Who will be in the race to lead the DUP?
Minister of agriculture Edwin Poots is viewed as most likely successor to Arlene Foster
Wed, Apr 28, 2021, 22:12
Updated: Wed, Apr 28, 2021, 22:43
Northern Ireland is to have a new First Minister, and the DUP a new party leader; what is far from clear is how these roles will be filled, or who might fill them.
The DUP has had only three leaders in its 50-year history. Each of the three – Ian Paisley, Peter Robinson and Arlene Foster – have been crowned rather than elected: all were appointed unopposed.
The manner of Foster’s departure following a letter of no confidence signed by a majority of MLAs and MPs has thrown open the possibility of the DUP’s first leadership election. That said, the length of time before Foster leaves office – May 28th in the case of the party leadership, and the end of June as First Minister – gives plenty of opportunity for backroom discussions and for a consensus candidate to emerge which would avoid a leadership contest.