so, the key details of the story we are bringing you that has been developing over the last 30 minutes or so. developing over the last 30 minutes orso. sirjeffrey developing over the last 30 minutes or so. sirjeffrey donaldson, who was the leader of the largest unionist party in northern ireland, the democratic unionist party, has been charged with historical sexual offences and is stepping down as leader. 57 woman has also been charged with aiding and abetting in connection with the alleged offences. the dup, whichjust earlier this year went back into a power sharing government with sinn fein at stormont, said the party chairman has received a letter from sirjeffrey donaldson confirming that he has been charged with allegations of an historical nature, and indicating he is stepping down as leader of the dup with immediate effect. another dup mp, gavin robinson, has been appointed as interim party leader. we can talk now to mark devenport, who joins me. he is the bbc? former
i imagine they will speak to the media afterwards. i was saying earlier aboutjeffrey donaldson, it has been a big week for him and we have seen a differentjeffrey donaldson this week. we have seen a very bullish jeffrey donaldson this week. we have seen a very bullishjeffrey donaldson take on his critics, particularly within his own unionist community and his own party. his big challenge this week is, my achievements have been published, now let s see yours, published, now let s see yours, publish yours, and to that he held up publish yours, and to that he held up a blank sheet. so he has decided in the past couple of weeks that that negotiation had gone as far as it would go and, as i said earlier, it would go and, as i said earlier, it has been his week in terms of being on the stage in that one party negotiation with the uk government, it becomes michelle 0 neill s day. we re going to head inside the chamber and listening. i we re going to head inside the chamber and liste