The leader of Northern Ireland’s largest unionist party Jeffrey Donaldson stepped down on Friday after confirming he had been charged with “allegations of a historical nature”, the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) said.
“The Party Chairman has received a letter from Sir Jeffrey Donaldson MP confirming that he has been charged with allegations of a historical nature and indicating that he is stepping down as leader of the Democratic Unionist Party with immediate effect,” the DUP said in a statement.
“In accordance with the party rules, the party officers have suspended Mr Donaldson from membership, pending the outcome of a judicial process.”
The DUP said it had appointed Gavin Robinson, a fellow member of the British parliament, as the interim party leader.
As a member of the London parliament, Donaldson, 61, does not hold a position in the Northern Irish power-sharing government, a key part of the region’s 1998 peace settlement which only resumed last month following a two-year suspension.
