DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson steps down after being charged with historical sex offences
SIR Jeffrey Donaldson is stepping down leader of the Democratic Unionist Party after being charged with historical sex offences.
The MP, 61, was suspended from the party today pending the outcome of a criminal investigation.
It comes after PSNI confirmed a 61-year-old man had been charged with “non-recent sexual offences”.
A 57-year-old woman has also been charged with aiding and abetting in connection with the alleged offences.
The pair were both held on Thursday and are due to appear at Newry Magistrates’ Court on April 24.
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.”
Sir Jeffrey’s social media accounts, including X, were deleted overnight.
The MP is the longest-serving in Northern Ireland after he was first elected in 1997.
His career started with the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) but his relationship with former leader David Trimble broke down when he led a walkout of the 1998 peace talks.
He became leader of the DUP in July 2021 after first joining in 2004.
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