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
You cannot kill a vampire with an MDF stake; werewolves can't fly; zombies do not run. - Simon Pegg
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
Not much of a price, I suspect
11/05/2010 08:49:38 PM
- 598 Views
The new cabinet is starting to come together.
11/05/2010 09:46:03 PM
- 567 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
Ick.
11/05/2010 10:15:13 PM
- 466 Views
How utterly delightful.
11/05/2010 10:17:15 PM
- 541 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
What would you have them do?
12/05/2010 09:32:57 AM
- 655 Views
There are more than two choices
12/05/2010 10:20:35 AM
- 630 Views
The only problem is that would mean returning a labour majority within 12 months
12/05/2010 11:36:47 AM
- 587 Views
They should have, since they didn't get enough important ministerial posts to compensate.
12/05/2010 01:42:07 PM
- 583 Views
Re: They should have, since they didn't get enough important ministerial posts to compensate.
12/05/2010 02:13:19 PM
- 614 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 was constantly checking up on Fermanagh & South Tyrone during the recounts.
12/05/2010 01:16:50 PM
- 534 Views
There are no firm plans on how to deal with the north joining the republic
12/05/2010 03:19:52 PM
- 526 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
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