May 2021 Democratic Unionist Party leadership election explained

Election Name:May 2021 Democratic Unionist Party leadership election
Next Year:June 2021
Election Date:14 May 2021
1Blank:MPs/MLAs ballots
2Blank:Percentage
Candidate1:Edwin Poots
Colour1:D46A4C
1Data1:19
2Data1:52.80%
Turnout:100%
Candidate2:Sir Jeffrey Donaldson
Colour2:D46A4C
1Data2:17
2Data2:47.20%
Leader
Before Election:Arlene Foster
After Election:Edwin Poots
Type:presidential

The May 2021 Democratic Unionist Party leadership election was triggered by Arlene Foster's resignation from leadership.[1] It was the Democratic Unionist Party's first leadership election since the party's founding in 1971.[2]

Foster released a statement on 28 April 2021 announcing her intention to resign as party leader on 28 May in order to provide party officers with some space to arrange for the leadership contest.[3] [4] Party chair Maurice Morrow later announced that the leadership election would take place on 14 May 2021.[5]

Edwin Poots MLA won, with 19 votes from DUP MPs and MLAs, beating Sir Jeffrey Donaldson MP's 17 votes. At the same time, Paula Bradley MLA was elected as the party's deputy leader to replace Nigel Dodds, Baron Dodds of Duncairn, beating Gregory Campbell MP by 18 votes to 16.[6]

After agreeing to a deal that resolved the stalemate over the Irish Language Act, Poots stood down as leader on 17 June after a meeting where a majority of DUP MLAs and MPs voted against the party nominating a replacement for Arlene Foster.[7] [8]

Background

Following the end of Brexit negotiations that culminated in the EU–UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement in 2020, party leader Arlene Foster was criticised for supporting prime minister Boris Johnson, who was blamed for the Irish Sea border due to the Northern Ireland Protocol.[9] In contrast to most other DUP Northern Ireland Assembly members, Foster abstained in a vote on gay conversion therapy.[4]

22 DUP Members of the Legislative Assembly and four Members of Parliament expressed no-confidence in her leadership in a letter.[1]

Timeline

Candidates

Declared

CandidateBornPolitical officeAnnouncedSource


Kilkeel, Northern Ireland		3 May 2021[11] [12]


Lisburn, Northern Ireland		[13] [14]

Declined

Results

The election was held on 14 May 2021, with the result announced on the same day at approximately 17:00 BST. Under the party's constitution, any party member that is either a Member of the Legislative Assembly or an MP in the House of Commons is entitled to vote. The electorate encompassed the DUP's 8 MPs and 28 MLAs. The five DUP members of the House of Lords were not permitted to vote.[16]

Candidate! colspan=3
MP / MLA votes
Votes%
Edwin Poots1952.8
Sir Jeffrey Donaldson1747.2

Notes and References

  1. News: Arlene Foster announces resignation as DUP leader and NI first minister . . 28 April 2021 . 28 April 2021 . live . https://archive.today/20210428161802/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-56910045 . 28 April 2021.
  2. News: Carroll . Rory . 28 April 2021 . Why is the DUP preparing to dump Arlene Foster?. . 28 April 2021 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210430221927/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/apr/28/why-is-the-dup-preparing-to-dump-arlene-foster . 30 April 2021.
  3. News: 28 April 2021 . Arlene Foster to step down as DUP leader and Northern Ireland's first minister . Sky News . 28 April 2021 . David . Blevins . live . https://archive.today/20210429143935/https://news.sky.com/story/arlene-foster-to-step-down-as-dup-leader-and-northern-irelands-first-minister-she-tells-sky-news-12289489 . 29 April 2021.
  4. News: Arlene Foster resigns as DUP leader and Northern Ireland First Minister . . 28 April 2021 . 28 April 2021 . Gareth . Davies . live . https://archive.today/20210623220324/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/04/28/arlene-foster-resigns-dup-leader-northern-ireland-first-minister/ . 23 June 2021.
  5. News: DUP leadership vote to take place on 14 May . . 4 May 2021 . 8 May 2021 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210507175502/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-56973796 . 7 May 2021.
  6. News: Edwin Poots is elected DUP leader . . 14 May 2021 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210518125431/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-57121825 . 18 May 2021.
  7. News: Hewitt . Ralph . 17 June 2021 . Edwin Poots to step down as DUP leader just three weeks after taking the role . . 18 June 2021 . live . https://archive.today/20210623193618/https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/edwin-poots-to-step-down-as-dup-leader-just-three-weeks-after-taking-the-role-40552186.html . 23 June 2021.
  8. News: 17 June 2021 . DUP revolt over first minister confirmation . Colm . Kelpie . Ciara . Colhoun . en-GB . . 19 June 2021 . live . https://archive.today/20210617183331/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-57507176 . 17 June 2021.
  9. News: McCormack . Jayne . Sir Jeffrey Donaldson: Who is the man set to be DUP's new leader? . 23 June 2021 . . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210623134529/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-56998692 . 23 June 2021.
  10. News: Noonan . Laura . 4 May 2021 . Northern Ireland’s DUP sets May 14 for election of new leader . . London . 7 May 2021 . live . https://archive.today/20210504202820/https://www.ft.com/content/3d8b0899-f555-4bae-87e6-25bae304a053 . 4 May 2021.
  11. Web site: Sir Jeffrey Donaldson announces bid to succeed Arlene Foster as DUP leader . 3 May 2021 . 3 May 2021. Sky News. en . David . Blevins . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210505132606/https://news.sky.com/story/sir-jeffrey-donaldson-announces-bid-to-succeed-arlene-foster-as-dup-leader-12293869 . 5 May 2021.
  12. News: Sir Jeffrey Donaldson launches campaign to become DUP leader . . 3 May 2021 . 3 May 2021 . Rory . Carroll . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210506001648/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/may/03/sir-jeffrey-donaldson-launches-campaign-dup-leader . 6 May 2021.
  13. Poots . Edwin . edwinpootsmla . 1387804847303544833 . Today, I announce my candidacy for leader of the Democratic Unionist Party. I love this country and its people and I look forward to engaging with party colleagues in the days ahead. . live . https://archive.today/20210624090349/https://twitter.com/edwinpootsmla/status/1387804847303544833 . 24 June 2021.
  14. News: Edwin Poots tipped to succeed Arlene Foster as DUP leader . . London . 30 April 2021 . 30 April 2021 . Rory . Carroll . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210504233145/https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/apr/30/edwin-poots-tipped-to-succeed-arlene-foster-as-dup-leader . 4 May 2021.
  15. News: DUP leadership: Three candidates for DUP deputy leader . . 7 May 2021 . 7 May 2021 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210509130821/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-57001077 . 9 May 2021.
  16. Web site: DUP leadership election and appointing a First Minister . David . Torrance . 12 May 2021 . House of Commons Library . . 17 June 2021 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210513162605/https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/dup-leadership-election-and-appointing-a-first-minister/ . 13 May 2021.

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