Paisley Senior to stand down as MP after four decades

Mr Paisley, 83, has been an MP since 1970. It is thought that his son Ian Paisley Jr will face TUV leader Jim Allister in the constituency.

At the last general election in 2005, Mr Paisley polled 25,156 votes, giving him a majority of nearly 18,000.

Making the revelation, Mr Paisley said he had "no regrets" about deciding to share power with Sinn Fein in 2007.

"After a period of tough negotiations it was my view that, provided our conditions were met, the overwhelming majority of the people of Northern Ireland wanted me to do the deal, it was as simple as that," he said.

Mr Paisley said he was saddened that some DUP members had quit in protest, adding: "I believe I showed the leadership required to get the best possible deal in the circumstances."

He first came to international prominence in the late 1960s as a hardliner and political firebrand but mellowed in recent years.

After the DUP and Sinn Fein agreed to share power in 2007, Mr Paisley formed an unlikely friendship with his former enemy Martin McGuinness of Sinn Fein. The two men were so close they were dubbed the "Chuckle Brothers".

Mr Paisley, who turns 84 next month, was first elected as a MP in 1970. He has in recent years stepped down from senior positions in politics and in his Free Presbyterian Church.

His son, Ian Paisley Jr, said he did not want to pre-empt the DUP's selection meeting on Monday by saying he expected to be nominated.

"This is the end of a significant era in British politics and Ian Paisley has left giant footsteps to fill," he said.