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| DUP leadership: Party voting to elect new leader and deputy | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| In the running for party leader - Sir Jeffrey Donaldson and Edwin Poots | 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) is taking place. | |
| 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 will then leave her role as NI first minister at the end of June. | She steps down as DUP leader on 28 May and will then leave her role as 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 held the role of DUP leader since the party was established in 1971 - its founder the late Ian Paisley, followed by Peter Robinson and its current leader, Arlene Foster. | Only three people have held the role of DUP leader since the party was established in 1971 - its founder the late Ian Paisley, followed by Peter Robinson and its current leader, Arlene Foster. |
| A secret party ballot is being held 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. |
| Mr Poots has held a number of ministerial positions at Stormont | Mr Poots has held a number of ministerial positions at Stormont |
| 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 Northern Ireland Assembly members, that leading the DUP "would be my greatest honour". | On Thursday, Mr Poots said, in a message to MPs and Northern Ireland 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". |
| 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. |
| Sir Jeffrey Donaldson is Northern Ireland's longest-serving MP | Sir Jeffrey Donaldson is Northern Ireland's longest-serving MP |
| 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. |
| 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 |
| 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? | 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. |
| Last-minute canvassing | Last-minute canvassing |
| Both men have been campaigning right up to the last minute with videos and messages being sent to all party members who are eligible to vote in the leadership election. | Both men have been campaigning right up to the last minute with videos and messages being sent to all party members who are eligible to vote in the leadership election. |
| Sir Jeffrey wrote to DUP MLAs and MPs on Thursday night, presenting them with the results of a poll conducted on behalf of his campaign, which appeared to suggest he would have a broader electoral appeal than his competitor. | Sir Jeffrey wrote to DUP MLAs and MPs on Thursday night, presenting them with the results of a poll conducted on behalf of his campaign, which appeared to suggest he would have a broader electoral appeal than his competitor. |
| The results were released internally within the DUP, but BBC News NI political correspondent Stephen Walker obtained a copy and reported the results on The View on Thursday night. | The results were released internally within the DUP, but BBC News NI political correspondent Stephen Walker obtained a copy and reported the results on The View on Thursday night. |
| When asked who was the best choice for DUP leader, 75% of respondents who indicated a preference favoured Sir Jeffrey for the role. | When asked who was the best choice for DUP leader, 75% of respondents who indicated a preference favoured Sir Jeffrey for the role. |
| Mr Poots' team highlighted the size of the survey sample - 500 people - and pointed out that there was no clarity on who took part in the poll or the political background of the respondents. | Mr Poots' team highlighted the size of the survey sample - 500 people - and pointed out that there was no clarity on who took part in the poll or the political background of the respondents. |
| They also said that in their view, the real poll on Sir Jeffery's electoral appeal was the MP's performance in the last general election, when the DUP's overall majority in Lagan Valley fell from 19,000 to 6,000 and the party lost 16% of the vote share. | They also said that in their view, the real poll on Sir Jeffery's electoral appeal was the MP's performance in the last general election, when the DUP's overall majority in Lagan Valley fell from 19,000 to 6,000 and the party lost 16% of the vote share. |
| Mr Poots meanwhile, also sent party members an eve of poll letter, highlighting his ministerial experience at Stormont. | Mr Poots meanwhile, also sent party members an eve of poll letter, highlighting his ministerial experience at Stormont. |
| He also sent a video to the DUP's electoral college, in which he talked about joining the party when he was 16 and said his greatest passion was working for the people of Northern Ireland | He also sent a video to the DUP's electoral college, in which he talked about joining the party when he was 16 and said his greatest passion was working for the people of Northern Ireland |
| Moving on | Moving on |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| Arlene Foster will step down as DUP leader on 28 May | Arlene Foster will step down as DUP leader on 28 May |
| 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. |