Here's to you, Mr Robinson

No great surprise, but we can now confirm that the DUP Executive, meeting at Castlereagh Council, has approved Peter Robinson as party leader.

Over at Balmoral, the scene of last night's Paisley farewell bash, UUP activists have been attending their AGM. Responding to the talk of a merger between the two main unionist parties, Sir Reg Empey argued that, whilst greater cooperation is possible, there is still an appetite for what the UUP has to offer.

On Inside Politics at a quarter to one you can hear an extended interview with Peter Robinson. He covers a range of issues including questions about the rumours that Sinn Fein might be considering refusing to put forward Martin McGuinness as Deputy First Minister next Thursday when he is due to be nominated alongside Mr Robinson as First Minister.

The rumours have been running since last Thursday, and appeared in the newspapers today. The suggestion is that republicans are so annoyed about issues like the delay in devolving justice, the Maze, the Irish language and education that they could pull the plug on the nomination, which in turn could trigger a fresh election.

However it's a nuclear option. Sinn Fein sources have given me mixed messages about this and Peter Robinson himself finds it hard to credit they would make good on such a threat. It's possible, though, that we could see a delay to the carefully planned choreography at Stormont.

For more on this, and on the debate over unionist unity, tune in to the Politics Show on BBC1 tomorrow at noon.

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