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Ian Paisley quits after 40 years as MP
Tuesday, 2 March 2010
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The DUP’s founding father Ian Paisley today confirmed that he will not be standing in the forthcoming general election.
The 83-year-old former First Minister, who has represented North Antrim for 40 years, said that it was now time for a new generation of politicians to take over.
Mr Paisley was widely expected to retire as an MP after stepping down as DUP leader in 2008, but after the Traditional Unionist Voice took almost 70,000 votes from the DUP at last year's European election, he had signalled he might seek re-election.
The DUP will officially select its Westminster candidate for the North Antrim seat next week. Mr Paisley’s departure is likely to pave the way for a bitter personal battle between his son, Ian Paisley Jnr, and Traditional Unionist Voice leader Jim Allister.
His decision to stand down was announced in an interview with his local newspaper the Ballymena Guardian in which Mr Paisley claimed the DUP could retain the seat.
“I have no doubt that the people of North Antrim will again support the DUP candidate at the next election,” he said.
He has held the seat in North Antrim since 1970 and in his last general election in 2005 polled 25,156 votes giving him a crushing majority of almost 18,000 and increasing his vote by 4.8%.
“I fought in the 1970 campaign against the sitting Official Unionist MP Henry Clark. He had produced a picture of me at a public meeting in Kells and proceeded to set it on fire,” he told the Ballymena Guardian.
“The outcome of the election that followed got me into the Guinness Book of Records for the largest ever overturning of a majority.”
Famed for his firebrand oratory, Mr Paisley was a founding member of the Free Presbyterian Church in Ireland in 1951. His evangelical theology heavily influenced his political views and throughout the Troubles he forthrightly denounced Catholicism and the papacy.
During the conflict he was a fierce critic of power-sharing with nationalists and of the Republic having a say in Northern Ireland's affairs.
But in his later political life, the one-time cheer-leader for hardline unionism underwent somewhat of a political conversion which finally saw him enter office with his long-time enemy, Sinn Fein.
His decision to accept the position of First Minister alongside deputy First Minister and former IRA commander Martin McGuinness in 2007 saw him hailed as a peacemaker by moderates but criticised by many former followers who accused him of betraying Ulster.
What proved almost more remarkable was the warmth of the relationship the two erstwhile foes developed during their year in officer together, leading some to dub them the “Chuckle Brothers”.
In recent years Dr Paisley has been looking frail and suffered serious ill-health in 2004, later admitting that he had “walked in death's shadow”.
After leaving the Commons he joined his wife Eileen, who was made a Baroness in 2006, in the House of Lords.
His final years in the House of Commons have not been untouched by the expenses controversies that rocked British politics.
The ex-DUP leader was criticised for repeatedly claiming maximum £400-per month London food allowance payments, while double jobbing as Stormont's First Minister
Confirming his father’s intention to fully retire from politics Ian Paisley Jnr said his father had done a “fantastic” job and had “devoted his life” to the people of North Antrim.
Meanwhile political opponent Jim Allister said: “In the early years he did a very good job. We will will fight this election over every vote and will be honoured if the electorate vote us in.”
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Comments
41 Comments
have a good rest .
ian
Posted by roy lovering | 31.03.10, 23:20 GMT
One of Dr Paisleys achievements was to split unionism down the centre after Terence O'Neill was ousted.
How strong would Unionists be today if the were united?
Ballymena Reader
Posted by Ballymena Observer | 25.03.10, 18:10 GMT
Paisley, with his vicious invective, tacit (and often open) propagation of terror organizations and unwillingness to compromise on anything below a Protestant parliament for a Protestant people was one of the biggest causes for the outbreak and continuation of the Troubles.
It was he who claimed that Catholics "breed like rats and multiply like vermin". It was he who said he'd "rather be British than be fair". It was he who opposed Sunningdale, helped lead the Ulster Workers strike in 1974, and did all he could to radicalize Ulster Loyalists against any notion of power-sharing with Catholics/Nationalists.
And all this from a supposed "Christian" minister.
He did come good in the end and realize the error of his ways, dampened down the ridiculous rhetoric and realized he had to share power with the other side and as such should be commended for it.
But his part in the horrific violence that hit Northern Ireland for over 30 years can never be glossed over.
Posted by Euskal Herria | 05.03.10, 12:08 GMT
Ther will STILL be an IAN Paisley. His son is also called Ian and he also is in politics so Ian will be around for a few years yet.
Posted by Sam Collins | 02.03.10, 22:21 GMT
. Remember the "silent collections" i.e. no coins, at his rallies in the sixties when 10 shillings was a lot of money.
Then there was Burntollet where thugs beat up civil rights marchers.
