part of a deal with the UK Treasury to obtain a low corporation tax for Northern Ireland.Robinson and the DUP have insisted Sinn Féin and the SDLP had signed up to welfare reforms as part of the Stormont house agreement at the start of this year. The cuts to jobs and services are part of a deal with the UK Treasury to obtain a low corporation tax for Northern Ireland.
Robinson has held the post of first minister since 2008 with Sinn Féin’s Martin McGuinness as deputy. McGuinness expressed his concern for Robinson and his family, saying: “My thoughts and prayers are with him, Iris [Robinson’s wife] and family.”Robinson has held the post of first minister since 2008 with Sinn Féin’s Martin McGuinness as deputy. McGuinness expressed his concern for Robinson and his family, saying: “My thoughts and prayers are with him, Iris [Robinson’s wife] and family.”
A spokesperson for the Royal Victoria hospital confirmed Robinson had a medical procedure after he arrived there, saying: “Mr Robinson underwent a procedure this morning and is currently recovering. He and his family have requested the need for privacy from this point onwards.”A spokesperson for the Royal Victoria hospital confirmed Robinson had a medical procedure after he arrived there, saying: “Mr Robinson underwent a procedure this morning and is currently recovering. He and his family have requested the need for privacy from this point onwards.”
While first minister, Robinson has found himself under considerable personal strain. His wife was dubbed the unofficial first lady of Northern Ireland in 2008. But in 2010, the DUP suffered considerable damage after her affair with a teenager was revealed. She was expelled from the party and was said to be receiving “acute psychiatric treatment”.While first minister, Robinson has found himself under considerable personal strain. His wife was dubbed the unofficial first lady of Northern Ireland in 2008. But in 2010, the DUP suffered considerable damage after her affair with a teenager was revealed. She was expelled from the party and was said to be receiving “acute psychiatric treatment”.
Alongside his personal troubles, Robinson’s tenure has been beset with political crises and the power-sharing executive being brought close to collapse several times. He threatened to resign as first minister in February 2014 unless there was a judicial inquiry into the on-the-runs scandal, in which secret amnesty letters were given to more than 180 IRA suspects. Alongside his personal troubles, Robinson’s tenure has been beset with political crises and the power-sharing executive being brought close to collapse several times.
He threatened to resign as first minister in February 2014 unless there was a judicial inquiry into the on-the-runs scandal, in which secret amnesty letters were given to more than 180 IRA suspects.
David Cameron promised an inquiry hours before a midnight deadline set by Robinson at the time – pulling Northern Ireland back from the brink of political meltdown.David Cameron promised an inquiry hours before a midnight deadline set by Robinson at the time – pulling Northern Ireland back from the brink of political meltdown.
The DUP leader’s ultimatum followed the collapse of the trial of John Downey, suspected of involvement in the 1982 Hyde Park bombing which killed four soldiers.The DUP leader’s ultimatum followed the collapse of the trial of John Downey, suspected of involvement in the 1982 Hyde Park bombing which killed four soldiers.