BBC News
Published
image captionIn the running for party leader - Sir Jeffrey Donaldson and Edwin Poots
The vote to elect the next leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) will take place on Friday.
Northern Ireland s Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots and Lagan Valley MP Sir Jeffrey Donaldson are bidding to succeed Arlene Foster.
It is the first time in the party s 50-year history that a leadership contest has taken place.
Only three people have ever occupied the role of party leader in the DUP s history: founder Ian Paisley, Peter Robinson and Arlene Foster.
A secret party ballot will be held at 11:00 BST on Friday. The announcement on the next leader is expected at about 17:00 BST, the party has said.
The Stormont Agriculture minister won over the party electorate with his “strength and experience to lead” strapline.
As part of his bid for the leadershp, Mr Poots stressed that he would “reform our party” and “reinvigorate unionism”.
Mr Poots previously indicated he will nominate a colleague to serve as first minister and has vowed to end a party culture of policy-making “on the hoof”.
Mr Poots meets firefighters in Co Down (Rebecca Black/PA)
His pledge to make policy-making more participatory was included in a “manifesto for reform” that he circulated to the members of the DUP’s electoral college this week .
BBC News
Published
Northern Ireland Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots has been elected leader of the Democratic Unionist Party.
Mr Poots beat MP Sir Jeffrey Donaldson to take the top post in the party.
It is the first time in the party s 50-year history that a leadership contest has taken place.
Mr Poots received 19 votes and Sir Jeffrey 17 votes.
North Belfast MLA Paula Bradley has been elected as the party s new deputy leader, after incumbent Lord Dodds announced he would not bid for re-election.
She beat MP Gregory Campbell by 18 votes to 16, and is the first woman elected to the post.
Edwin Poots: Here s what you need to know about the new DUP leader
Poots has said he would split the roles of party leader and Stormont first minister. By Hayley Halpin Friday 14 May 2021, 5:56 PM May 14th 2021, 5:56 PM 38,185 Views 32 Comments
Edwin Poots
Edwin Poots
Image: Brian Lawless via PA Images
IT WAS CONFIRMED this evening that Edwin Poots has been elected as the new leader of the DUP.
NI Agriculture Minister Poots won the contest against Jeffrey Donaldson by 19 votes to 17.
The choice for Poots was made by the 36 party members elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly (MLAs) and House of Commons (MPs).
BBC News
By Jayne McCormack
Published
Two political stalwarts - Edwin Poots and Sir Jeffrey Donaldson - are both vying to become the next leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP).
There has never before been a leadership contest in the DUP s 50-year history, with predecessors having been chosen by the party s top ranks.
BBC News NI explains why the race is taking place and how it will work.
Why is the party electing a new leader?
The current leader Arlene Foster has been forced to stand down after a majority of DUP assembly members (MLAs) and MPs signed a letter of no confidence in her.