Iris Robinson scandal

Last updated

Peter and Iris Robinson pictured together in 2012 Peter and Iris Robinson - Queen and Prince Philip visit to Titanic Belfast (8178491972) (cropped).jpg
Peter and Iris Robinson pictured together in 2012

The Iris Robinson scandal, also known as Irisgate, [1] [2] [3] was a political scandal in Northern Ireland involving Iris Robinson, the wife of Northern Ireland's First Minister Peter Robinson. She was a serving MP and MLA for the Democratic Unionist Party, representing Strangford in both legislatures.

Contents

In January 2010, a BBC Northern Ireland documentary revealed that Iris Robinson had been involved in an extramarital affair in 2008 and had procured £50,000 in loans for her lover to finance a start-up restaurant. She had failed to declare her monetary interest in the restaurant, despite serving on the council which leased the premises to him. [4] [1] [5]

As a result of the restaurant issue, Iris Robinson was expelled from the DUP and she resigned her seats in both Westminster and the Northern Ireland Assembly, retiring from politics. Peter Robinson also unexpectedly lost his own Westminster seat (Belfast East) in the 2010 general election and some media reports attributed the result to the scandal. [6] [7]

BBC Spotlight

Following the airing of an episode of BBC Northern Ireland's Spotlight programme on 8 January, the First Minister faced demands to explain his role in his wife's financial dealings, including from within his own party. [8] The Spotlight investigation revealed that Iris Robinson had procured two loans totalling £50,000 for her then 19-year-old lover Kirk McCambley to assist him in opening a restaurant. The loans were made by local property developers Fred Fraser (who died weeks later) and Ken Campbell. [9] Iris Robinson did not declare the loan to the Northern Ireland Assembly, and McCambley gave £5,000 back to Iris Robinson as a gift to pay off her own debts. [10] [11] In the interview with Spotlight, McCambley alleged that Iris requested the money rather than it being a spontaneous gift. The restaurant in question, the Lock Keeper's Inn in South Belfast, is owned by Castlereagh Borough Council. McCambley was awarded the tender to operate the restaurant in 2008. Despite being a Castlereagh Borough councillor, Iris Robinson failed to declare her financial interest in the award of the tender. Selwyn Black, Iris Robinson's former adviser, has alleged that she encouraged McCambley to bid for the tender.

First Minister steps down

Arlene Foster, Iris Robinson and Peter Robinson meeting Elizabeth II in 2012 Queen and Prince Philip visit to Titanic Belfast (8178515232).jpg
Arlene Foster, Iris Robinson and Peter Robinson meeting Elizabeth II in 2012

On 11 January 2010, Peter Robinson announced that he was stepping down from the position of First Minister for a period of six weeks to fight claims over his wife's financial dealings. Arlene Foster was nominated as his replacement. [12] Peter Robinson faced claims that he didn't tell the proper authorities as soon as he found out that he knew his wife had obtained £50,000 from two developers for her teenage lover. He returned to his position after three weeks.

Inquiries

Peter Robinson said that he would contest the allegations that he failed to properly report these transactions. [1] He claimed to have no knowledge of them "I had no information," he said. "Absolutely no information about that, nor of any of the other financial arrangements, which is hardly surprising – if somebody is hiding an affair from you, it’s probably not a surprise they are hiding the other arrangements relating to that affair." [1]

On 11 January 2010 Peter Robinson confirmed that he had asked both the House of Commons and the Northern Ireland Assembly to carry out an inquiry into his conduct. Several other inquiries are or will be carried out. Castlereagh (borough) have launched an inquiry, while the Castlereagh Alliance Party has written to the Northern Ireland Comptroller and Auditor General calling for an inquiry. [13]

The Police Service of Northern Ireland announced on 21 January 2010 that it was conducting an investigation into Iris Robinson's financial affairs. [14] Robinson had been receiving psychiatric treatment in a London clinic since January 2010 but returned to Northern Ireland on 19 September 2010 where she continues her treatment. [15]

