Foster to go in DUP wrangle for power

ARLENE Foster has announced her resignation as DUP leader and First Minister of Northern Ireland.

Mrs Foster said she will stand down as party leader on May 28 and as First Minister at the end of June.

The announcement comes 24 hours after an sizeable internal heave against her by DUP politicians unhappy with her leadership.

The 50-year-old Fermanagh and South Tyrone representative indicated her resignation will mark the end of her political career, as she said she was preparing to “depart the political stage”.

“A short time ago I called the party chairman (Lord Morrow) to inform him that I intend to step down as leader of the Democratic Unionist Party on the

May 28 and as First Minister of Northern Ireland at the end of June,” she said.

“It is important to give space over the next few weeks for the party officers to make arrangements for the election of a new leader. When elected I will work with the new leader on transition arrangements.

“As First Minister it is important that I complete work on a number of important issues for Northern Ireland alongside other Executive colleagues.

“Northern Ireland and its people have been heavily impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic and there remains more work to be done to steer us thorough the pandemic and to lessen its impact on the lives of everyone.”

The end of Mrs Foster’s five-year tenure at the helm of the DUP had been widely anticipated after it emerged that a significant number of her colleagues had signed a letter of no confidence circulated among party MLAS, MPS and peers.

There has been growing unease among DUP members about Mrs Foster and the wider party leadership in recent months.