What's happened
Sir Jeffrey Donaldson resigns as leader of the Democratic Unionist Party after being charged with historical sexual offences, leading to Gavin Robinson's appointment as interim leader.
Why it matters
Sir Jeffrey Donaldson's resignation amid sexual offences charges has significant implications for Northern Ireland's political landscape, potentially destabilizing the revived government. The DUP's internal divisions and the appointment of Gavin Robinson as interim leader will shape the party's future direction and impact power-sharing dynamics.
What the papers say
The Guardian highlights the potential impact of Donaldson's resignation on power-sharing in Northern Ireland, while The Independent delves into his political career and the circumstances leading to his resignation. Politico discusses the shock of Donaldson's resignation and its implications for the DUP's future.
How we got here
Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, the longest-serving MP in Northern Ireland, played a pivotal role in negotiating the DUP's return to power-sharing after a two-year standoff. His resignation follows charges of historical sexual offences, raising questions about the party's stability and future leadership.
Common question
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Sir Jeffrey Mark Donaldson is a British politician who is the Democratic Unionist Party Member of Parliament for Lagan Valley in Northern Ireland.
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The Democratic Unionist Party is a unionist political party in Northern Ireland favouring British identity. It was founded in 1971 during the Troubles by Ian Paisley, who led the party for the next 37 years.
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Northern Ireland is variously described as a country, province or region which is part of the United Kingdom. Located in the northeast of the island of Ireland, Northern Ireland shares a border to the south and west with the Republic of Ireland.
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Gavin James Robinson is a British politician and barrister. He has been Democratic Unionist Party Member of Parliament for Belfast East in the UK House of Commons since the 2015 general election. He was Lord Mayor of Belfast in 2012–2013.
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Michelle O'Neill is an Irish politician serving as deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland since 2020. She has served as Vice President of Sinn Féin since 2018 and has been a Member of the Legislative Assembly for Mid Ulster since 2007.
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Sinn Féin is a centre-left to left-wing Irish republican political party active in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.
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Parliament Buildings, often referred to as Stormont because of its location in the Stormont Estate area of Belfast, is the seat of the Northern Ireland Assembly, the devolved legislature for the region.