On 25 June 2010, it became public that Robinson had been interviewed as part of a police investigation over money she obtained from two developers. [16]

On 26 May 2011, the DUP announced the findings of an independent investigation that had been commissioned by the Castlereagh council using Deloitte. This report cleared Iris Robinson of any wrongdoing in connection with the awarding of a contract by the council to her former teenage lover. [17]

While the police investigation into the conduct of the Peter and Iris Robinson concluded in a recommendation not to prosecute in 2011, the Standards and Privileges enquiry mentioned by Peter Robinson on 11 January 2010 had still not been completed some three years after it was ordered by the Assembly. [18] [19] It reported on 28 November 2014, [20] having been delayed in part by Mrs. Robinson's lawyer. [21]

Timeline

Mistaken identity

The Canadian-based crime writer Peter Robinson was mistaken for the other Peter Robinson during this scandal. He received angry e-mails, saying his wife was "homophobic", and he quipped on his website under the title "I’m Not That Peter Robinson", "I guess people who send rude and insulting emails or push religion at the vulnerable were not, alas, at the front of the queue when the brains were handed out". [26]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Castlereagh (borough)</span> Local government district with borough status in Northern Ireland

Castlereagh was a local government district with the status of borough in Northern Ireland. It merged with Lisburn City Council in May 2015 under local government reorganisation in Northern Ireland to become Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council, with a small amount being transferred to Belfast City Council.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Democratic Unionist Party</span> Political party in Northern Ireland

The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) is a unionist, loyalist, and national conservative political party in Northern Ireland. It was founded in 1971 during the Troubles by Ian Paisley, who led the party for the next 37 years. Currently led by Jeffrey Donaldson, it is the second largest party in the Northern Ireland Assembly, and is the fifth-largest party in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom. The party has been described as right-wing and socially conservative, being anti-abortion and opposing same-sex marriage. The DUP sees itself as defending Britishness and Ulster Protestant culture against Irish nationalism and republicanism. It is also Eurosceptic and supported Brexit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Iris Robinson</span> British politician (born 1949)

Iris Robinson is a former Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) politician in Northern Ireland. She is married to Peter Robinson, who was First Minister of Northern Ireland from 2008 to 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peter Robinson (Northern Ireland politician)</span> Northern Irish politician (born 1948)

Peter David Robinson is a retired Northern Irish politician who served as First Minister of Northern Ireland from 2008 until 2016 and Leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) from 2008 until 2015. Until his retirement in 2016, Robinson was involved in Northern Irish politics for over 40 years, being a founding member of the DUP along with Ian Paisley.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jim Allister</span> Politician

James Hugh Allister is a British Unionist politician and barrister in Northern Ireland. He founded the Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) political party in 2007, leading the party since its formation. Allister has served as a Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly (MLA) for North Antrim since 2011, and is the TUV’s only representative in the Assembly.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Belfast East (UK Parliament constituency)</span> Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 1922 onwards

Belfast East is a parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom House of Commons. The current MP is Gavin Robinson of the DUP.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Strangford (UK Parliament constituency)</span> Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 1983 onwards

Strangford is a parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom House of Commons. The current MP is Jim Shannon of the DUP.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Naomi Long</span> Northern Irish politician

Naomi Rachel Long MLA is a Northern Irish politician who served as Minister of Justice in the Northern Ireland Executive from January 2020 to October 2022. She has served as leader of the Alliance Party since 2016 and a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Belfast East since 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arlene Foster</span> Northern Irish politician (born 1970)

Arlene Isobel Foster, Baroness Foster of Aghadrumsee, is a British broadcaster and politician from Northern Ireland who served as First Minister of Northern Ireland from 2016 to 2017 and from 2020 to 2021 and as Leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) from 2015 to 2021. She was the first woman to hold either position. Foster is a Member of the House of Lords, having previously been a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Fermanagh and South Tyrone from 2003 to 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cregagh</span> Area of Belfast

