ALMOST everything Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has done since becoming DUP leader has been the opposite of his predecessor. Whereas Edwin Poots sought to make a clean sweep, sacking those he regarded as loyal to Arlene Foster or his leadership rival, Sir Jeffrey has been cautious, appearing keen not to cause recrimination and acrimony in a party bruised by weeks of upheaval.
Readers won't thank me for reminding them of the drawn-out manner in which Mr Poots announced not just his ministerial team, but committee chairs and vice-chairs. It turned a ordinarily mundane task into an excrutiating ceremony that with hindsight clearly highlighted how the wheels were quickly coming off the cobbled together jalopy that the agriculture minister was trying to sell as a well-oiled machine. That was less than a month ago, but it now seems like an age.
Sir Jeffrey's reshuffle yesterday was much less dramatic, no X-Factor-style suspense or pomp. The biggest difference was the scale, however. There was no redding out of the Paisleyites, with only Paul Frew, who was responsible for running Mr Poots' leadership campaign, being shown the door.
Paul Givan, Michelle McIlveen and Edwin Poots will remain in their ministerial posts over the summer at least, the new leader more measured in his actions.
Sir Jeffrey plans to spend the coming weeks talking to his party and people across the north before initiating any kind of grand shake-up. Listening in politics is good, as is a lack of vindictiveness. However, the DUP faces urgent, unprecedented problems – internally, ideologically and electorally – meaning this is not the time to be pussyfooting. A little caution is one thing, but a reluctance to act decisively for fear you may upset or alienate people is in many ways at the root of his party's current problems. If the new leader fails to put his stamp of authority on the party, it may not be long before the malcontents start agitating once again.
