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May 2021 Democratic Unionist Party leadership election

May 2021 Democratic Unionist Party leadership election
14 May 2021 June 2021 →
Turnout100%
 
Candidate Edwin Poots Sir Jeffrey Donaldson
MPs/MLAs ballots 19 17
Percentage 52.80% 47.20%
Leader before election

Arlene Foster

 Elected Leader

Edwin Poots

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]

  1. ^ "Arlene Foster announces resignation as DUP leader and NI first minister". BBC News. 28 April 2021. Archived from the original on 28 April 2021. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  2. ^ Carroll, Rory (28 April 2021). "Why is the DUP preparing to dump Arlene Foster?". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 30 April 2021. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  3. ^ Blevins, David (28 April 2021). "Arlene Foster to step down as DUP leader and Northern Ireland's first minister". Sky News. Archived from the original on 29 April 2021. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  4. ^ Davies, Gareth (28 April 2021). "Arlene Foster resigns as DUP leader and Northern Ireland First Minister". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 23 June 2021. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  5. ^ "DUP leadership vote to take place on 14 May". BBC News. 4 May 2021. Archived from the original on 7 May 2021. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  6. ^ "Edwin Poots is elected DUP leader". BBC News. 14 May 2021. Archived from the original on 18 May 2021.
  7. ^ Hewitt, Ralph (17 June 2021). "Edwin Poots to step down as DUP leader just three weeks after taking the role". Belfast Telegraph. Archived from the original on 23 June 2021. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
  8. ^ Kelpie, Colm; Colhoun, Ciara (17 June 2021). "DUP revolt over first minister confirmation". BBC News. Archived from the original on 17 June 2021. Retrieved 19 June 2021.

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