Harryville, where he stopped Catholics attending services at the new church there (68/69). Man of God?
He might not have started the troubles but he must take a lot of the blame for them.
Posted by Paddy Fields | 02.03.10, 21:55 GMT
The people he supposedly represents will say a hearty Amen
because he has been an absentee
MP at Westminster having only attended around 20percent of votes.
He missed many important ones.
Jim Allister will represent North Antrim well !!
Posted by Cromwellian | 02.03.10, 21:08 GMT
nrman.d you have a very good point , he used to mouth off then go on hoilday , never did like the man .
Posted by ernie | 02.03.10, 20:49 GMT
Rev Ian Paisley preached religious and political separation for years; then in latter times, he surrendered his former espoused principles and capitulated to serial compromise.
This enigmatic action evidences but two distinct possibilities; either he was wrong for years and led evangelical protestantism off course, or he has finally made a serious error of judgement, bringing his Church and political party into turmoil and defeat.
Posted by Rev Mervyn Cotton | 02.03.10, 20:26 GMT
I hope he has a happy retirement,maybe we will see him on Big Brother soon with Marty McG.
Posted by mik | 02.03.10, 20:26 GMT
Yes you are RIGHT,nrman,d. 1000,s of Unionists will not be sorry to see him go. All he wanted was power,and when he got it,what did he do. Go against all he preached,for 40years,many,many people were let ,and no tears will be spilled,for the Never Never,Never man
Posted by UNIONCRUISER | 02.03.10, 20:14 GMT
Dr Paisley was the greatest leader unionists ever had, a man of real strength and principle he helped the unionist people hold the line in Northern Ireland against the 40 year sectarian onslaught from the IRA which sought to ethnically cleanse Northern Ireland of Protestant people.
Dr Paisley only went into government with Sinn fein when they were a spent force, a defeated foe, they had to surrender their weapons and sit down in Stormont and administer northern Ireland under the durisdiction of the British Crown as part of the British United Kingdom. I wish Dr Paisley the very best in his retirement and Peter Robinson in his succession
Posted by Darrell Monteith | 02.03.10, 19:47 GMT
If he had retired 40 years ago Northern Ireland could have been spared a lot of grief. He stirred the sectarian pot then stood back and watched it boil over.
Posted by Sam | 02.03.10, 18:05 GMT
I like to meet him and have a chat. I may not agree with him fully but I admire a person that stands up for what he says. To many in the world of politics cannot do this. He is a Harry Truman in my book even though we are different colors. Young people can learn from him no matter what side of the fence they are on.
Posted by phl | 02.03.10, 17:58 GMT
If it was not for him we would be where we are now 20 or more years ago.
Posted by ron54 | 02.03.10, 17:24 GMT
I know Marlowe.
Ted, You're wrong. What happened, happened, and it's not all his fault. He's not the only one that made the cogs turn! Oh, N.I. maybe it should invite Islam, will you blame them next for trying to diminate? Or let me guess, it wont, lol. We all know wherever that religion goes, it'll become majority over time.
Posted by J Gibson | 02.03.10, 17:13 GMT
People remember Big Ian as the "Fire and brimstone preacher, the man who said Never etc etc".
People forget the wide ranging work that he did for his constituents, Protestant and Catholic alike.
He will be missed.
Posted by Richard | 02.03.10, 17:03 GMT
The Rev Ian awakened the fears many of the people in N Ireland had. However, at the end of the day he realized, it was just fear and ignorance.
Sitting alongside any Catholic does not make you less of a Protestant and visa versa.
Think about the early Civil Rights marches in N. Ireland and, what that was about….Equality in housing, employment and representation.
Who today would say that those were in-just demands?
What if….. The civil rights marches were just blown off as Labor and Student stunts, and the issues simply addressed from a right or wrong perspective. Would N. Ire’ be better place today?
Fear caused Action that resulted Re-action 40 years of Action=Reaction=Action=Reaction.
They Rev Ian, Martin McGuiness, and Jerry Adams to name a few, were part of this. However they have all come to there senses…………….at last. …..That time has passed.
JOBS, EDUCATION, HOUSING, CO
Posted by James | 02.03.10, 16:44 GMT
How is it possible for Paisley to have denounced the 1985 Anglo-Irish Agreement in 1981?
Posted by Proofread your articles | 02.03.10, 16:38 GMT
to all you people slating me about paisley my son put his life on the line to protect us from terrorists only to see paisley put them into government and as for taking us back to the bad old days who would take us back sinn fein if they dont get their way some of you would put bin laden in government if it meant peace
Posted by norman.d | 02.03.10, 15:26 GMT
all for one and one for himself turncoat.
Posted by opinion | 02.03.10, 15:06 GMT
41 Comments