Live: Jeffrey Donaldson resigns as DUP leader after being charged with historical sex offences

Jeffrey Donaldson has resigned as leader of the DUP “with immediate effect” after he was charged with historic sexual offences.

The 61-year-old politician was arrested and charged by the PSNI in relation to non-recent sexual allegations.

A 57-year-old woman has also been charged with aiding and abetting additional offences in relation to the same police investigation.

They were both arrested on Thursday morning by detectives and were questioned before being charged on Thursday night.

They are due to appear in court in Newry, Co Down next month.

Mr Donaldson was suspended from the DUP pending the outcome of the judicial process and Gavin Robinson has been appointed interim party leader.

The DUP said it had received a letter from Mr Donaldson stating that he had been charged with allegations of a historical nature and would be stepping down as leader.

In a statement, the DUP said: “In accordance with the party rules, the party officers have suspended Mr Donaldson from membership, pending the outcome of a judicial process.

“The party officers have this morning unanimously appointed Mr Gavin Robinson MP as the interim party leader.”

The shock announcement comes just weeks after Mr Donaldson made the decision to bring the party back to powersharing in the North.

His departure will have a major impact on the stability of the institutions.

On Thursday evening, Mr Donaldson’s social media accounts appeared to have been deleted.

Mr Donaldson, who has had an almost 40-year career in politics, became DUP leader in July 2021.

His career started with the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) and in 1985, aged 22, he was the youngest person to be elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly.

The 61-year-old’s relationship with former UUP leader David Trimble deteriorated when he led a walkout of the 1998 peace talks after opposing the early release of republican and loyalist prisoners.

He left the party and joined the DUP in January 2004.

In 2009, Mr Donaldson apologised for claiming for pay-to-view films on his parliamentary expenses during hotel stays.

He denied the films were adult in nature and repaid the £555 while saying he was wrong to submit the claims.