'Cleared' Robinson resumes role as First Minister

Under-pressure DUP leader Peter Robinson resumed his role as Northern Ireland's First Minister tonight after saying he had been cleared of breaching his code of office over the financial scandal surrounding his wife, Iris.

Mr Robinson, who is locked in crucial talks to save the Stormont power-sharing government, stepped down temporarily from the job last month after Mrs Robinson secured £50,000 to set her teenage lover up in business.

Yesterday night he said a legal review had ruled he had not breached his ministerial code over allegations raised in a BBC programme that he should have informed the authorities of his wife's financial dealings.

Confirming that he was replacing temporary First Minister Arlene Foster, he said: "I welcome the QC's detailed advice which follows a thorough and comprehensive examination of all the issues raised in the Spotlight programme that, on the material provided, his considered view was that there were no breaches whatsoever by me of the Ministerial Code, the Ministerial Code of Conduct, the Pledge of Office and the seven principals of public life."