Calls for First Minister to step down

THE Ulster Unionist party's two Executive members have called for the First Minister to stand aside.

The calls come in the wake of a BBC report about a property deal beside Peter Robinson's family home.

According to BBC NI, Peter and Iris Robinson bought a piece of land from now deceased builder Fred Fraser for 5.

It unlocked access to a potentially significant development site.

In a joint statement today (Friday, April 2), Sir Reg Empey and Michael McGimpsey said that Peter Robinson should stand aside until legal advice has been sought.

Sir Reg Empey said that confidence in the political processes and institutions is being weakened and in his role as first minister and head of the Executive, that there is a responsibility upon Peter Robinson to provide answers immediately.

Mr McGimpsey said the allegation cast a shadow over the integrity of politics.

He said the DUP leader should act immediately so that confidence in the government could be reinstated.

However, the DUP's Simon Hamilton said the first minister would not be stepping aside.

The DUP has also described the BBC Newsline report as an example of an ongoing BBC smear campaign against Mr Robinson adding that he had not gleaned any financial benefit whatsoever from the transaction.

Meanwhile, the Chief Constable of the PSNI told the BBC's Nolan Show that the police "will have a look" at the Newsline report.

However he did add that "at this moment in time those particular issues appear to be civil and taxation than they are criminal."