text: "sbwhoeopSaturday January 9 2010 9:42 AMH: Succinct summary on NI situation at this moment. Details to follow later. SidJanuary 92010The First Lady her young lover and a scandalthat could hand power to Sinn FeinDavid McKittrick reports on the far-reaching consequences ofIris Robinson's infidelityThe mesmerising saga of the toyboy the Northern Ireland First Minister and his straying wife threatened to engulfBelfast's frail political settlement last night.Following a day closeted with advisers Peter Robinson head of the Northern Ireland government broke his silence toinsist defiantly that he would not step down after a day of turmoil. His move is unlikely to stem the clamour for an inquiryinto an affair which has fused the political and the sexual. First indications are that members of his party the DemocraticUnionists (DUP) are reacting to the disclosures with strong disapproval. The party is highly religious and lays heavyemphasis on Christian family values. It is also currently highly nervous that the revelations could cost it seats in thecoming Westminster election. If the DUP were to fracture as a result of the scandal it could lead the way to Sinn Feinbecoming the largest party in the Northern Ireland Assembly - allowing it to nominate its own first minister and putting thepeace process in jeopardy.Disclosures in a BBC television programme on the activities of his wife Iris who has exited from public life led to a day-long flurry of political calls for inquiries into the Robinson family.Mr Robinson stands accused of failing to notify the authorities that his wife had been involved in financial transactionswithout declaring an interest. She helped a 19-year-old ""toyboy"" lover to set up a business.Mr Robinson said he had asked for the appointment of a senior counsel ""to ask me any questions he or she wishes toask and to give an opinion as to what I should have disclosed or whether I have breached an obligation"".Insisting he had done nothing wrong Mr Robinson accused the BBC of broadcasting ""smears and innuendo"". Saying thathe did not rule out a defamation action he declared: ""I am being tried in the court of public opinion.""Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness who is Deputy First Minister said he was shocked at the BBC revelations and is seekingtalks with both Mr Robinson and Gordon Brown. Mr McGuinness was publicly sympathetic when news of the scandalbroke but his veering towards a tougher line is taken as indicating a calculation that Mr Robinson may not survive thestorm.Mr Robinson who has been First Minister for 18 months is regarded as a pivotal figure in the peace process since hewas prepared to follow the Rev Ian Paisley into government with Sinn Fein.But the state of the political settlement has appeared increasingly rocky as Mr Robinson has resisted pressure fromalmost all points of the political compass to complete devolution by accepting a transfer of responsibility for policing fromLondon to Belfast.His reluctance to move on the policing issue was attributed to nervousness about challenges from hardline opponents inthe Westminster general election. Now opponents are speculating that it might instead have at least partly been due to thefamily scandal which has just become public but which he knew of for months.In recent days Mrs Robinson dramatically announced that she was leaving politics. She is currently Westminster MP foreast Belfast a councillor and a member of the Belfast Assembly. Yesterday there were calls for her to depart immediatelyand stop drawing her salaries.These reflected the fact that while her husband might have a faint chance of political survival her behaviour is regardedas inexcusable.She had been a friend of Kirk McCambley's father Billy. Before he died he asked Mrs Robinson to look after his son. TheBBC programme Spotlight revealed that her relationship with Kirk had developed into a sexual one. It said shesuggested to him that he go into a business venture which was partly organised by Castlereagh council where she is analderman.She is said to have obtained £50000 from two property developers to be used to set up the business. She is also said tohave helped approve the McCambley proposal without declaring a financial interest. The council said yesterday it wasinvestigating.The young man was interviewed for the programme. So too was Mrs Robinson's one-time political adviser Selwyn Blacka former Methodist minister who gave the BBC access to 150 text messages allegedly sent to him by Mrs Robinson.Among those calling for a public inquiry yesterday were Jim Allister of Traditional Unionist Voice a hardline critic of MrRobinson. He said the issues in the programme must be addressed ""with utter transparency and candour"".Ulster Unionist leader Sir Reg Empey called for Mrs Robinson's immediate resignation saying: ""It is clear that IrisRobinson's continuing position as an MP Assembly member and councillor is utterly untenable. She should resign all herpositions with immediate effect.""He added: ""It is also unfortunately the case that the office of the First Minister is embroiled in these matters. My party willstudy the events outlined by the BBC and the very serious allegations that have been made with regards to the conduct ofthe First Minister. Inevitably the appropriate authorities will be required to investigate the allegations made against theFirst Minister.""* Northern Ireland Secretary Shaun Woodward refused to speculate about Mr Robinson's future.But he said: ""It is a responsibility on everyone in the Assembly to understand that the consequences of allowing thepolitical process to slide would undoubtedly have an impact on the broader canvas.""And that if anybody were to be selfish enough to think this is a moment when that can be allowed to be put in the deepfreeze even some may wish to unpick they would be extremely irresponsible foolish and would be playing very verydangerous games.""Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme Mr Woodward said that the First Minister had to be allowed the opportunityto clear his name.But he went on: ""I'm very conscious of the fact that while all that is happening he is First Minister and the business ofdevolution the business of the Executive must go on.""I hope he will be able to resume the responsibilities as First Minister to ensure that the work of the Executive continuesand that includes the talks on policing and justice devolution."" PA"