After Democratic Unionist leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson resigned over “allegations of a historical nature,” Northern Ireland was in turmoil.
“A letter from Sir Jeffrey Donaldson MP to the party chairman has confirmed that he is facing historical allegations and that he is resigning as the Democratic Unionist Party leader effective immediately,” the party said.
Unless legal action takes place, the party’s regulations suspend Mr. Donaldson’s membership.
England, Ireland, and Northern Ireland were outraged by the declaration. On Friday, Donaldson shut down X, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
In an emergency meeting, top DUP members named East Belfast MP Gavin Robinson acting leader.
Donaldson worked with Downing Street to restore the Stormont assembly and executive during his three years as DUP leader. We expected a 61-year-old Lagan Valley MP to lead his party in the next general election.
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Emma Little-Pengelly and Michelle O’Neill’s Northern Ireland executive excludes Westminster MP Donaldson.
Donaldson is a popular London, Dublin, and Washington unionist hardliner who speaks softly but pragmatically. A fervent Presbyterian from Kilkeel, County Down. He joined the Ulster Defence Regiment at age 18 before entering politics.
He joined the UUP in the 1980s, worked for James Molyneaux, and later managed Enoch Powell’s constituency office.
Since 1997, Donaldson, a married father of two and Orange Order member, has represented Molyneaux from the Lagan Valley. After calling the 1998 Good Friday accord an IRA sellout, he joined the DUP in 2003.
Donaldson’s well-groomed media appearances served to strengthen his image and the DUP’s Good Friday deal. His party supported Brexit.
Donaldson took over after their 2021 resignation over UK-NI trade issues.
In 2022, the DUP’s departure from power-sharing led to the dismantling of Stormont. Despite charges that he was destabilising Northern Ireland, the party mobilised and convinced London to alter the Irish Sea line in February, regaining Stormont.
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