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DUP leadership: Party to elect new leader and deputy | DUP leadership: Party to elect new leader and deputy |
(32 minutes later) | |
In 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. | 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. | Northern Ireland's Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots and Lagan Valley MP Sir Jeffrey Donaldson are bidding to succeed Arlene Foster. |
She steps down as DUP leader on 28 May and NI first minister at the end of June. | She steps down as DUP leader on 28 May and NI first minister at the end of June. |
It is the first time in the party's 50-year history that a leadership contest has taken place. | 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. | 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. | 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. |
A party meeting to elect the next leader, to be overseen by DUP chairman Lord Morrow, will be conducted virtually. | A party meeting to elect the next leader, to be overseen by DUP chairman Lord Morrow, will be conducted virtually. |
Who are the DUP leadership contenders? | Who are the DUP leadership contenders? |
From firebrands to government - who are the DUP? | From firebrands to government - who are the DUP? |
The city at the centre of the unionist universe | The city at the centre of the unionist universe |
A new deputy leader will also be elected after incumbent Lord Dodds announced he would not bid for re-election. | A new deputy leader will also be elected after incumbent Lord Dodds announced he would not bid for re-election. |
Who are the candidates? | Who are the candidates? |
Mr Poots became an MLA (member of the legislative assembly) for the Lagan Valley constituency in 1998 and has also served on Lisburn City Council. | Mr Poots became an MLA (member of the legislative assembly) for the Lagan Valley constituency in 1998 and has also served on Lisburn City Council. |
He has served as Northern Ireland minister for the environment, minister for arts, culture and leisure and as health minister over the course of his political career. | He has served as Northern Ireland minister for the environment, minister for arts, culture and leisure and as health minister over the course of his political career. |
He has said he would like to remain as agriculture minister and would not take on the role of Northern Ireland first minister if elected party leader. | He has said he would like to remain as agriculture minister and would not take on the role of Northern Ireland first minister if elected party leader. |
On Thursday, Mr Poots said, in a message to MPs and NI Assembly members, that leading the DUP "would be my greatest honour". | On Thursday, Mr Poots said, in a message to MPs and NI Assembly members, that leading the DUP "would be my greatest honour". |
He said he had been "tried and tested over many years in political office" and had a plan to "reinvigorate unionism". | He said he had been "tried and tested over many years in political office" and had a plan to "reinvigorate unionism". |
MP Gregory Campbell and MLAs Paul Frew and Paula Bradley are running for the DUP deputy leader post | MP Gregory Campbell and MLAs Paul Frew and Paula Bradley are running for the DUP deputy leader post |
However, he is facing stiff competition for the leadership from Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, who has been the MP for Lagan Valley since 1997. | However, he is facing stiff competition for the leadership from Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, who has been the MP for Lagan Valley since 1997. |
At that time he was an Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) member but was one of several politicians who defected to the DUP in 2004 after a dispute over the 1998 Good Friday Agreement peace deal. | At that time he was an Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) member but was one of several politicians who defected to the DUP in 2004 after a dispute over the 1998 Good Friday Agreement peace deal. |
On Thursday, Sir Jeffrey told DUP assembly members and MPs that he will contest the next assembly election and serve as first minister if elected. | On Thursday, Sir Jeffrey told DUP assembly members and MPs that he will contest the next assembly election and serve as first minister if elected. |
"If elected leader, I will not be leading remotely from Westminster. I will be on the ground and intend to fight the next assembly election so that I can be based here," he said. | "If elected leader, I will not be leading remotely from Westminster. I will be on the ground and intend to fight the next assembly election so that I can be based here," he said. |
"I would take on the role of first minister as I believe that our people not only want a leader of unionism, they want a leader for Northern Ireland." | "I would take on the role of first minister as I believe that our people not only want a leader of unionism, they want a leader for Northern Ireland." |
