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Edwin Poots speaking after Arlene Foster formally announced her resignation as First Minister in the chamber of the NI Assembly. PA Images

From the ousting of Arlene, to Poots getting the boot - here's the timeline of events

It’s been a hell of a few weeks in Northern Ireland politics. Here’s a quick catch-up.

LAST UPDATE | 18 Jun 2021

A WEEK IS a long time in politics, so goes the saying. Well 21 days is the new week. 

After a short snap as leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), Edwin Poots has announced he is resigning. He will stay in the role until a new leader is chosen by the party.

Here are the crucial events that have lead up to the extraordinary political development.

The ousting of Arlene

coronavirus-tue-mar-23-2021 Arlene Foster during a press conference outside Parliament Buildings at Stormont on the National Day of Reflection. PA PA

Foster’s leadership came under a quick and swift attack at the end of April after a significant majority of elected DUP representatives in the Stormont Assembly and House of Commons signed a letter of no confidence in Foster’s leadership.

“Stories on leadership come up from time to time, and it’s one of those times,” Foster said the day before she announced her resignation.

There had been growing discontentment with Foster’s handling of Brexit negotiations and the Northern Ireland Protocol – namely, that she hadn’t been taking a hard enough line on those issues. 

The DUP has been coming under pressure from the wider loyalist and unionist community for the introduction of an Irish Sea border, and other societal issues.

On 28 April, Arlene Foster said that she was to step down as DUP leader, and as First Minister of Northern Ireland. 

Foster later said that she did not see the leadership challenge coming, and questioned whether the reported letter was real, after saying she had never seen the letter or spoken to anyone involved in the coup.

Poots as DUP leader

ulster-politics PA PA

On 14 May, in the DUP’s first leadership election, Stormont’s Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots gained a very narrow margin over MP Jeffrey Donaldson.

He was elected by the party’s 36 members elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly (MLAs) and House of Commons (MPs), by 19 votes to 17.

Donaldson’s pitch was seen as the more moderate of the two candidates with Poots hitching his bid to more traditional and hardline unionist voters.

Poots also said he would split the roles of party leader and Stormont first minister, with the same person not being allowed to hold both roles.

But because of the nature of how close the leadership race was, some commentators have suggested it forced Poots to take a more hardline approach to politics than had been expected – like taking a swipe at Tánaiste Leo Varadkar and Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney.

Arlene’s adieu

ulster-politics First Minister Arlene Foster appears on a television screen giving her resignation speech. PA Images PA Images

On Monday 14 June, Arlene Foster gave her farewell speech ahead of the appointment of a new First Minister.

Foster’s formal resignation as joint head of the devolved Executive gave the DUP seven days to renominate its chosen successor, Lagan Valley MLA Paul Givan.

Making her resignation speech to the Assembly chamber, the ousted DUP leader said her time as First Minister may have ended “abruptly” but she vowed to pursue “unfinished business” in championing Northern Ireland in other ways.

During her speech she addressed the row over the Irish language that threatens to destabilise the powersharing administration in the wake of her resignation.

And guess what happened?

A row over the implementation of an Irish language act was kicked back into the spotlight, with DUP minister Paul Frew warning that any UK government intervention over the issue risked destabilising Northern Ireland’s devolution arrangement.

The Stormont Assembly was on hiatus for three years after a row over the cash for ash scandal and the implementation of an Irish Language Act. 

sinn-fein-to-nominate-oneill-as-uk-makes-irish-language-vow Mary Lou McDonald, flanked by party colleagues Michelle O'Neill and Conor Murphy, in Belfast last night. PA PA

On Monday, Sinn Féin took an unusual decision to call on the British Government to intervene in the row and pass the act – effectively bypassing the requirement for agreement from the DUP. 

While Poots had vowed to implement all outstanding aspects of the 2020 New Decade, New Approach deal that restored power-sharing, he declined to give Sinn Féin a specific assurance that he will move on the language element of the NDNA deal in the current Assembly mandate.

In response, Sinn Féin had suggested that the party would not nominate for the position of Deputy First Minister if it did not receive assurances that commitments made to pass Irish language legislation would be acted upon – collapsing Stormont once again.

In a post-midnight deal, the UK government committed to passing Irish language laws in the autumn if the Stormont Assembly does not do so before then – in the hope of avoiding another collapse of the Executive. 

