The June 2021 Democratic Unionist Party leadership election was triggered by Edwin Poots' resignation from the leadership of the party on 17 June 2021.[1]
Poots released a statement on 17 June 2021 announcing his intention to resign as party leader and that he had requested a new leadership contest, and that he would remain in post until a successor was appointed.[2] Party chair Maurice Morrow later announced that the leadership election would take place on 26 June 2021.[3]
After nominations closed on 22 June, Sir Jeffrey Donaldson was declared the new leader of the Democratic Unionist Party after becoming the sole candidate,[4][5] and therefore no ballot was held. On 30 June, the party's executive body ratified Donaldson as leader.[6]
Background
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 Paul Givan to be First Minister.[7][8]
On 18 June 2021, a senior DUP source told The Irish Times that Sir Jeffrey Donaldson was expected to be the only candidate, as there was "no appetite for another potentially damaging leadership election."[9]
The election was scheduled to be held on 26 June 2021,[10] however after nominations closed on 22 June at 12:00 BST,[11] party chair Maurice Morrow revealed that Jeffrey Donaldson was the only candidate nominated.[12] Following a meeting of the party's MPs and MLAs to confirm the result (with the backing of 32 out of 36 votes),[13] the appointment of Donaldson as leader was ratified by the party executive on 26 June.[14]
June 2021 Democratic Unionist Party leadership election
