'No surrender' Paisley to retire

Commenting on Ian Paisley's announcement to stand down as First Minister in Northern Ireland has obviously led to varying reactions. For now, the comments are relatively moderate, although with time, I am sure that this will change! Liking Ian Paisley has been quite a challenge for me over the years, but his willingness to enter coalition with Sinn Fein was the catalyst for me to reassess my position. Known for his hard line 'No surrender' stance to Republicanism, it was surprising that he was ready to take on the power-sharing role with Sinn Fein, a step too far for David Trimble -which ultimately led to his downfall.

The reasons why Ian Paisley is resigning is of little significance in the wider political picture in my opinion, but what will happen next will determine the future of the North. Ian Paisley has dominated the political landscape, and that of the DUP for decades. Despite Ian Paisley's now waning popularity as leader, one may not merely dismiss his influence on the party and his hold on its members, and his successor will be only too aware of this. I remember driving past Paisley's church years ago, the congregation spilling out onto the streets- such was his influence.

Paisley's decision to enter Government with Sinn Fein may not have been a simple decision, but it was certainly a way in which to tie Sinn Fein closer to the British establishment, and a way of removing them from their plight of creating a united Ireland. Paisley may have sat down to compare Northern Ireland with the other devolved entities in enacting his strategy- certainly, in Scotland and Wales, many argue that providing us with a limited form of devolution will 'keep us quiet', and will allow Westminster to keep an arms length approach to governance in the UK. Whether this will be successful in the long-term is unclear, especially with the SNP highlighting the call for Independence- however genuine this is at the present moment in time. Nevertheless, it is true that Sinn Fein now work within the confines of the British establishment, but with an effort to build a new Ireland of the North in the short term, I am convinced that embrace this they must before considering the issue of a United Ireland.

The next leader of the DUP must take on the challenge of balancing a new approach to governance and that of ensuring their former leader's goal of remaining as part of Britain. Paisley's quotes over the weekend of 'smashing' Sinn Fein is an overestimation of their success in encouraging/forcing/pulling Sinn Fein into the British system, and Sinn Fein leaders are only too aware of this strategy.

However, I don't believe that any political party in the North of Ireland wants to return to the violence of the Troubles, and the new generation of politicians must show that there are other ways of working, of co-operating so that social justice and equality are issues of importance for them all, in line with the constitutional question, of course.