Fallout from DUP leadership contest behind Donaldson revelation: Jon Tonge

The Liverpool University politics expert said the divisions laid bare when Edwin Poots’ was ousted as party leader after only three weeks, and replaced by Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, have obviously not been healed,

Prof Tonge was commenting after the BBC TV Nolan Show broadcast details of a meeting between Sir Jeffrey and Ulster Unionist leader Doug Beattie – said to have taken place after he had been initially beaten by Mr Poots in the May 2021 leadership contest.

In a tweet just before the programme was broadcast on Wednesday night, Sir Jeffrey wrote: “This evening the BBC asked me if I had a discussion about leaving the DUP & re-joining the UUP after the DUP leadership election in May 20021. This portrayal is nonsense. I never had any such intensions or plans.

At that time, I was approached, and made it clear I would be welcome in the UUP but I respectfully declined. Any discussions I have had with the UUP focused on the future of unionism and need for closer cooperation.”

Speaking on the Nolan radio show on Thursday morning, Prof Tonge said: “If Donaldson and Poots had shaken hands and it was all put to bed, it might not have mattered, but, there are elements within both camps that have continued to brief against each other.

“There is a reason why Edwin Poots trundled off, forlornly, to South Down looking for a candidature nomination even though he had no chance of winning that nomination.”

Prof Tonge added: “The timing of these latest revelations, or claims, is interesting in terms of a move against Jeffrey Donaldson. So the idea that what was played out last spring within the DUP has necessarily been put to bed, I think is for the birds.

“And that is bad news for a party. It would matter in a normal time – when you are only a few weeks away from a crucial assembly election, it is really bad news for the party.”

READ: Sir Jeffrey Donaldson denies approaching UUP with a view to re-joining his old party

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