Unionist leaders call for Jeffrey Donaldson to be stripped of title now he 'stands exposed as a paedophile'
The leaders of the Ulster Unionist Party and the TUV have called for Jeffrey Donaldson to be stripped of his knighthood in light of his conviction for child sex offences.
Jim Allister said the former DUP leader now “stands exposed as a paedophile” – while Jon Burrows said he had “abused his power and betrayed everyone who ever placed their faith in him”.
Mr Allister, leader of TUV, has tabled a motion in the House of Commons, calling for the prime minister to recommend to His Majesty The King that the knighthood of Jeffrey Donaldson, the former MP for Lagan Valley, “be removed, following his criminal convictions for sexual offences”.
UUP boss Jon Burrows said no rank, title, or past office places anyone above the law.
“He must now be stripped of all state honours without delay: no honour of the state should remain in the hands of a man convicted of crimes of this nature.
“This is a moment for humility and for an unflinching commitment to survivors of abuse.
“No-one is too powerful to be held to account,” the North Antrim MLA said.
Mr Allister said that “very chilling and troubling” issues arise from the convictions – questioning what impact the then-DUP leader’s offences had on his “sell out” on the Irish Sea border.
“To me it is inconceivable that the government was unaware of his proclivities and the idea of such being used as leverage is far from fanciful.
“His about turn from ‘unalterable opposition’ to the protocol to protocol facilitator was telling. From sharing platforms with me and others in robust opposition, he somersaulted to lying salesmanship of the phoney ‘Safeguarding the Union’ document.
“Who could forget his brazen lies that the Irish Sea border was gone?
“How did this come about? The fact Donaldson insisted in key meetings with His Majesty’s Government on being unaccompanied by colleagues raises red flags in itself.
“Was he on a mission of attempted self-preservation in the hope, no matter how deluded, he could stave off the fate that has now befallen him?”