Arlene Foster’s ‘lovely lunch’ as DUP disarray intensifies

Mrs Foster posted a message on Twitter just before 2.30pm on Thursday, not long after Edwin Poots resisted a party revolt to nominate Paul Givan as her replacement as First Minister.

The DUP appears to be in internal disarray after a sizable majority of its elected representatives voted against the new party leader’s decision to nominate a first minister today.

A significant majority of MLAs and MPs voted against Mr Poots’ decision to reconstitute the powersharing Executive with Sinn Fein in a bruising internal meeting just minutes before the process for nominating Stormont’s leaders began downstairs in the chamber of the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Mrs Foster tweeted: “Just had a lovely lunch @DeanesAtQueens with a good friend. It’s great hospitality is open again- Hope everyone is having a great day this lovely sunny afternoon. #ProudofNI”

Alliance leader Naomi Long replied: “I know you always hated Twitter, Arlene, but I have to say, you’re a natural at it. Enjoy a well earned break.”

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