SHADOW BOXING:North's First Minister will not be drawn by winning smiles on Scottish visit Media vultures swoop, but Paisley's not for skinning, writes Gerry Moriarty in Edinburgh
In Edinburgh yesterday, Ian Paisley was determined to outfox the media who were anxious to hear about his future political intentions. He was particularly intent on outwitting us Belfast-based reporters who had flown like vultures - as he would see it - to the Scottish capital.
Reporters quizzed him on whether he was planning to retire shortly as First Minister and DUP leader, particularly in light of the resignation of his son, Ian jnr as junior minister with the Northern Executive.
"No comment," said the Doc, but with Dr Paisley even a "no comment" is good value.
Still, it was curious that he didn't say, as he has often said to the hacks in the past, that he was here for the long haul and we could be dead before him.
On this occasion it was "no comment", which, while non-specific, seemed curious, leaving a lot of questions open.
He arrived first at the Scottish Parliament at Holyrood yesterday morning wearing a heavy coat and his now familiar big winter black hat - what one Armagh man has described as the broad black brimmer of the DUP, a play on an old War of Independence IRA song.
"A wonderful country, my mother came from Scotland," was all he would say to the waiting press at the entrance to the building. He was accompanied by Ian jnr, who if he was feeling downcast, concealed it well.
Also in the entourage were Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness and Sinn Féin junior minister Gerry Kelly. There would be no chuckling routine this day: that was clear judging by the stern face of the First Minister.
From the parliament it was up the steep hill to Edinburgh Castle where the First Minister, Deputy First Minister and junior ministers met the Scottish first minister Alex Salmond to discuss matters of mutual interest.
But then shortly after noon there was the dreaded press conference, and some familiar faces in the front seats.
Garret Gordon from BBC Northern Ireland was first out of the block. Was Dr Paisley "saddened" by the resignation of his son, and had he any comment to make on the matter?
"I am not going to make any comment to the press about internal matters in Northern Ireland," he said. But, true to his garrulous, assertive nature, he was compelled to expand.
"I am here on business for all of the people of Northern Ireland. We have done big business today, and if you want to sidetrack it you can sidetrack it as much as you have done in the past.
"I have a fairly hard rhinoceros skin and I think I'll not be skinned by you or the likes of you," he declared.
Mr Salmond intervened to say he was very impressed with Mr Paisley jnr - who was looking on, cheerfully enjoying his father back to his combative self.
"There could be an opening within the Scottish administration" for Ian jnr should he have his fill of Northern Ireland politics, said Mr Salmond.
A local reporter wondered had Dr Paisley anything to say about Belfast media speculation that he was considering retiring sometime in the months ahead. He had "no comment to make whatsoever".
But then: "It's a wonder that they didn't tell you I was dying of all sorts of diseases and that soon I would be carried out in a box. That usually happens me to make it more spicy. If you want to add that as well, by all means do."
Mr Salmond noted that from his observations at the meeting that Dr Paisley was in "very robust health - and I am not standing down later this year, either".
Ken Reid of UTV tried a subtler tack. "Do you envisage continuing your relationship with Alex Salmond in the years ahead?" Dr Paisley did not come down the Lagan in a bubble.
He answered the question, but it bore no relation as to whether he intended to be First Minister in the "years ahead".
A few soft local questions appeared to have somewhat mellowed Dr Paisley, prompting The Irish Times to try flattery.
Dr Paisley had lived a "long, eventful, ultimately successful life in politics", did he think this was the year to "bow out gracefully" from that career?
The First Minister laughed. "I will not be drawn and even though you smile so winningly, I will not be drawn."
We tried.