Cregagh is an area southeast of Belfast in County Down, Northern Ireland. It is the name of a townland and has been adopted as the name of an electoral ward of Belfast City council. The townland dates back to medieval times, when it was part of the territory held by the O'Neills of Clannaboy. The area is centred on the Cregagh Road. The Woodstock/Cregagh Road is a continuous arterial route in the city, with the Woodstock making up the lower half of the route and the Cregagh the upper half. It runs from the Albertbridge Road, close to the Short Strand, to the A55 Outer Ring road.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Edwin Poots</span> DUP politician from Northern Ireland

Edwin Poots is a British politician in Northern Ireland who served as leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) from May to June 2021. He was first elected as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) in 1998, and was appointed Minister of Agriculture, Environment, and Rural Affairs in January 2020.

Denny Vitty is a politician in Northern Ireland.

The First Minister and deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland are the joint heads of government of the Northern Ireland Executive and have overall responsibility for the running of the Executive Office. Despite the different titles for the two offices, the two positions have the same governmental power, resulting in a duumvirate; the deputy First Minister is not subordinate to the First Minister. Created under the terms of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, both were initially nominated and appointed by members of the Northern Ireland Assembly on a joint ticket by a cross-community vote, using consociational principles. That process was changed following the 2006 St Andrews Agreement, meaning that the First Minister is nominated by the largest party overall, and the deputy First Minister is nominated by the largest party in the next largest community designation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jonathan Bell (politician)</span> Politician from Northern Ireland

Jonathan Fergus Bell is a former Unionist politician from Northern Ireland representing the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul Givan</span> Former First Minister of Northern Ireland

Paul Jonathan Givan is a Unionist politician from Northern Ireland representing the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP). Givan served as First Minister of Northern Ireland from June 2021 to February 2022, the youngest person to hold that office.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2010 United Kingdom general election in Northern Ireland</span>

The 2010 United Kingdom general election in Northern Ireland occurred on 6 May 2010 and all 18 seats in Northern Ireland were contested. 1,169,184 people were eligible to vote, up 29,191 from the 2005 general election. 57.99% of eligible voters turned out, down 5.5 percentage points from the last general election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2005 United Kingdom general election in Northern Ireland</span>

The 2005 United Kingdom general election in Northern Ireland was held on 5 May 2005 and all 18 seats in Northern Ireland were contested. 1,139,993 people were eligible to vote, down 51,016 from the 2001 general election. 63.49% of eligible voters turned out, down 5.1 percentage points from the last general election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emma Little-Pengelly</span> Democratic Unionist Party politician

Emma Little-Pengelly is a Northern Irish barrister and Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) politician. She has been a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Lagan Valley since 12 May 2022 when she was co-opted to replace DUP party leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson who declined to take up his seat after being elected at the 2022 Northern Ireland Assembly election to remain in the House of Commons. She previously served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Belfast South constituency in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom from 2017 until 2019, when she lost her seat to Claire Hanna of the SDLP, and as an MLA for the Belfast South constituency in the Northern Ireland Assembly.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Renewable Heat Incentive scandal</span> Public spending scandal in Northern Ireland

The Renewable Heat Incentive scandal, also referred to as RHIgate and the Cash for Ash scandal, is a political scandal in Northern Ireland that centres on a failed renewable energy incentive scheme that has been reported to potentially cost the public purse almost £500 million. The plan, initiated in 2012, was overseen by Arlene Foster of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), the then-Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment. Foster failed to introduce proper cost controls, allowing the plan to spiral out of control. The scheme worked by paying applicants to use renewable energy. However, the rate paid was more than the cost of the fuel, and thus many applicants were making profits simply by heating their properties.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Red Sky scandal</span> Northern Irish political scandal