The significance of that deal

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said this morning that the deal with the British Government was necessary to stop the DUP obstructing the Irish language act.

“For a very long time the DUP has sought to frustrate these rights and that is most unfortunate, it’s also unacceptable and tonight we have broken through that logjam of DUP obstructionism.”

“We have unfortunately no common ground with the DUP on the matter of rights and this isn’t just on Irish language, this has been also the case in terms of marriage equality, in terms of women’s rights,” McDonald told RTÉ Radio’s Morning Ireland.

The common ground we wanted with Edwin Poots and the DUP was an agreement that this legislation could as planned and agreed come through the Assembly and the Executive. That’s what should have happened.

“They made it very clear to us that that was not going to happen. They refused to do that and that’s not going to change between now and October and therefore we took the initiative and went to the British Government.”

Once the legislation is enacted by Westminster, “we expect that [language] commissioners will be in place by March 2022, perhaps even earlier than that, but certainly within the mandate of the current Assembly”.

A bruising shambles of a day

Later on today, members of the DUP had been publicly and privately expressing their unhappiness at how the Poots leadership handled the Irish language agreement.

Ahead of the meeting of the Northern Ireland Assembly at 12pm today, a bruising internal meeting of DUP representatives took place, at which a sizeable majority of MLAs and MPs reportedly voted against Poots’ intention to nominate a Stormont First Minister.

Senior DUP MPs and peers in the House of Lords had written to Poots expressing concern, and urging him not to nominate a First Minister until he consults with them.

In total, seven of the DUP’s eight MPs signed the email, with Ian Paisley being the exception. The party’s five peers had also signed the email.

But, in a sign of tensions within the party, Poots and Givan left the room to head for the chamber before the DUP vote took place. One senior party source at the meeting described the atmosphere to PA as “a total shambles” and another as “dreadful”.

“Utterly dreadful. Never experienced the like of it.”

The late night deal, after intensive talks involving Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis and representatives from the DUP and Sinn Féin, had appeared to have lifted the impasse and paved the way for the Executive to continue. 

However, today’s events have overwritten any progress, and the battle for the future of the DUP resumes, with former candidate and MP Jeffrey Donaldson and MP Sammy Wilson among the contenders suggested at this early stage.

- With reporting from Rónán Duffy and the Press Association.

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    Mute James Beattie
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    Jun 17th 2021, 11:10 PM

    A tweet I saw earlier that pretty much sums it up

    “As bad as the last few hours have been for the DUP, I have to admit there’s been some political movement and dealings from Sinn Fein. Snookered the DUP, blindsided the SDLP, have FG talking about a United Ireland and have turned the Tories against radical Unionism.”

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    Mute David Corrigan
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    Jun 17th 2021, 11:13 PM

    @James Beattie: SF seem to be in complete control on both sides of the border in fairness.

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    Mute Denis Ryan
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    Jun 17th 2021, 11:23 PM

    @David Corrigan: 37 TDs, less than a quarter of the dail but in complete control. You couldn’t make it up. David how many of the 37 have you heard speak in the 16 months since they have been elected, very few I imagine. They cant even trust the calibre of their own members. Ah well another three and a half years on the sidelines.

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    Mute GrumpyAulFella
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    Jun 17th 2021, 11:31 PM

    @Denis Ryan: 70% of the electorate not interested in them and they’re “in complete control”. Deluded doesn’t come close to explaining it.

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    Mute James Beattie
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    Jun 17th 2021, 11:37 PM

    @GrumpyAulFella: yes Eoghan, you are correct again. Are tonight’s events hard on you ? It’s not a hard question so I expect an answer on this one.

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    Mute GrumpyAulFella
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    Jun 17th 2021, 11:40 PM

    @James Beattie: how many goals did you get in your first season with Stoke? Top player lad.

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    Mute James Beattie
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    Jun 17th 2021, 11:47 PM

    @GrumpyAulFella: still no answer to the question. I notice you are liking your own comments again. It reminds me of a certain journalist who used fake social media accounts to, amongst other things, praise his own work. Pretty similar to what you are doing now ….

