In a dramatic turn of events, Jeffrey Donaldson, the leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (D.U.P.), has been at the center of political turmoil in Northern Ireland. His journey from a member of the power-sharing Belfast assembly to becoming the leader of the D.U.P. has been marked by his response to Brexit.
In 2007, Mr. Donaldson found himself in a coalition with Sinn Fein, a former political wing of the I.R.A., after the D.U.P.’s founder, Rev. Ian Paisley, ended his opposition to the Good Friday Agreement. Fast forward to 2021, Mr. Donaldson took over as the D.U.P. leader amidst internal strife that saw two previous leaders, Arlene Foster and Edwin Poots, stepping down within weeks of each other.
The issue of Brexit further divided opinions in Northern Ireland, with Mr. Donaldson aligning unionism with the hard-line Brexit faction in the British Conservative Party. This stance led to tensions over the Irish border, a crucial element in preserving peace post the Good Friday Agreement. When the U.K. government agreed to impose customs and trade checks between Northern Ireland and the rest of the United Kingdom, Mr. Donaldson used the D.U.P.’s power-sharing veto to collapse the devolved government in 2022.
After two years of political deadlock, Mr. Donaldson eventually agreed to revive the assembly in January this year, as his party faced challenges from both hard-liners and moderates. His leadership has been defined by his unwavering stance on Brexit and its implications for Northern Ireland, making him a central figure in the region’s political landscape.
