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

Jeffrey Donaldson is Northern Ireland's longest-serving lawmaker in the British parliament

The leader of Northern Ireland’s largest unionist party, Jeffrey Donaldson, has resigned following charges of “allegations of an historical nature,” confirmed by the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP).

“In accordance with the party rules, the party officers have suspended Mr Donaldson from membership, pending the outcome of a judicial process,” stated a DUP release on Friday. The statement further disclosed that Gavin Robinson, another DUP lawmaker in the UK parliament, had been appointed as interim party leader by unanimous decision of party officers.

Although the DUP did not specify the cause of the 61-year-old’s resignation, numerous media outlets linked Donaldson’s departure to a Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) statement reporting two arrests.

“A 61-year-old man has been charged in relation to non-recent sexual offences,” the PSNI statement confirmed. “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.”

British police typically withhold suspect names.

Subsequently, Donaldson’s social media profiles were deleted on Friday, with his handle on the X social network showing “This account doesn’t exist.”

Donaldson's resignation comes amid a challenging period for the DUP as it navigates its relationship with the UK ahead of expected general elections later this year. Last month, Donaldson played a pivotal role in brokering a deal with the UK government, ending the DUP’s two-year boycott of the devolved power-sharing assembly at Stormont. He was also expected to lead his party into the upcoming UK general election.

Donaldson, a well-known figure in British politics, has been Northern Ireland’s longest-serving lawmaker in the UK parliament since 1997. He also served in the Northern Irish Assembly.

However, as a member of the UK parliament, he does not hold a position in Northern Ireland’s power-sharing government, a critical aspect of the region’s peace settlement that resumed last month following a two-year hiatus.

Following Donaldson’s resignation, Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O’Neill emphasized the government’s commitment to its policy initiatives.

“My priority is to continue providing the leadership expected and deserved by the public, ensuring the executive coalition delivers for the entire community,” said O’Neill of Sinn Fein, which shares power with the DUP. “The DUP leader has resigned after being charged with serious offences. This is now a matter for the criminal justice system.”