Jeffrey Donaldson’s departure is only the beginning of a crisis

DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson wrote to the party confirming he had been charged with 'allegations of an historical nature' and would be stepping down as leader 'with immediate effect.' Photograph: Liam McBurney/PA– commentator after commentator not only spoke of their utter surprise, but showed it in the tone of their voices as they struggled to articulate what just happened.

This will have a huge personal impact for all involved in, and affected by it; politically, the questions pile up. What will this mean for the Lagan Valley seat? For the next general election? What about the DUP itself? For unionism? And, perhaps most importantly, for the future of the newly-restored, eight-week-old Stormont Assembly and Executive?

It was his moment of triumph; now, his departure will reopen old wounds and could give opponents – the more hardline members of the party – an opportunity. The party must be thankful, though, that it was Emma Little-Pengelly, not Donaldson, who took on the role of Deputy First Minister in the restored Assembly and Executive. Had Donaldson been in that post – the joint head of Northern Ireland’s government – then this could have been the sort of crisis that brings down Stormont.

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