This conversation was recorded before the recent trouble in South Belfast.

Hello, we're recording this edition of Red Lines at Stormont in the Member's Lounge of the Northern Ireland Assembly.

My guest today is no stranger to the cut and thrust of political debate.

He's been an elected representative for almost 30 years, serving as a councillor, forum member, MLA, executive minister, party leader, albeit briefly,

and now is the Assembly's presiding officer. Some commentators and political opponents have sought to

portray him as an old-fashioned hardline puritanical unionist. Others say he is, in fact, a shrewd and savvy

pragmatist whose politics can be at times refreshingly unpredictable.

Edwin Putz, welcome to Red Lines.

Many people will know that you grew up in a DUP household.

Your late father, Charles, was one of Ian Paisley's earliest supporters back in the late 1960s. When do you think you were bitten by the politics bug?

Probably as a child.

So my dad was a Protestant Unionist candidate in 1969.

I don't really remember anything about that.

But he went back to Ian Paisley in the late 60s and was a firm friend and a loyal supporter

and I suppose it could be described as a Peasley out I would describe myself as a

paisley out still in my politics yeah and I was a huge supporter of the late in Paisley and I had utmost respect for him.

My first foray into politics was in 1973, it was only eight years of age.

My dad was standing for the Northern Ireland Assembly back then, in the old North Down constituency, which stretched from Drumara to Hollywood,

right down to Port of Ogey, so it was a huge constituency.

And I remember going out on the campaigns with them way back then.

And actually it was that age was my first time to be at Stormont and it was

actually 1974. I stood up here at the end of the workers strike and there was a huge

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