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Peter Robinson's future?

Mark Devenport | 01:13 UK time, Friday, 7 May 2010

In many ways Peter Robinson's ability to hang on to the DUP leadership and the First Minister's job during the saga of his wife's difficulties was an extraordinary example of resilience under fire. I would have subscribed to the conventional view that he would survive this poll, albeit with a reduced majority.

However his shock defeat in East Belfast undoubtedly damages his stock. None of the DUP MPs who we have been speaking to live on our election special wishes to be Brutus wielding his dagger, but tonight's results increases the standing of the Paisley and potentially the Dodds dynasties in the party. So who will be in charge of any negotiations with the future would-be Prime Ministers?

Our psephologist Nicholas Whyte has just shown me a friend's blog, asking whether East Belfast could be the Portillo moment of this election?

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