Peter Robinson to step down as Northern Ireland’s First Minister and leader of DUP

Mr Robinson, 66, made the widely-expected announcement in an article in the Belfast Telegraph.

He will not contest next May’s Assembly election and said he is likely to leave office in the coming weeks.

The veteran politician suffered a heart attack earlier this year but he has insisted he had already made his mind up to leave before the health scare.

There had been growing speculation Mr Robinson would outline his departure plans at the DUP’s annual conference this weekend.

In the event, he confirmed his exit in a pre-conference interview with the Belfast daily paper.

The move comes just days after Mr Robinson struck a deal with Sinn Fein and the UK and Irish governments to save the faltering powersharing administration in Belfast.

“I think it would be disrespectful to the party membership if I was to go through a conference with the pretence that I would be leading the party into the next election,” he said.

“I think they have a right to know what the circumstances are.”

North Belfast MP Nigel Dodds will be among the favourites to take over as DUP leader.

However, with Mr Dodds based in Westminster, another senior party figure may take on the role of Stormont First Minister.

Current Finance Minister Arlene Foster has been touted as a potential leader of the powersharing coalition.

Mr Robinson said he would remain in the post until the Fresh Start agreement is “bedded in” - a period he indicated could last into the early new year.

“There are a number of fairly immediate decisions that have to be taken and they (party officers) will then organise a transition,” he said.