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Jeffrey Donaldson resigns as DUP leader and suspended by Orange Order after historical sex offences

Sources said Mr Jeffrey left Northern Ireland this morning for London, where he has an apartment

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Jeffrey Donaldson resigns as DUP leader

Adrian Rutherford and Christopher Leebody

Today at 12:57

Jeffrey Donaldson has resigned as DUP leader after being charged with historical sex offences.

Gavin Robinson has been appointed interim party leader.

The party confirmed his departure in a statement released on Friday afternoon.

It came hours after the PSNI confirmed a 61-year-old man had been charged with “non-recent sexual offences”.

A 57-year-old woman has also been charged with aiding and abetting additional offences.

Both are due in court next month.

It said: “The party chairman has received a letter from Sir Jeffrey Donaldson MP 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.

“In accordance with the party rules, the party officers have suspended Mr Donaldson from membership, pending the outcome of a judicial process.

The party officers have this morning unanimously appointed Mr Gavin Robinson MP as the Interim Party Leader.”

Sources said Mr Jeffrey left Northern Ireland this morning for London, where he has an apartment.

He has been suspended by the Orange Order.

A spokesman for the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland said: “Jeffrey Donaldson’s membership has been suspended, in accordance with the rules of the Loyal Orange Institution, pending the outcome of the legal process. No further comment will be made.”

There had been mounting speculation about his future on Friday morning with reports of an unscheduled DUP party officers’ meeting.

Sir Jeffrey’s social media accounts had also disappeared overnight.

It is further understood that the Lagan Valley MP also withdrew from a number of public appearances at late notice yesterday.

Earlier, a PSNI spokesperson said: “Detectives from the Police Service of Northern Ireland arrested and charged a 61-year-old man for non-recent sexual offences. A 57-year-old woman was also arrested and charged at the time for aiding and abetting additional offences.

“Both are due to appear before Newry Magistrates Court on 24 April.

“As is usual procedure, all charges will be reviewed by the Public Prosecution Service.”

Jeffrey Donaldson joined the DUP in 2003, having defected from the Ulster Unionist Party.

He was appointed DUP leader on June 30 2021, replacing Edwin Poots, who briefly held the role following the resignation of Arlene Foster.