After more than 40 years of saying No and just one of affirming Yes, the Rev Ian Paisley announced last night that he was bowing out of politics in two months’ time.

Mr Paisley bowed to the inevitable by stepping down before he would wish as Northern Ireland First Minister and leader of the Democratic Unionist Party, which he founded, after concerted pressure from colleagues and grassroots discontent.

The forced resignation of his son, Ian Paisley Jr, last month as his right-hand man was the final straw for Mr Paisley, who was beginning to look isolated in office. Without his son at his elbow to steer him through, his agenda was going to be almost impossible.

Mr Paisley, who will be 82 in April, took the post of First Minister in May 2007 after the suspension of direct rule. Photographs of him with Martin McGuinness, the Deputy First Minister, earned them the soubriquet “the Chuckle Brothers” as they beamed and laughed for the cameras — much to the anger of hardline supporters who had believed that “the Big Man” would never sell out.

Mr Paisley said that he would continue to serve as an MP and an MLA for his North Antrim constituency. “I came to this decision a few weeks ago when I was thinking very much about the forthcoming investment conference and what was going to come after the conference,” he said.

“I thought that it is a marker, a very big marker, and it would be a very appropriate time for me to bow out.”

While Peter Robinson, his deputy, is expected to succeed him as party leader, Mr Paisley said that it was up to the DUP to make the decision. “This is not the Church of Rome,” he said. “This is not Apostolic succession and I have no right to say who will succeed me. The person will succeed me when the mark is on the paper and the ballot is cast.”

Mr McGuinness, who was not informed by Mr Paisley of his decision to resign before the announcement, said that his ministerial colleague’s move was not unexpected. “The historic decision he took to go into government with Sinn Fein has changed the face of Irish politics for ever,” he said.

“I think that he will be fondly remembered by the people of Ireland — north and south — for the very courageous leadership that he showed.”

Gerry Adams, the president of Sinn Fein, commended Mr Paisley for his crucial role in forging the agreement with Sinn Fein last year that restored devolution. Mr Adams said: “The agreement that he and I made last March cleared the way for the restoration of the political institutions.”

But former allies were less supportive. Jim Allister, the MEP who resigned from the DUP over its decision to share power with Sinn Fein, said that Mr Paisley had “served his purpose” within the party. “It has been quite clear for some time that Ian Paisley was going to be hung out to dry by the DUP pragmatists,” he said. “He had delivered what they had devised, but couldn’t sell themselves — government with unrepentant terrorists.”

Mark Durkan, the SDLP leader, said that Mr Paisley’s resignation should not be a distraction. “While this is very significant political news, there is responsibility on all of us as politicians to make the most of the political processes here no matter who comes or goes,” he said.

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