Sent: Thursday, June 12, 2008 5:37 AM

Subject: Oppose Iris Robinson – petition

Iris Robinson is a Democratic Unionist Party MP and wife of Peter Robinson, the leader of the DUP since the recent retirement of the Reverend Ian Paisley. She is also the chair of the NI Assembly's Committee on Health.

Mrs Robinson is now the subject of complaint to the police on account of her recent public announcement that gays are "an abomination", and need psychiatric help to be "turned around". Yesterday she intensified her stance, with a BBC interview in which she announces that "as sinners", gays should be regarded alongside murderers.

Local press coverage from Northern Ireland makes it clear her activities have begun to fuel hatred in Northern Ireland; and it is deplorable that the first lady should seek the limelight by replacing guns with homophobia to dismantle the peace process.

Northern Ireland trade unions are calling for Iris Robinson to stand down from the Committee on Health which she chairs, and a petition addressed to the Prime Minister in support of this call is now in circulation. I hope you will use the link below and add your name to the petition. Please also forward it to anyone and everyone who will be opposed to this return to darkness that be firmly in the past.

I'd also note that the DUP is the party whose support enabled the passage through Parliament of legislation to extend to 42 days internment by the police of "terrorist suspects" – legislation which is to apply throughout the UK. DUP spokespersons have already made it evident they expect government favour for their help in passing this legislation, which Amnesty International has described as an affront to civl liberty. As an MP, Mrs Robinson was among those who voted to carry this bill. In other words, to view Mrs Robinson and the DUP as influential solely in Northern Ireland is to disregard the role they are now taking in the wider sphere of UK politics. 

Please add your name to the petition, to join in voicing opposition against these developments.

Thanks for reading this.

Paddy

Petition link http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Robinson-Gay/

Iris Robinson interviewed yesterday http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWgMaFGN3SQ

Belfast Telegraph report http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/article3785912.ece

Iris Robinson's opening salvo http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/7439661.stm