Robinson: I turned down Lords peerage

FORMER DUP leader Peter Robinson has confirmed he has turned down a nomination to the House of Lords.

In a statement on his Facebook page, Mr Robinson said he had received messages from the public, following “conflicting stories that have appeared in the print media, some expressing surprise that I had not being included on a list of DUP nominees for the House of Lords”.

It was reported recently that former Mid Ulster and South Antrim MP William McCrea, and current MEP Diane Dodds, were in line to be nominated for peerages. No mention of Mr Robinson was made in the article, sparking speculation about why his name was not being put forward.

The former First Minister said: “Some, who have written to me, have asked if my health has deteriorated while others have asked why the party did not propose me or whether I am unhappy with the present leadership.

“Far from the party bypassing me, immediately on my retirement as party leader and First Minister I was asked by Arlene and Nigel if the party could nominate me for a peerage. I thanked them for their thoughtful consid- eration but declined as I wanted a period to recover from my heart attack and take on new challenges,” he wrote.

Mr Robinson had widely been expected to be granted a peerage following his retirement in 2016.

“Happily, I have had no reoccurrence of my heart problem, though I am presently recuperating from a recent minor operation.”

Mr Robinson said his possible nomination to the Lords had been raised again by his party colleagues, and he had once again asked them not to proceed.

He said the main reason was that he believes the DUP, which has a ‘confidence and supply’ agreement with the Government, “need dedicated working peers”.

He also said “business responsibilities and other projects” meant he wouldn’t be able to devote the time to being a peer.

Speculation: Peter Robinson