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Oh it's important to him Mark Send a noteboard - 12/05/2010 03:00:54 PM
NI isn't in the Westminster government, and don't really have the seats to wield much power there, unless they all band together. Peter Robinson losing his seat was a humiliation - but ultimately not that important for him, as he said immediately afterwards, because it's his position as FM in Stormont that counts.


Loosing his seat means his days are pretty much numbered, despite what DUP members are saying publicly. Holding onto his seat was a chance to try and regain ground and fight back against the internal factions looking to get rid of him, now that he has failed I can't see any other way out.

As for having no influence in Westminster it all depended on the Tory numbers. If the Tories had have been just shy of a majority they probably would have done a deal with the DUP to leave the norths finances alone (or at least relativity unscathed) in return for support. As it stands the North is likely to loose a lot of money.
Once known as Hochopepa

You cannot kill a vampire with an MDF stake; werewolves can't fly; zombies do not run. - Simon Pegg
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Britain has a new Prime Minister - 11/05/2010 08:12:50 PM 857 Views
Oh, right, I had totally forgotten that... - 11/05/2010 08:14:31 PM 592 Views
Nope. The Tories can form a minority government and risk the danger of collapsing. - 11/05/2010 08:18:31 PM 586 Views
That is what is being reported. From the Guardian quoting an unnamed Lib Dem MP - 11/05/2010 08:30:52 PM 635 Views
But at the price of PR, no doubt. - 11/05/2010 08:32:02 PM 577 Views
Maybe not. - 11/05/2010 08:41:24 PM 637 Views
Not much of a price, I suspect - 11/05/2010 08:49:38 PM 598 Views
That is the biggest danger to the LibDems. - 11/05/2010 09:10:09 PM 580 Views
Indeed. - 11/05/2010 09:20:27 PM 664 Views
The only hope for this coalition is a constitutional change - 11/05/2010 09:13:43 PM 594 Views
Possibly. - 11/05/2010 09:21:38 PM 578 Views
The new cabinet is starting to come together. - 11/05/2010 09:46:03 PM 567 Views
Plus Secretary for Scotland to the Lib Dems - imagine that. - 11/05/2010 09:50:11 PM 647 Views
It's a sop/peacemaker role, depending how you look at it. - 11/05/2010 09:54:02 PM 575 Views
It is a pat on the head. - 11/05/2010 10:19:14 PM 463 Views
The Tory half is depressing already - 11/05/2010 10:13:58 PM 525 Views
Defence is now updated to Fox according to Sky - 11/05/2010 10:54:58 PM 468 Views
Yeah, just saw that coming through. - 11/05/2010 11:00:25 PM 622 Views
That one is a surprise to me, I expected Clegg to get it in some form - 11/05/2010 11:06:36 PM 523 Views
They're back to talking about Gove as Home Secretary. - 12/05/2010 12:01:44 AM 535 Views
Heh, he has at least been barely caught up in the expenses scandal - 12/05/2010 12:20:46 AM 534 Views
*Raises hand* - 11/05/2010 10:00:22 PM 543 Views
Tories = Conservatives - 11/05/2010 10:06:35 PM 553 Views
Re: Tories = Conservatives - 11/05/2010 10:17:33 PM 565 Views
Ick. - 11/05/2010 10:15:13 PM 466 Views
When will you realise that I am always right? - 12/05/2010 02:12:04 AM 562 Views
Re: When will you realise that I am always right? - 12/05/2010 09:14:07 AM 443 Views
How utterly delightful. - 11/05/2010 10:17:15 PM 541 Views
it does make for fine entertainment *NM* - 12/05/2010 04:39:50 AM 353 Views
Indeed it does *NM* - 12/05/2010 01:34:45 PM 235 Views
Re: How utterly delightful. - 13/05/2010 12:03:08 PM 421 Views
If you want to smile some more, - 13/05/2010 07:10:46 PM 479 Views
hes cute. *NM* - 12/05/2010 12:11:58 AM 426 Views
And now we have a new government. The LibDems have signed up wholeheartedly. - 12/05/2010 12:16:31 AM 516 Views
And I now think I can class myself as a former Lib Dem voter - 12/05/2010 12:33:28 AM 468 Views
No mention of it so far. - 12/05/2010 12:42:10 AM 769 Views
Indeed - 12/05/2010 01:02:01 AM 556 Views
What would you have them do? - 12/05/2010 09:32:57 AM 655 Views
What about Northern Ireland? For the love of God, what about Northern Ireland?!?!?! *NM* - 12/05/2010 05:00:37 AM 241 Views
What about it? Their parties won't be in the government. - 12/05/2010 10:27:50 AM 430 Views
Well some very interesting things happened - 12/05/2010 11:45:36 AM 554 Views
That they did, but it's still largely symbolic. - 12/05/2010 01:03:31 PM 620 Views
Oh it's important to him - 12/05/2010 03:00:54 PM 519 Views
I think what he means is that saying "Britain" instead of "the UK" technically excludes NI. *NM* - 12/05/2010 01:06:56 PM 223 Views
Oh, right. Good point, then. *NM* - 12/05/2010 01:17:51 PM 218 Views
Exactly. *NM* - 12/05/2010 08:07:06 PM 211 Views
Nick Clegg is the first ever Deputy PM without an actual ministerial role. - 12/05/2010 01:22:49 PM 598 Views
Re: Nick Clegg is the first ever Deputy PM without an actual ministerial role. Yet - 12/05/2010 01:41:12 PM 494 Views
Maybe. - 12/05/2010 01:47:16 PM 524 Views
It would make a snappy title - 12/05/2010 02:04:55 PM 416 Views
Well, he's now Lord President of the Council. - 12/05/2010 08:05:33 PM 604 Views

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