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.
Sinn Féin First Minister Michelle O’Neill issued a brief statement following Mr Donaldson’s announcement and said it was her priority to “continue to provide the leadership the public expect and deserve”.
She said she wanted to “ensure the four-party Executive coalition delivers for the whole of our community now and in the future.
“The DUP leader has resigned after being charged with serious offences. This is now a matter for the criminal justice system,” she added.
In a response to the resignation of Mr Donaldson, a spokesman for the Department of Foreign Affairs in Dublin told The Irish Times: “We note the appointment of an interim leader of the DUP. We will continue to work with all parties to ensure the full and effective functioning of the Good Friday Agreement 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.
