Politics

Donaldson resignation: Emma Little-Pengelly vows to do ‘all I can to provide stability’ following shock departure

Sinn Féin’s Michelle O’Neill says Northern party leaders in agreement there was no threat to Stormont

Emma Little-Pengelly, a DUP MLA and Sinn Féin’s Michelle O’Neill. Photograph: Liam McBurney/PA Wire

Freya McClements
Sat Mar 30 2024 - 17:01

Northern Ireland’s Deputy First Minister has pledged to do “all I can to provide stability” following the shock departure of the DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson.

Emma Little-Pengelly, a DUP MLA and the joint head of devolved government in Northern Ireland, said she would “work closely” with the DUP’s interim party leader, Gavin Robinson, and other colleagues “in the time ahead to continue to the work of tackling the big issues faced by Northern Ireland.”

Acknowledging that “many, many people are deeply shocked and devastated by this news, as am I”, she emphasised there was “much to do”, adding “we are determined to deliver for all of the people of Northern Ireland.”

In an interview with Sky News, the First Minister, Sinn Féin’s Michelle O’Neill, said she had spoken to other Northern party leaders and they were in agreement there was no threat to the Stormont institutions.

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She said they had talked “about the need for cohesion ... the need for leadership and ... the delivery that we now need to get on with in terms of the Executive itself.”

Speaking to reporters in Dublin on Saturday, former taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, said the “big thing now” was for the Northern parties “to stay calm and keep going.

“Obviously there will always be people trying to rattle cages but hopefully ... I wish them well and really hope they, everyone gets on with it.”

Mr Donaldson, who remains the Lagan Valley MP, resigned as party leader on Friday after he was charged with sexual offences.

In a statement from the party following an emergency meeting of its senior officers, the DUP said it had received a letter from him “confirming that he has been charged with allegations of an historical nature and indicating that he is stepping down as leader of the Democratic Unionist Party with immediate effect.”

He has been suspended from the party “in accordance with the party rules pending the outcome of a judicial process.”

It has been reported that in the letter Mr Donaldson wrote that he intends to strenuously contest the charges.

The former DUP leader’s role in the restoration of the Assembly and Executive only eight weeks ago has given rise to some concerns about the stability of the North’s political institutions, as well as the potential impact on the party – still marked from internal divisions, not least over the decision to return to government – and wider unionism.

On Saturday other senior DUP figures echoed the call for stability made by the Deputy First Minister following Mr Donaldson’s resignation.

In an email message to party members, Mr Robinson said the DUP was “not about any one individual. We are a party of MPs, MLAs, councillors, and scores of dedicated members across all parts of Northern Ireland.”

He said “the police service and courts must be allowed to complete their processes without interference,” adding that “nothing that any of us say or do must in any way compromise that process.”

On Saturday the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) released a statement saying it was “aware of ongoing commentary on social media platforms” and in the media, and warning of the need to protect the integrity of a live investigation.

The PSNI said it wanted to remind local communities and the media that speculation was “unhelpful and may ultimately have a negative effect on the criminal justice process.”

The East Antrim MP Sammy Wilson told Cool FM “any party which is hit with this kind of shock is bound to be in turmoil” but the focus would be the forthcoming general election.

“We’re going to focus now on Gavin [Robinson] getting our message across that, look, there’s a grave threat to the Union in this election and we’ve got to get unionists settled and galvanised around the party, the only unionist party that can really successfully steer a way through this election.”

He said it was not the time to start focusing on a leadership election, and the fact that Mr Robinson had been chosen unanimously by the party officers “shows there’s a confidence that he can take us through these difficult circumstances.”

Freya McClements

Freya McClements

Freya McClements is Northern Editor of The Irish Times

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