Conference gauge for DUP temperature

By Martina Purdy
BBC NI political correspondent

Peter Robinson will discuss the current deadlock

When Ian Paisley rose to address the DUP conference in Belfast in February 2006, he faced an uncertain future.

His party's bid to cut a deal with Sinn Féin had collapsed over the DUP demand for photographic evidence of decommissioning. And just shy of his 80th birthday, he had been battling ill health.

Perhaps this was on his mind when he chose to begin his speech by quoting from a rather obscure Elizabethan play, The Lamentable Tragedy of Locrine, attributed to William Shakespeare.

Ian Paisley, his once thunderous voice weakened by age, declared:

"Let come what will, I mean to bear it out, and either live with glorious victory or die with fame, renown'd in chivalry, He is not worthy of the honeycomb that shuns the hive because the bees have stings."

Since those words were uttered Mr Paisley has faced many challenges and endured a fair few stings as he reached for the honeycomb.

While the conference will be carefully stage-managed, it should give observers a chance to take the political temperature of the largest party

In retrospect that quote - overshadowed by his attack on Irish President Mary McAleese - offered a clue to how much thought he was giving to a bittersweet future that involved power and power-sharing with an old enemy

Certainly, within months of these remarks, the DUP leader had signed up to the St Andrews Agreement.

It is this change that looms large as the DUP gathers in Armagh this weekend. There has been no DUP annual conference since the power-sharing deal.

That alone would make this conference memorable. But it is also the first time that Peter Robinson will address conference as leader.

It is also the first time since 1979 that the DUP has held its annual conference without having an MEP in its line-up. Jim Allister's departure over power-sharing has seen to that.

Mr Paisley won't be in Armagh on Saturday to hear Peter Robinson's debut address - he's going to be in Liverpool on church business.

Ian Paisley signed up to power-sharing after the last conference

Mr Robinson no doubt will have much to say. His party meets amid crisis in the power-sharing executive and a bitter row over Sunday's homecoming parade for the Royal Irish Regiment and republican opposition to it.

While the conference will be carefully stage-managed, it should give observers a chance to take the political temperature of the largest party.

Conference themes include "easing the burden" - a look at the cost of living, with speakers such as assembly members Jim Wells and Edwin Poots.

North Antrim assembly member Mervyn Storey, who chairs the Stormont education committee, will lead a debate on education and skills. Jimmy Spratt will discuss policing issues around "protecting the community."

Leader's speech

But it is the leader's speech which will reveal just how far apart the DUP and Sinn Féin are and whether there's any scope for compromise.

A senior DUP source said Mr Robinson would have to address the uncertainty and lack of direction that is flowing from the executive's failure to meet.

Mr Robinson would have to address the ununcertainty and lack of direction that is flowing from the Executive's failure to meet

"He has to come out from his corner and demonstrate clear vision. This is his first big opportunity to paint a canvass for what his leadership will be," the source said.

Mr Robinson will also be expected to rally his troops ahead of next year's European election, when the DUP is aiming to snatch back its seat from Mr Allister's Traditional Unionist Voice.

There will still be one Paisley on the platform however- Ian junior is addressing the conference on policing.

What will he be saying about the devolution of policing and justice?

The DUP assembly member was clear that it will be his party which dictates the timing, not Sinn Féin.

"We will call the shots and we will set the time," he said.

• BBC News Online will be providing live web streaming of the conference from 1100 GMT on Saturday.
• Highlights of the conference will be shown on BBC2 at 11.45 GMT
• The BBC will also be providing extensive coverage of the forthcoming SDLP, Ulster Unionist and Sinn Féin party conferences.