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    Mute Daniel Roche
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    Jun 17th 2021, 11:57 PM

    @David Corrigan: Ah that’s some bait and I’m going to bite,yes the DUP are a basket case and SF playing a blinder,full well done,done south,not so much,Mary Lou losing support, government parties plus independence still well ahead plus FG + FF leader growing support,SF doing a great job in the north,still hiding in the south.

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    Mute Daniel Roche
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    Jun 18th 2021, 12:00 AM

    @Daniel Roche: down south.

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    Mute M Bowe
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    Jun 18th 2021, 12:05 AM

    @Daniel Roche: hiding from what or who??

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    Mute GrumpyAulFella
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    Jun 18th 2021, 12:07 AM

    @James Beattie: Southampton or Stoke, which did you prefer lad, seriously? Thought your best form was with Saints. Remember Saints is South. Chin up.

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    Mute David Corrigan
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    Jun 18th 2021, 6:55 AM

    @Denis Ryan: Eh, I meant the party are in total control of itself and how its positioning itself within the political systems on both sides of the border.
    Why do you and a few others on here try to be smart and jump in debunking other peoples comment just because they might say something positive about SF?

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    Mute David Corrigan
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    Jun 18th 2021, 6:58 AM

    @Daniel Roche: Thank you Daniel. At least you understood my post. Playing a blinder up north for sure and they need to start making their play down south. They have definitely ruffled the feathers of the main parties here and they are very worried about SF. It will be an interesting few months ahead.

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    Mute Fr. Fintan Stack
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    Jun 18th 2021, 8:36 AM

    @GrumpyAulFella: Over 70% of the electorate not interested in FF either but they still managed to get in to government by doing a 100% about turn.

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    Mute GrumpyAulFella
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    Jun 18th 2021, 9:00 AM

    @Fr. Fintan Stack: well you’ve put your finger on it. 30% of the vote is great if you can source another 20%+ from elsewhere. The problem is SF is viewed as a toxic party, not only by the 70% of the electorate that won’t vote for them but also by the other parties who won’t go into coalition with them. They’ve a huge way to go before they ever get into government in the South.

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    Mute Fr. Fintan Stack
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    Jun 18th 2021, 9:13 AM

    @GrumpyAulFella: But FFG are viewed as toxic by an increasing number of the electorate. The electorate are the people who count at the end of the day. Not a few dinosaurs who want to maintain power at all costs, because of their toxic policies towards the ordinary person. The “I’m alright Jacks” are dying off. Compare their 40 odd percent combined to their 90 percent combined a few decades ago…. That’s the real picture.

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    Mute GrumpyAulFella
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    Jun 18th 2021, 10:27 AM

    @Fr. Fintan Stack: I think that’s just wishful thinking though. There’s a solid 50% core support for the FF/FG coalition that shows no sign of eroding even after 18 months of devastating Covid policies. I think SF are at their zenith now and this includes a soft fatty layer of floating voters. I think their core vote is probably around 19%. If they got into govt via a left rainbow coalition then they would be decimated in the following GE. That’s politics for ye. Opposition suits SF.

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    Mute Fr. Fintan Stack
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    Jun 18th 2021, 11:45 AM

    @GrumpyAulFella: It’s not wishful thinking, it’s fact. Up to 90% combined, down to 43% in a few decades. The only wishful thinking here is you hoping SF would fail if they got in to power. Maybe you are one of the “I’m alright Jacks”? I don’t know if they would fail. But the current crowd have failed for the average Joe and Josephine.

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    Mute Joe Johnson
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    Jun 17th 2021, 11:10 PM

    The dinosaurs are fighting among themselves. The have become the Divided Unionist Party.

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    Mute John kane
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    Jun 18th 2021, 4:02 AM

    @Joe Johnson: I remember collecting pieces for a glow in the dark dinosaur skeleton back into the early 90s. The bug?? The coco cola earpiece radio? Class. I just can’t be listening to that complete gimp

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    Mute 2thFairy
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    Jun 17th 2021, 11:16 PM

    Another example of how they couldn’t give a monkeys about the people of NI. They are so entrenched in hate and Britishness that they are incapable of actually ensuring the North remains a peaceful place.

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    Mute David A. Murray
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    Jun 17th 2021, 11:19 PM

    @2thFairy: True, but their motivation was probably just to get re-elected by stirring up division and fear and creating and then profiting from political inertia. Sort of like the GOP in America: Government doesn’t work, because we did everything we could to prevent it working.

