Embattled DUP leader fights party revolt over policing deal

EMBATTLED DUP leader Peter Robinson was last night fighting a fierce rearguard action to quell a bitter party revolt over his bid to cut a deal with Sinn Féin on policing.

The agreement to end the crisis threatening to bring down power-sharing had to be put on hold after more than a third of Mr Robinson’s senior colleagues rebelled.

Tensions within the DUP saw 14 of its 36 Assembly members vote against the proposed deal at a showdown meeting which forced the Taoiseach and British Premier Gordon Brown to abandon plans to fly to Belfast and secure the agreement on Monday.