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
1098 Views
Oh, right, I had totally forgotten that...
- 11/05/2010 08:14:31 PM
830 Views
Nope. The Tories can form a minority government and risk the danger of collapsing.
- 11/05/2010 08:18:31 PM
826 Views
That is what is being reported. From the Guardian quoting an unnamed Lib Dem MP
- 11/05/2010 08:30:52 PM
869 Views
But at the price of PR, no doubt.
- 11/05/2010 08:32:02 PM
828 Views
Not much of a price, I suspect
- 11/05/2010 08:49:38 PM
852 Views
The new cabinet is starting to come together.
- 11/05/2010 09:46:03 PM
812 Views
Defence is now updated to Fox according to Sky
- 11/05/2010 10:54:58 PM
710 Views
Yeah, just saw that coming through.
- 11/05/2010 11:00:25 PM
865 Views
That one is a surprise to me, I expected Clegg to get it in some form
- 11/05/2010 11:06:36 PM
763 Views
They're back to talking about Gove as Home Secretary.
- 12/05/2010 12:01:44 AM
783 Views
Heh, he has at least been barely caught up in the expenses scandal
- 12/05/2010 12:20:46 AM
793 Views
*Raises hand*
- 11/05/2010 10:00:22 PM
796 Views
Ick.
- 11/05/2010 10:15:13 PM
704 Views
How utterly delightful.
- 11/05/2010 10:17:15 PM
786 Views
And now we have a new government. The LibDems have signed up wholeheartedly.
- 12/05/2010 12:16:31 AM
766 Views
And I now think I can class myself as a former Lib Dem voter
- 12/05/2010 12:33:28 AM
716 Views
What would you have them do?
- 12/05/2010 09:32:57 AM
916 Views
There are more than two choices
- 12/05/2010 10:20:35 AM
868 Views
- 12/05/2010 10:20:35 AM
868 Views
The only problem is that would mean returning a labour majority within 12 months
- 12/05/2010 11:36:47 AM
835 Views
They should have, since they didn't get enough important ministerial posts to compensate.
- 12/05/2010 01:42:07 PM
826 Views
Re: They should have, since they didn't get enough important ministerial posts to compensate.
- 12/05/2010 02:13:19 PM
850 Views
What about Northern Ireland? For the love of God, what about Northern Ireland?!?!?! *NM*
- 12/05/2010 05:00:37 AM
340 Views
What about it? Their parties won't be in the government.
- 12/05/2010 10:27:50 AM
686 Views
Well some very interesting things happened
- 12/05/2010 11:45:36 AM
805 Views
That they did, but it's still largely symbolic.
- 12/05/2010 01:03:31 PM
870 Views
Oh it's important to him
- 12/05/2010 03:00:54 PM
761 Views
I was constantly checking up on Fermanagh & South Tyrone during the recounts.
- 12/05/2010 01:16:50 PM
784 Views
There are no firm plans on how to deal with the north joining the republic
- 12/05/2010 03:19:52 PM
770 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
322 Views
Nick Clegg is the first ever Deputy PM without an actual ministerial role.
- 12/05/2010 01:22:49 PM
846 Views
Re: Nick Clegg is the first ever Deputy PM without an actual ministerial role. Yet
- 12/05/2010 01:41:12 PM
754 Views
Maybe.
- 12/05/2010 01:47:16 PM
775 Views

*NM*