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    Mute iohanx
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    Jun 17th 2021, 11:21 PM

    @2thFairy:

    Correction: White Britishness.

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    Mute A Well Known Comical Stereotype
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    Jun 18th 2021, 6:30 AM

    It is hard to believe someone who thinks the world is 6,000 years old did not succeed as a political leader.

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    Mute TonyB
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    Jun 18th 2021, 11:53 AM

    @A Well Known Comical Stereotype: well, you’ve seen it here too. Right?

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    Mute Dave Hammond
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    Jun 18th 2021, 12:00 PM

    @A Well Known Comical Stereotype: i dunno …… plenty of them have made a career believing the invisible man in the sky for much of those 6000 years – people in glass houses and all that ;-)

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    Mute Paul Mc
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    Jun 17th 2021, 11:21 PM

    There is no fairness with the DUP or orangeism regarding their Catholic or Republican neighbours so what you reap is what you sow!
    It’s time to realise the croppies will no longer stay down.

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    Mute Fandango Barbecue
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    Jun 18th 2021, 7:32 AM

    @Paul Mc: the statue of Edward Carson outside Stormont without a republican equivalent reflects how unfair the DUP and other Loyalist parties are. There is no way they would tolerate a statue to a republican outside Stormont! It’s no wonder they feel so entitled and privileged when even the government building itself celebrates only them and their politics with no regard for a shared Irish history, culture or politics

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    Mute Sohoma Roanie
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    Jun 18th 2021, 7:12 AM

    Thank to the author for summarising the timeline of events. It’s been difficult to follow but I think I understand what happened now!

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    Mute Peter Daly
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    Jun 18th 2021, 8:18 AM

    Poots gone,
    Irish language legislation in,
    The Protocol stays,
    DUP bigotry crumbling,
    DUP “Britishness” fading.
    Who’s up for marching this season!
    Simply delightful !

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    Mute SPQH
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    Jun 18th 2021, 8:27 AM

    @Peter Daly: Marching? Well these Poots were made for walking ;)

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    Mute Peter Daly
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    Jun 18th 2021, 8:50 AM

    @SPQH:

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    Mute Peter Daly
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    Jun 18th 2021, 8:51 AM

    @SPQH: Ha Ha !!

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    Mute Dave Hammond
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    Jun 18th 2021, 7:16 AM

    Sammy Wilson is the Sarah Palin of DUP – ya can try put lipstick on a donkey etc – what a shambles of a party

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    Mute reginald
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    Jun 18th 2021, 6:45 AM

    Unionism needs to be thrown on their bonfires in a few weeks time and a match be put to it all

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    Mute Mick Tobin
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    Jun 18th 2021, 12:04 AM

    Poots probably saw this coming and had Givan nominated as FM instead of himself in order to avoid an even bigger mess.

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    Mute Michael Healy
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    Jun 18th 2021, 8:29 AM

    SF are sitting back and laughing as parties on both sides of the border self implode, while they gain support without even uttering a word. The dup are the makers of their own downfall here and I doubt anyone up north bar their own deluded mob are shedding many tears. Its clear boris and the tories want nothing to do with them, they made a mess of brexit and then kicked off like a stroppy teenager when if didn’t go the way they planned, and now this lad goes cos once again they didn’t get their way. While it’s amusing to watch them self destruct, we need to makes sure their knuckle dragging fleggggg and orange supporters don’t use this as an excuse to kick off more violence over the summer..

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    Mute GrumpyAulFella
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    Jun 18th 2021, 9:03 AM

    @Michael Healy: I’m sure they’re gaining support. They’re down 3 points in NI since the last election and Mary Lou’s ratings in the South have dropped 3% also. The DUP voters won’t be going to SF, they’ll be heading to UUP or Donaldson will actually make them stronger. It’ll be interesting to watch.

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    Mute Derek Power
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    Jun 18th 2021, 8:20 AM

    Season 5 of ‘The Thick of It’ is turning out to be the best one yet.

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    Mute Shane Meegan
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    Jun 18th 2021, 10:12 AM

    Thanks for this article. Have found it difficult to follow what’s been happening and getting my head around the many moving parts. This piece was helpful.

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