DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson resigns after being charged with historical sex offences

The leader of the Democratic Unionist Party has resigned after being charged with historical sex offences.

The DUP confirmed Sir Jeffrey Donaldson is stepping down and is the suspect at the centre of a scandal after police revealed a man had been charged.

A 57-year-old woman was arrested and charged alongside the politician for aiding and abetting additional offences. They are both due to appear in court later this month.

The Northern Ireland politician has been suspended from the DUP membership pending the outcome of the judicial process and deputy leader Gavin Robinson has been appointed interim party leader.

His suspension could have huge implications for British and Irish politics at a time when the republican Sinn Féin, which wants a united Ireland, is seeing support surge.

Sir Jeffrey’s Lagan Valley constituency is under threat from the Alliance Party’s Sorcha Eastwood, who came second in the 2019 general election. Depending on the outcome of the judicial process, the DUP could face a challenge replacing Sir Jeffrey with a candidate to hold the seat.

Mr Robinson is expected to maintain the DUP’s participation in power sharing in Northern Ireland, keeping the devolved government up and running. Sir Jeffrey’s resignation also adds to the instability of the DUP and means the party having its fourth leader since Arlene Foster quit following an internal revolt in 2021.

He has been the MP for Belfast East in the House of Commons since 2015 and was previously lord mayor of Belfast in 2012–2013.

In 2012 he became the first DUP representative to attend a gay pride event, saying that as lord mayor he wanted to “engage with every section of our society”.

But he is one of 21 MPs who in 2019 voted against LGBT inclusive sex and relationship education for schools in England.

In a statement on Good Friday, the party said: “The Party Chairman has received a letter from Sir Jeffrey Donaldson MP confirming that he has been charged with allegations of an historical nature and indicating that he is stepping down as Leader of the Democratic Unionist Party with immediate effect.

“In accordance with the Party Rules, the Party Officers have suspended Mr Donaldson from membership, pending the outcome of a judicial process. The Party Officers have this morning unanimously appointed Mr Gavin Robinson MP as the Interim Party Leader.”

It comes after the DUP leader’s social media accounts were taken down without warning this morning.

It is understood both suspects were arrested on Thursday morning by detectives and were questioned before being charged that night.

A police spokesman told The Independent: “Detectives from the Police Service of Northern Ireland arrested and charged a 61-year-old man for non-recent sexual offences.

“A 57-year-old woman was also arrested and charged at the time for aiding and abetting additional offences.

“Both are due to appear before Newry Magistrates Court on 24 April.

“As is usual procedure, all charges will be reviewed by the Public Prosecution Service.”

The news comes after reports the DUP was holding an “emergency meeting” this morning, with commentators suggesting the talks were “very significant”.

Meanwhile last week a man was removed from a plane at London Heathrow airport after he was involved in a row with Sir Jeffrey.

Police confirmed the passenger was removed from the flight on Wednesday evening following a “verbal altercation” with the Northern Ireland politician.

The DUP declined to comment on the incident but a party source confirmed a man had been verbally abusive, according to reports.

The shocking resignation brings an end to a 40-year run in politics for Sir Jeffrey and comes just weeks after one of the most significant decisions of his career when he chose to bring the DUP back to powersharing.

In February the party agreed to return to Stormont following protracted negotiations over a new deal on post-Brexit trade arrangements and a series of measures aimed at providing assurances around Northern Ireland’s constitutional position within the United Kingdom.

The DUP is under significant pressure from Sinn Féin, which is the most popular party in the Republic of Ireland ahead of a general election next March.

In February, Northern Ireland saw the first Republican sworn in as first minister in Michelle O’Neill.

After assuming office, Ms O’Neill said she expects a vote on Irish unity to take place in the next decade.

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has said Irish unity is now within “touching distance”.

Sir Jeffrey, 61, was elected as the representative for Lagan Valley in 1997 with the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP). However in 2003, following long-standing opposition to the Good Friday Agreement and the leadership of David Trimble, he announced he would leave the UUP.

He joined the DUP in 2004 and was elected leader in 2021 after the resignation of Edwin Poots. This year he became Northern Ireland’s longest serving MP.

He was recognised by the Queen in her 2016 Birthday Honours and was given a knighthood for his political service.