Watch your back!

Robin Sheeran The Politics Show Northern Ireland

When Peter Robinson assumed the role of Democratic Unionist leader it seemed he had the world at his feet. Is Peter Robinson the new David Trimble?

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Peter Robinson: another hamstrung unionist leader?

A matter of months later and the first minister faces potential enemies within and without the DUP, and is stymied by the repeated failure of the Executive to meet.

This week on Politics Show from Northern Ireland, our political correspondent, Martina Purdy, asks whether or not Peter Robinson is the new David Trimble: a unionist leader hamstrung by the need to keep his enemies at bay.

Political spectre

The air of paranoia some detect in the DUP camp was most apparent following the Dromore by-election where the party lost out to the UUP.

Spectre of Jim Allister haunts DUP?

The spectre of Jim Allister, the MEP who quit the Democratic Unionists, haunts the corridors of the party's east Belfast headquarters.

It was the leakage of votes to Mr Allister's Traditional Unionist Voice that cost the DUP dear in Dromore.

The TUV may not be a major political force but it has the potential to cause considerable damage to the Democratic Unionists.

Jim Allister tells Martina that Peter Robinson has brought his problems upon himself by going into government with Sinn Fein.

"He bought into it lock, stock and barrel and he is caught and hoisted on his own petard."

Martina Purdy investigates the slings and arrows in Stormont's fortunes

Peter Robinson denies that he is constantly looking over his shoulder at Jim Allister or at big figures within his own party who are determined to block the devolution of policing and justice powers.

"We've had party officers and Assembly group meetings.

"The party is at one on this issue. Why? Because we are doing exactly what our manifesto requires."

Tougher line

Meanwhile there is speculation at Stormont of a rift between Martin McGuinness and Gerry Adams over Sinn Fein's tactics concerning the political impasse.

The theory runs that Mr Adams favours a tougher line. The party's Junior Minister, Gerry Kelly, laughs off such an idea.

"There is no difference. You couldn't put a wafer paper between the views of Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness on this issue," he insists.

Over at Schadenfreude Central, Lord Trimble is enjoying the comparison with Peter Robinson.

"I am surprised Peter has got himself into a corner," he says. "I would have thought... even before the change of leadership he would have wanted to prepare the ground for this."

However, as Martina discovers, the betting is still on the DUP and Sinn Fein coming up with a compromise rather than allow power sharing to collapse.

The Politics Show for the Northern Ireland, with Jon Sopel and Jim Fitzpatrick on Sunday at 13.30 BST on BBC One.

You get a second chance to see the programme again that night, at 22:55 BST on BBC One.

Let us know what you think.

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