Northern Ireland

Who were the 12-strong DUP officer team who voted in favour of the DUP deal?

Sir Jeffrey Donaldson and the DUP reached a deal with the British government this week

DUP Leader Jeffrey Donaldson speaks to the media at Stormont Castle after a leaders meeting on Tuesday, It follows the DUP's agreement to return to the NI Assembly - after agreeing to a package of measures put forward by the government. PICTURE: COLM LENAGHAN
DUP LEADER JEFFREY DONALDSON DUP Leader Jeffrey Donaldson speaks to the media at Stormont Castle after a leaders meeting on Tuesday, It follows the DUP's agreement to return to the NI Assembly - after agreeing to a package of measures put forward by the government. PICTURE: COLM LENAGHAN
By Liam Grimley

After two years, Stormont is set to return after the DUP struck a deal with the British government over post-Brexit trading arrangements.

The DUP officer team was crucial in the decision process, having voted on the deal which was then presented to the much larger party executive on Monday night.

DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson says the deal, called Safeguarding the Union, is not perfect but was the best the party could get and that it has gotten rid of the Irish Sea border.

Democratic Unionist Party officers

Party leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson

Sir Jeffrey announced his conditional support for a Stormont return
Sir Jeffery Donaldson Sir Jeffrey announced his conditional support for a Stormont return (PA)

Sir Jeffrey Donaldson is the leader of the Democratic Unionist Party, taking over from Edwin Poots in June 2021.

Sir Jeffrey is Northern Ireland’s longest-serving MP, having been an elected representative since 1997. He was a member of the Ulster Unionist Party until 2003 when he left the party alongside future first minister Arlene Foster. He was an independent unionist before joining the DUP the following year.

Gavin Robinson

Deputy Leader of the DUP Gavin Robinson at Hillsborough Castle
Deputy Leader of the DUP Gavin Robinson at Hillsborough Castle Deputy Leader of the DUP Gavin Robinson at Hillsborough Castle (Liam McBurney/PA)

Gavin Robinson was elected as MP for Belfast East in May 2015. He took the seat from the Alliance Party’s Naomi Long after the DUP and UUP entered into an electoral pact which saw only one unionist candidate stand in the constituency.

He became DUP deputy leader in June 2023.

Lord Morrow

Lord Maurice Morrow. Picture by Bill Smyth
Lord Maurice Morrow. Picture by Bill Smyth Lord Maurice Morrow. Picture by Bill Smyth

Lord Maurice Morrow has been a DUP peer since 2006, having previously held office as a Stormont minister and assembly member for the Fermanagh and South Tyrone constituency.

Lord Morrow is the chair of the party officers as well as Baron of Clogher Valley, County Tyrone.

Edwin Poots

Edwin Poots said the DUP was working constructively
Edwin Poots Edwin Poots, DUP MLA for South Belfast (Liam McBurney/PA)

The MLA for South Belfast is vice-chairman of the party officer board.

Edwin Poots was also the leader of the DUP for 21 days in 2021, succeeding Baroness Arlene Foster. He resigned after a party revolt over his choice of Paul Givan as first minister.

Michelle McIlveen

Education minister Michelle McIlveen. Picture by Mal McCann
Michelle McIlveen DUP party secretary Michelle McIlveen. Picture by Mal McCann

The assembly member for Strangford holds the role of party secretary and therefore sits on the party officer board.

She has previously held the role of education minister in the Executive as well as Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs and Regional Development.

Gregory Campbell

General Election 2019
General Election 2019 DUP East Derry MP Gregory Campbell (Niall Carson/PA)

Gregory Campbell has been the MP for East Derry since June 2001 and holds the role of treasurer of the officer board.

Diane Forsythe

DUP MLA Diane Forsythe
DUP MLA Diane Forsythe DUP MLA Diane Forsythe

Diane Forsythe was elected in May 2022 in the South Down constituency and currently holds the role of party assistant secretary.

Forsythe quit the party in 2021 after Edwin Poots became leader, but returned under the leadership of Sir Jeffrey Donaldson.

Gordon Lyons

Economy Minister Gordon Lyons. Picture by Liam McBurney/PA Wire
Gordon Lyons Economy Minister Gordon Lyons. Picture by Liam McBurney/PA Wire

Gordon Lyons is the DUP’s finance spokesperson and a former Stormont minister for the economy.

He represents the East Antrim constituency, having been elected in 2015. He worked for five years as Sammy Wilson’s assistant.

Emma Little-Pengelly

The DUP’s Emma Little-Pengelly condemned pro-IRA chanting at the Feile festival in west Belfast (Liam McBurney/PA)
The DUP’s Emma Little-Pengelly condemned pro-IRA chanting at the Feile festival in west Belfast (Liam McBurney/PA) The DUP’s Emma Little-Pengelly condemned pro-IRA chanting at the Feile festival in west Belfast (Liam McBurney/PA)

Emma Little-Pengelly represents the Lagan Valley constituency and was co-opted to replace her party leader, Jeffrey Donaldson, days after he won the seat in the 2022 Assembly elections. Sir Jeffrey said he wanted to remain at Westminster as an MP until issues with the Northern Ireland Protocol were resolved.

Ms Little-Pengelly was appointed to the DUP’s officer board in June 2023. She was chosen by the DUP to be deputy First Minister alongside Sinn Féin’s Michelle O’Neill, who took on the role of First Minister, following the return of Stormont in February 2024.

Carla Lockhart

DUP MP Carla Lockhart (PA)
DUP MP Carla Lockhart (PA) DUP MP Carla Lockhart (PA)

Carla Lockhart is MP for the Upper Bann constituency and the party Spokesperson for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs.

She is an advocate for unionist unity and has previously called for the unionist parties to work together to “deliver what our people want”.

Lord Dodds

Former DUP leader Lord Nigel Dodds. Picture by Michael Cooper/PA Wire
Former DUP leader Lord Nigel Dodds. Picture by Michael Cooper/PA Wire Former DUP leader Lord Nigel Dodds. Picture by Michael Cooper/PA Wire

Former DUP deputy leader Nigel Dodds has been one of the most vocal opponents of the Windsor Framework.

He was the North Belfast MP for 18 years and was unseated dramatically by Sinn Fein’s John Finucane in 2019. It is the first time a nationalist has held the seat.

Sammy Wilson

DUP MP Sammy Wilson. Picture by Liam McBurney/PA
DUP MP Sammy Wilson. Picture by Liam McBurney/PA DUP MP Sammy Wilson. Picture by Liam McBurney/PA

Sammy Wilson, chief whip of the DUP until February 2024 and MP for East Antrim, has been one of the DUP’s staunchest supporters of Brexit.

He has also been a vocal critic of the Northern Ireland Protocol and Windsor Framework.

Yesterday in the House of Commons, Sammy Wilson called the British government “spineless” and “Brexit-betraying” following the new deal struck with the DUP this week.