julian smith talking to the bbc.l talk about the political implications in a moment, perhaps, but certainly your headlined thoughts to this news today? i think like everyone _ thoughts to this news today? i think like everyone else, _ thoughts to this news today? i think like everyone else, it _ thoughts to this news today? i think like everyone else, itjust _ thoughts to this news today? i think like everyone else, itjust came - thoughts to this news today? i think like everyone else, itjust came as l like everyone else, itjust came as a huge shock. sometimes in this business you are aware of things long before they ever get into the public domain, but no one knew about this. itjust came as a thunderbolt, and it camejust this. itjust came as a thunderbolt, and it came just when they were looking and assessing the first two months of the new executive and wondering whether it be stable and whether they would get along, whether they would get along, whether they would get along, whether the dup would finally get their

here's the former secretary of state for northern ireland julian smith, speaking on radio 4. 0h, oh,hock to everybody and will be a big shock to everybody and will be a big shock i think particularly northern ireland, and jeffrey donaldson had, as you know, played a key role in leading the dup back into power—sharing, which has over the past weeks since he's been back up and running in an extremely positive move, with michelle 0'neill and running in an extremely positive move, with michelle o'neill and emma little—pengelly for the sinn fein party in dup party respectively having a brilliant start, so if you shop, but i think actually one with the election of gavin robinson as interim leader today having the same interim leader today having the same in the dup havejust made, real continuity in the position that was taken by party officers and the dup to return to power—sharing. so, i'm not concerned anyway that this shocking news today will lead to any change in the momentum behind power—sharing, and he had played in this political leadership role and absolutely critical part in the p

and just a final thought because we heard julian smith, . because we heard julian smith, former secretaryaring wouldn't change as a result of what we've seen today. others within the du p that we've talked to perhaps much more undecided, unsure about that nervous about that implications for power—sharing. what do you think is going to be the first real test so we can gauge which way the dup may actually tilt on this?— may actually tilt on this? i think that's why _ may actually tilt on this? i think that's why we — may actually tilt on this? i think that's why we are _ may actually tilt on this? i think that's why we are hearing - may actually tilt on this? i think that's why we are hearing from | that's why we are hearing from people like julian that's why we are hearing from people likejulian smith today that there is that genuine concern in northern ireland in belfast about the implications for power—sharing. we know that our mla are on easter recess, they are due week after next skirmish they have a very busy entry and they were enough to focus on without reflecting on the journey tha

let's hearfrom julian smith on bbc radio.erybody as sirjeffrey donaldson had helped lead the party back in the power—sharing. lead the party back in the power-sharing.- lead the party back in the ower-sharina. . . , . power-sharing. having a brilliant start with michelle _ power-sharing. having a brilliant start with michelle o'neill. - power-sharing. having a brilliant start with michelle o'neill. so i power-sharing. having a brilliant start with michelle o'neill. 50 al start with michelle o'neill. so a huge _ start with michelle o'neill. so a huge shock, but i think one where with the _ huge shock, but i think one where with the election of gavin robinson as interim — with the election of gavin robinson as interim leader today by a statement the dup have just made, real continuity on the position that was taken — real continuity on the position that was taken by party officers and the dup to _ was taken by party officers and the dup to return to power—sharing. so i'm dup to return to power—sharing. so i'm not— dup to return

. >> i want to put something to you that we heard earlier from julian smith, the former secretary of northern ireland. he said he's not concerned this will change the momentum to power-sharing bause the appointment of gavin robinson brings continuity. do you agree? >> i believe there is something in that. that message from governor robinson and others across northern ireland's political spectrum. it has been continuing the efforts behind power-sharing and ensuring the devolution continues to operate as effectively as possible and is not only impacted by what is happening, what is effectively an internal matter within one of the political parties within the power-sharing structures. there is a lot to take. at least at this stage, politicians are not willing to be swayed in any potential way by what is happening. as with everything, proof in the pudding is -- i think looking at the broader dynamics of politics, the bigger shock will be what comes from the general election going forward as opposed to the internal machinations of single political parties. i would be surprised if this is

put something to you now that we heard a little - you now that we heard a little earlier from julian smithat this will change the momentum to power—sharing because the appointment of gavin robinson brings continuity. do you agree with that? i brings continuity. do you agree with that? 4' , ,., that? i think there is something in that. very much _ that? i think there is something in that. very much the _ that? i think there is something in that. very much the message - that? i think there is something in l that. very much the message today both from _ that. very much the message today both from gavin _ that. very much the message today both from gavin robinson _ that. very much the message today both from gavin robinson and - that. very much the message today. both from gavin robinson and indeed from others _ both from gavin robinson and indeed from others across _ both from gavin robinson and indeed from others across northern - both from gavin robinson and indeed from others across northern ireland i from others across northern ireland today— from others across northern ireland today has

i mean, people like julian smith were tweeting today saying, about how much he had brought to the tableying that the dup leadership was really a matter for the dup, while acknowledging the hurt is going to happen the hurt that is going to happen to the families that are involved in this . and of course, involved in this. and of course, sinn fein's michelle o'neill , sinn fein's michelle o'neill, the first minister of northern ireland, saying that basically that that they had to keep continuing with the four party coalition that runs northern ireland. so you can you can see from this point how much disruption will be put in place inside northern ireland by this shocking news this morning of these historical charges. now that sir jeffrey put the party back together here after about 27 months ago, it basically had a civil war within itself between the right wing of the party and that middle ground. and really and truly, they have managed he has managed to do that and steer the ship, bringing them back in in the last sort of month and a half. but it must be said now that there are others in