No surrender - just goodbye

Last Modified: 04 Mar 2008
By: Gary Gibbon

Our political editor Gary Gibbon reports as Ian Paisley stands down as First Minister of Northern Ireland and Party Leader of the Democratic Unionists

He left the Church he founded - now he's leaving the leadership of the party he founded and First Minister of Northern Ireland's parliament.

Has he just had enough after fifty years in politics or has it more to do with financial questions surrounding his son and his perceived closeness to Sinn Fein?

Martin McGuinness said tonight he will be fondly remembered...

Gregory Campbell interview

The Democratic Unionist MP Gregory Campbell joined us from Westminster to discuss Ian Paisley's resignation.
Watch the interview

An appropriate time to bow out - the Rev Ian Paisley declared tonight as he announced he would be stepping down as Northern Ireland's First Minister in May. Mr Paisley, who's 81 - will also be resigning as leader of the Democratic Unionist party - a post he's held for almost forty years.

His decision comes hard on the heels of the resignation of his son from the Stormont Executive - after a series of negative reports over his links to a property developer and questions over the Rev Paisley's own expenses. Many within his own DUP also saw him as getting too close to Sinn Fein.