The Red Sky scandal was a political scandal in Northern Ireland that emerged in 2010 following a Spotlight investigation into Red Sky, a company based in Belfast which was awarded a maintenance contract by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive. The investigation showed financial irregularities at the company and showed that work was being carried out at a "poor standard" in west Belfast. In April 2011, the £8 million contract was cancelled after the firm was found to be "significantly overcharging". Members of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) intervened and campaigned for an extension to the Red Sky contract, citing "sectarian bias" for the contract being cancelled.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Crichton, Torcuil (8 January 2010). "Robinson fights for political life amidst Irisgate scandal". The Herald. Scotland. Retrieved 9 January 2010.
  2. ↑ Fealty, Mick (12 January 2010). "Who really wins and loses in Irisgate". The Times. London. Retrieved 5 May 2010.
  3. ↑ "After Irisgate: the future's not Orange – or Green | spiked". Spiked-online.com. Archived from the original on 11 September 2012. Retrieved 9 March 2011.
  4. ↑ Jamieson, Alastair (9 January 2010). "Iris Robinson expelled from DUP after financial row over affair with toyboy lover". London: Telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 9 March 2011.
  5. ↑ Henry McDonald (7 January 2010). "Peter and Iris Robinson face questions after BBC documentary". London: Guardian. Retrieved 9 March 2011.
  6. ↑ McKittrick, David (7 May 2010). "Stormont's First Minister unseated after year of scandal". The Independent. England. Retrieved 24 September 2013.
  7. ↑ McDonald, Henry (7 May 2010). "General election 2010: Peter Robinson loses seat to Alliance party". The Guardian. England. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  8. ↑ Henry, Lesley-Anne (9 January 2010). "Mum's the word over Iris scandal for DUP top brass". Belfast. Retrieved 9 January 2010.
  9. ↑ Hough, Andrew (8 January 2010). "Iris Robinson's young lover, Kirk McCambley, attracts hundreds of Facebook fans". London: Telegraph.co.uk. Archived from the original on 21 April 2013. Retrieved 9 March 2011.
  10. 1 2 3 4 Addley, Esther (8 January 2010). "Iris Robinson and Kirk McCambley: a strange tale of Belfast's 'odd couple'". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 9 January 2010.
  11. ↑ "Robinson 'should be given a week' - Gregory Campbell". BBC News. 8 January 2010. Retrieved 9 January 2010.
  12. ↑ "Robinson takes six-week break from First Minister role". BBC News. 11 January 2010. Retrieved 9 March 2011.
  13. ↑ "Up close and personal - Peter and Iris Robinson". BBC News. 12 January 2010. Retrieved 9 March 2011.
  14. ↑ PSNI begins inquiry into Iris Robinson's finances, The Irish Times, 21 January 2010
  15. ↑ "BBC News - Iris Robinson back in Northern Ireland for treatment". bbc.co.uk. 19 September 2010. Retrieved 21 September 2010.
  16. ↑ Iris Robinson questioned over developers' money, BBC, 25 June 2010
  17. ↑ "DUP say Iris Robinson and Castlereagh council cleared". BBC. 27 May 2011. Retrieved 2 June 2011.
  18. ↑ Belfast Telegraph report, 21. September 2012
  19. ↑ "Peter and Iris Robinson standards investigation still not finished". BBC News. 20 September 2012.
  20. 1 2 "Report on the investigation into allegations made in the BBC Spotlight Programme broadcast on 7 January 2010" (PDF). Northern Ireland Assembly. 28 November 2014.
  21. 1 2 "Iris Robinson in 'serious breach'". BBC News. 28 November 2014. Retrieved 5 April 2020.
  22. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Timeline: Peter and Iris Robinson affair allegations, BBC News
  23. ↑ "Journalist arrested in home of Iris's former lover Kirk McCambley". Belfasttelegraph.co.uk. 15 January 2010. Retrieved 9 March 2011.
  24. ↑ "Iris Robinson to resign as an MLA on Monday". Belfasttelegraph.co.uk. 14 January 2010. Retrieved 9 March 2011.
  25. ↑ "DUP's Bell to replace Robinson". BBC News. 22 January 2010. Retrieved 5 May 2010.
  26. ↑ Read more: Crime writer Peter Robinson not amused by scandal, Thursday, 14 January 2010
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.