Date set for election of new DUP leader

DUP party officers have set a date of June 26 to elect a new leader.

The nomination process has now opened, and will remain so until 12 noon on June 22.

Party chairman Lord Morrow said: “Following a meeting of the party officers in Belfast today the following decisions were taken.

“The party officers have set the date of June 26 as the date for a meeting to elect a new leader.

“In accordance with the constitution and rules of the

Democratic Unionist Party only party members, who are also members of the Northern Ireland Assembly and the House of Commons, are entitled to vote for the leader or deputy leader.

“Details have been sent to all eligible voters.”

It follows the resignation of Edwin Poots after just three weeks in the role, amid internal unhappiness over his decision to appoint a First Minister.

The DUP’s Paul Givan has been told he will have to resign as First Minister when a new party leader takes over.