Both Mr Poots and Sir Jeffrey not only represent the constituency of Lagan Valley, but also work out of the same office building. | Both Mr Poots and Sir Jeffrey not only represent the constituency of Lagan Valley, but also work out of the same office building. |
There are three candidates in the running to be deputy leader. | There are three candidates in the running to be deputy leader. |
They are East Londonderry MP Gregory Campbell and MLAs Paul Frew, of North Antrim, and Paula Bradley, of North Belfast. | They are East Londonderry MP Gregory Campbell and MLAs Paul Frew, of North Antrim, and Paula Bradley, of North Belfast. |
Who can elect the new leadership? | Who can elect the new leadership? |
Only DUP members elected to the House of Commons and the Northern Ireland Assembly get to vote in a leadership election, according to party rules. | Only DUP members elected to the House of Commons and the Northern Ireland Assembly get to vote in a leadership election, according to party rules. |
There are 28 MLAs - including Mrs Foster - and eight MPs, who make up the electoral college. | There are 28 MLAs - including Mrs Foster - and eight MPs, who make up the electoral college. |
In order to become party leader, the winning candidate must secure the support of at least 19 of the party's MLAs and MPs. | In order to become party leader, the winning candidate must secure the support of at least 19 of the party's MLAs and MPs. |
All you need to know about the DUP contest | All you need to know about the DUP contest |
The city at the centre of the unionist universe | The city at the centre of the unionist universe |
From firebrands to government - who are the DUP? | From firebrands to government - who are the DUP? |
What's the timetable for voting? | |
Politics never sticks to a timetable, but some time on Friday morning, each DUP leadership candidate will be given 10 minutes - just 10 minutes - to speak to an online meeting. | Politics never sticks to a timetable, but some time on Friday morning, each DUP leadership candidate will be given 10 minutes - just 10 minutes - to speak to an online meeting. |
Each candidate for deputy leader will be given five minutes to speak. If you think that's not very long, you're right. | Each candidate for deputy leader will be given five minutes to speak. If you think that's not very long, you're right. |
But if you think that's the first time the DUP electorate will have heard the pitch from these people, then you're living on a different planet. | But if you think that's the first time the DUP electorate will have heard the pitch from these people, then you're living on a different planet. |
A lot of phone conversations and one-to-ones have been going on for a couple of weeks since this contest was announced. | A lot of phone conversations and one-to-ones have been going on for a couple of weeks since this contest was announced. |
What the DUP haven't been doing, at all in fact, is speaking to the media, so that people like us can ask them questions - questions we would love the answers to - because the party has effectively gagged them. | What the DUP haven't been doing, at all in fact, is speaking to the media, so that people like us can ask them questions - questions we would love the answers to - because the party has effectively gagged them. |
So after Friday's pitch, all of the MLAs and MPs must make their way to a central voting point in east Belfast to vote in person and that will be overseen by party officials. | So after Friday's pitch, all of the MLAs and MPs must make their way to a central voting point in east Belfast to vote in person and that will be overseen by party officials. |
We hope to get an announcement of who has won some time after 17:00 BST. | We hope to get an announcement of who has won some time after 17:00 BST. |
All signs are it could be very, very close. | All signs are it could be very, very close. |
Mrs Foster announced her decision to resign after facing a revolt from DUP members. | Mrs Foster announced her decision to resign after facing a revolt from DUP members. |
Arlene Foster will step down as DUP leader on 28 May | Arlene Foster will step down as DUP leader on 28 May |
She had led the party since December 2015 and was appointed first minister of Northern Ireland the following month. | She had led the party since December 2015 and was appointed first minister of Northern Ireland the following month. |
BBC News NI understands that she will sever her ties with the DUP when she stands down as first minister. | BBC News NI understands that she will sever her ties with the DUP when she stands down as first minister. |
Sources close to her said she thinks it is no longer the party she joined. | Sources close to her said she thinks it is no longer the party she joined. |