Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has stepped down as leader of the Democratic Unionist Party with immediate effect after he was charged with historical sexual offences.
In a statement, the DUP 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.”
Donaldson has led the party since 2021, but has been the MP for Lagan Valley since 1997.
Prior to joining the DUP, he was part of the Ulster Unionist Party’s delegation to negotiate the Good Friday Peace agreement.
Follow Sky News on WhatsApp
Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News
The DUP has weathered many storms, but this is a political earthquake for the party.
Sir Jeffrey Donaldson’s departure under a cloud will have ramifications in both the short-term and long-term.
It will rock the newly established power-sharing government, of which the DUP forms one half.
And maintaining its seats at Westminster in the upcoming general election will be a mountain for the party to climb.
The DUP is well known for its conservative views on social issues like same-sex marriage.
Any whiff of impropriety, never mind alleged offence, leaves it open to allegations of hypocrisy.
In 2010, DUP leader Peter Robinson stepped down briefly as first minister when his wife confessed to an extra-marital affair.
Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has not only resigned but had his party membership suspended, pending the outcome of the judicial process.
It’s an inauspicious end to the political career of Northern Ireland’s longest-serving member of parliament.
Both are due to appear before Newry Magistrates’ Court on 24 April.
Donaldson came to national prominence for his part in the confidence and supply agreement which propped up Theresa May’s government with DUP support following the 2017 election.
But the DUP ended up voting against Mrs May’s deal – and ultimately her government collapsed.
He became leader of the party in Westminster in 2019, and took overall control in 2021.
Mr Robinson, who has taken over the reins of the party on an interim basis, became the DUP deputy leader in June 2023.
He joined the Commons in 2015, having previously been lord mayor of Belfast, and a councillor for the city.
Conservative MP and former Northern Ireland Secretary Julian Smith said Mr Robinson’s selection was a “very positive decision”.
He added that Mr Robinson had “played a key role in a tough negotiation to restore powersharing & along with other DUP colleagues will chart a positive course for the future”.
It is understood the Donaldson remains an MP.
A spokesperson for the House of Commons said: “We are aware of the announcement by the police, but will not be commenting on individual cases.”
Ireland is pledging emergency legislation enabling it to send asylum seekers back to the UK.
More than 80% of recent arrivals in the republic came via the land border with Northern Ireland, Irish justice minister Helen McEntee told a parliamentary committee last week.
Ireland’s deputy prime minister has said the threat of deportation to Rwanda is causing migrants to head for Ireland instead of the UK.
Micheal Martin said the policy was already affecting Ireland because people are “fearful” of staying in the UK.
The former taoiseach told The Daily Telegraph: “Maybe that’s the impact it was designed to have.”
Simon Harris, Ireland’s latest leader, has asked Ms McEntee to “bring proposals to cabinet to amend existing law regarding the designation of safe ‘third countries’ and allowing the return of inadmissible international protection applicants to the UK”, a spokesman said.
Advertisement
Ms McEntee said she will be meeting UK Home Secretary James Cleverly in London on Monday.
“There are many reasons why we have seen an increase in migration towards Ireland,” she told RTE.
“My focus as minister for justice is making sure that we have an effective immigration structure and system.
“That’s why I’m introducing fast processing, that’s why I’ll have emergency legislation at cabinet this week to make sure that we can effectively return people to the UK, and that’s why I’ll be meeting with the home secretary to raise these issues on Monday.”
People are now “worried” about coming to the UK, Rishi Sunak has said.
He told Sky News: “If people come to our country illegally, but know that they won’t be able to stay here, they are much less likely to come, and that’s why the Rwanda scheme is so important.”
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
2:25
Are migrants fleeing from UK to Ireland?
Mr Sunak said the comments from Irish politicians show that “illegal migration is a global challenge”.
“[That] is why you’re seeing multiple countries talk about doing third country partnerships, looking at novel ways to solve this problem, and I believe [they] will follow where the UK has led,” he said.
Shadow minister Wes Streeting said it was unlikely a Labour government would bring people back from Rwanda if some are sent there.
“Once people are settled in Rwanda, they’re settled in Rwanda,” he told Sky News, adding it was doubtful that Labour would “unpick that situation”.
Follow Sky News on WhatsApp
Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News
Regarding illegal migration in general, he said it required “putting the money that’s gone to Rwanda into the National Crime Agency so we can have proper cross-border policing to tackle the criminal gangs, speeding up the processing of decision-making, making sure we’ve got serious returns agreements with other countries”.
The duke is expected to provide a reading at the event, which marks a decade since the inaugural Invictus Games in London in 2014.
The games were founded as a sporting event for injured and sick military personnel and veterans.
Actor Damian Lewis is set to recite the Invictus poem during the service.
Advertisement
Representatives from across the Invictus Games participating nations, including members of the wounded, injured and sick service personnel and veteran community, will also be in attendance.
Fire and ambulance services also attended, Durham Constabulary said.
Detective Chief Inspector Mel Sutherland, who is leading the investigation, said: “Officers are keen to speak to anyone who was travelling on the A19 at around 12.20pm to 12.30pm who may have mobile phone or dashcam footage which captures the moments leading up to the incident.
“Our thoughts remain with the man’s family at this time.”