Category: DUP

DUP Leader Hits Back After Nancy Pelosi Wades Into Northern Ireland Debate

The leader of Northern Ireland’s second-largest political party, Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, reacted today after the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, said the U.S. Congress could block a free-trade agreement with Britain if the Northern Ireland Protocol is jettisoned. Pelosi said it was “deeply concerning” that British Prime Minister Boris Johnson…


Northern Ireland ‘Political Instability Gives Legitimacy’ to Paramilitary Groups, MPs Told

Paramilitary groups are likely to be thrive on the “political instability” surrounding the Northern Ireland Protocol and the impasse at Stormont after the Democratic Unionist Party refused to join the governing executive, MPs have been told. The DUP has refused to take up positions in the Northern Ireland Executive in protest at the post-Brexit trade…


Norther Ireland Business Community Voices Concerns Over Political Uncertainty

Business leaders in Northern Ireland have expressed concerns over the continuing political uncertainty following Thursday’s local elections and have called for the reestablishment of a fully functioning government for the region. Northern Ireland has not had a functioning local government since February, when the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), then the largest party in the regional…


Northern Ireland Business Community Voices Concerns Over Political Uncertainty

Business leaders in Northern Ireland have expressed concerns over the continuing political uncertainty following Thursday’s local elections and have called for the reestablishment of a fully functioning government for the region. Northern Ireland has not had a functioning local government since February, when the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), then the largest party in the regional…


DUP Under Pressure in Northern Ireland as Sinn Fein Tops Poll

The Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin said he was “amused” at talk of Sinn Fein pushing a border poll to bring about a united Ireland after the Irish nationalist party—formerly the political wing of the Provisional IRA—became the biggest party in Northern Ireland’s assembly. Martin said: “The whole campaign was on cost of living, on…


Northern Ireland Politician Christopher Stalford Dies Suddenly Aged 39

Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) lawmaker Christopher Stalford has died at the age of 39, party leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has confirmed. The south Belfast representative and father-of-four died suddenly. In a statement, Sir Jeffrey said: “I am deeply saddened to learn of Christopher’s sudden death. He was not just an elected representative or a colleague,…


Judge Suspends Northern Ireland Minister’s Order to End Sea Border Checks

A High Court judge in Northern Ireland has suspended an order from a unionist minister to end port checks required under the UK–EU agreement on post-Brexit trade. Northern Ireland’s Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots, a member of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), issued a unilateral direction on Feb. 2, instructing his officials to stop the agri-food…


EU Needs To Recognise Northern Ireland Protocol Has Failed: Sir Jeffrey Donaldson

DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has insisted that the European Union needs to recognise that the Northern Ireland Protocol has “failed.” He was speaking shortly before taking part in a virtual meeting with European Commission Vice President Maros Sefcovic. The protocol, which was negotiated as part of the Brexit settlement to avoid a hard border…


Next DUP Leader Warns of Brexit Deal Impact on Northern Ireland ‘Stability’

It is “not realistic” to expect stability in Northern Ireland under the terms of the Brexit deal, the next leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) has warned. Sir Jeffrey Donaldson said he would speak to Boris Johnson to underline his message. His comments came as Brexit minister Lord Frost said it was “hard to…


Northern Ireland’s DUP Elects Hardliner Poots as New Leader

BELFAST—The new leader of Northern Ireland’s Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) pledged to unite the bickering strands of unionism to fight the Brexit deal and lay the foundations for keeping the province in the United Kingdom. Edwin Poots, seen by some commentators as more aggressive in his opposition to Northern Ireland’s post-Brexit trade barriers and more…