New DUP leader praises Paisley

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After his party's 120-member executive formally ratified the Stormont Finance Minister to take over from Mr Paisley, the 59-year-old East Belfast MP paid a warm tribute to his predecessor, calling him a legend.

"I made one request of the executive members tonight and that was, when some months or years down the road they want to make a judgment on the leadership of the Democratic Unionist Party that will follow Ian Paisley, that they compare it to (Ulster Unionist leader Reg Empey) and all the others rather than comparing it to Ian Paisley," a delighted Mr Robinson quipped.

"On that score I think we will come out ahead.

"But it is a very difficult, almost frightening prospect to follow the leadership of someone of such a mighty standing in the community, someone who is a legend within the unionist community.

"But the upside of all of that is that Ian Paisley has been trailblazer. He has been able to build up the party and he is handing over a party in very good spirit.

"It is up to Nigel (Dodds, the new deputy leader) and I to give leadership along with our colleagues in the Assembly to the party and to the unionist community to make it very clear we are fighting for the unionist agenda, we will oppose republicans at every possible opportunity we have.

"The republican agenda is something we will resist because we are unionists and we believe the best future for Northern Ireland is with the Union."

Mr Robinson has been the deputy leader of the DUP for almost 28 years and an MP for 29.

Regarded as one of the most able politicians of his generation, he was the runaway favourite to succeed Mr Paisley who announced in March that he would be stepping down as leader of the DUP and as Northern Ireland's First Minister after a Stormont executive investment conference next month.