Lindy McDowell: We'll never forget you, Big Man

Lindy McDowell

Lindy McDowell, Belfast Telegraph

Wednesday, March 05, 2008

Never! Never! Never! Och, well, all right then . . . sometime in May. In the end the surprise news that Rev Ian RK Paisley had finally decided to step down as DUP leader, First Minister and Chuckle Sibling, came as no big surprise to anyone.

It was generally accepted at Stormont that with the departure of Ian Junior who resigned as junior minister in his father's office only a couple of weeks ago, the Big Man - who is of course, now quite an elderly man - -would find the going very tough indeed.

With the son gone, the father didn't wholly have a ghost of a chance of keeping on top of his game.

All the same . . . Used as we now may be to previously unimaginable new relationships up at Stormont, there is still a sense of gulp in the air.

Not over the farewell itself. But the political obituary. Ian Paisley, fondly remembered - by Martin McGuinness.

There was a time when Ian Paisley the Younger (not the son, but the father back in his fire and brimstone days) would have chuckled, or choked, at that.

Never, never, never? You said it, Ian. The real political obituary of course will be written by history. Not by today's media. Or even a Deputy First Minister.

For the rest of us the interesting part is what happens now. The smart money - let's face it, all the money - is on Peter Robinson to succeed. Robinson is a savvy political operator and will want to sustain the stability of the Stormont administration.

But it is extremely difficult to imagine quite the same degree of chuckle-some bonhomie between himself and Mr McG. From Chuckle Brothers to the Brothers Grim?

The DUP have had the distinct advantage of months, possibly years of preparation for this day. But what of the other part of the Chuckle Coalition? Change of leadership in one political party oddly often has a knock-on effect. It's a bit like getting a new sofa for the living room. Suddenly it shows up all the old paintwork.

Similarly a shiny new leader (well, newish) tends to have the other parties wondering if they aren't due a revamp too.

Which raises the question of Gerry. He resurfaced again at the weekend for a party conference. But generally Gerry Adams has been playing a backbench role of late. Watching him in the Assembly these days, you find yourself asking: "Didn't he used to be a major political player in these parts?"

It may be a false impression. But these days Gerry looks like a boy also considering a move towards the commemorative clock and pension plan.

And let's face it, if he was a football manager there would have long since been a revolt on the terraces. In terms of results, Gerry can hardly be said to have delivered. No Irish unity. No sweeping the boards down south.

Who would replace him though? Martin, the eternal sidekick is surely too much associated with the old regime to bring that new breath of fresh air - and confidence - that Sinn Fein so obviously needs.

It would be a bit like replacing Blair with Brown. And we all saw how successful that was.

Ian Paisley no longer has to worry about leadership challenge. The political obituaries of the man whose own initials are RIP will note he Retired in Peacetime. History will take a wider, cooler look.

For the rest of us, it's a very different political RIP that will impact on our futures now. A new era dawns.

Robinson in Power.