Northern Ireland

Sir Jeffrey Donaldson refuses to commit to serve under Sinn Féin first minister

DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson. Picture by Liam McBurney/PA Wire
DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson. Picture by Liam McBurney/PA Wire DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson. Picture by Liam McBurney/PA Wire

SIR Jeffrey Donaldson has again refused to state unequivocally that he would serve under a Sinn Féin first minister.

The DUP leader has consistently declined to say that his party would take the deputy first minister's post after the May 5 election, in the event of Michelle O'Neill being nominated as first minister.

Recent opinion polls suggest the DUP's days as Stormont's largest party are numbered and that it appears likely to be superseded by Sinn Féin.

While the first and deputy first minister have equal standing, strong symbolism is attached to securing the first minister's post.

Asked on the BBC yesterday, if he would agree in principle to serve under a Sinn Féin first minister, Sir Jeffrey refused to say.

The Lagan Valley MP said his party was "not in the business of seeing unionism lose this election".

He said he was adopting a similar stance to the Ulster Unionists and SDLP, both of whom have refused to commit to joining the executive.

The SDLP has said it will commit to an executive on the basis of what it will do, whereas Ulster Unionist leader Doug Beattie has faced criticism from nationalists for failing to state – that in principle at least – he'd serve under a Sinn Féin first minister

Sir Jeffrey too has declined to agree in principle to serve under Ms O'Neill.

"We will wait and see the result of the election, there will be a negotiation – I haven’t ruled anything in or out," the DUP leader said yesterday.

"The DUP is out to win this election and we are not contemplating the scenario you are talking about. We will consider the results of the election. There will be a negotiation that will follow."

However, Sir Jeffrey did stress that his party "will not be taking part in the formation of an executive" until issues around the protocol are resolved.

"I expect the government to move quickly now after the election and to address the issues around the protocol, to remove the Irish Sea border and if they do that then we will negotiate a programme for government and we will take decisions about who is in and out of government," he said.

TUV leader Jim Allister, who on Friday shared a platform with Sir Jeffrey at an anti-protocol rally, attacked the DUP leader over his ambiguous response.

“What a contrast with TUV," the North Antrim MLA said.

"We are clear and providing a rock solid guarantee that we will never provide a stooge deputy to a Sinn Féin first minister. TUV would unapologetically block Michelle O’Neill."

A Sinn Féin spokesperson said: "It will be for the people, and only the people, to decide who becomes First Minister in line with the terms of the Good Friday Agreement.

"What the public need to know is will the DUP respect the ballot box and the democratic will of the people?"