Key questions about the political crisis in the North

Peter Robinson has resigned as Northern Ireland’s first minister and pulled all his party colleagues bar one from the power sharing administration. Here are some key questions and answers about the political crisis.

Why did Mr Robinson step down?

Police have linked the murder of Kevin McGuigan in Belfast last month to members of the IRA engaged in personal criminality. But the revelation that the organisation still exists and individuals associated with it engaged in murder has shocked unionists. Sinn Féin contains many former members of the IRA and unionists have questioned their credibility in government at Stormont, while they claim more questions remain to be answered by republicans. The row intensified earlier this week after a senior Sinn Féin member was arrested, although later released, as part of the inquiry into Mr McGuigan’s death. Mr Robinson has said he wanted to have Sinn Féin excluded from government but was unable to gain enough support from other parties. On Thursday the assembly business committee, which represents the five largest parties, voted against another of his proposals, adjournment of the devolved legislature, leaving Mr Robinson and his party to decide whether to continue to operate the institutions.