DUP To Announce New Leader As Unionists In Northern Ireland Risk Split

The conservative Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) is set to announce its new leader at 1700BST (1200ET, 1800CET) in a result that could have significant implications for the political future of unionism in Northern Ireland.

• The two contenders to succeed the ousted Arlene Foster are NI Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots MLA and Lagan Valley MP Sir Jeffrey Donaldson.
• Poots is seen as the more socially conservative candidate, with strong views on creationism and LGBT rights focused on winning votes back from the hardline Traditional Unionist Voice party, while Donaldson is painted as more of a moderate, intent on regaining support from former DUP voters that may have switched to the moderate Ulster Unionists or even the cross-community Alliance Party.
• The unionist camp in Northern Ireland is at risk from significant splits both between social conservatives and social liberals, but also on the position of NI in the UK after the imposition of the Northern Ireland protocol in the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement which has led to customs checks on some goods being transported between NI and the rest of the UK.
• A DUP leader that cannot bring together the unionist community could risk the prospect of the republican Sinn Fein emerging as the largest party in the Stormont Assembly at the next election, a result that would cause significant concern both in the unionist community in NI and in Westminster.