[Spoonman]

Looks like Arlene Foster is about to be shown the door for her tenure as DUP leader...

Arlene Foster: Letter of no confidence sent to DUP politicians

Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) politicians are being asked to sign a letter of no confidence in leader Arlene Foster, the BBC understands.

The letter is being circulated among DUP MPs and Northern Ireland Assembly members.

The party said it would not be commenting.

One assembly member told the BBC he was presented with the motion on Mrs Foster, who is NI's first minister, but declined to say if he signed it.

It is understood 22 MLAs (Members of the Legislative Assembly), four MPs and one peer have already signed the letter.

If this is the case, there is majority support within the party for a change in leadership.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-56902771

The problem for the DUP is that there is no clear successor out there to take her place - and it doesn't help that there's hardly anyone reasonably young in the party that you can point to and say that they'll lead it in the future.

[Samanfur]

It wouldn't surprise me if Sammy Wilson tried to make a move, given his raised profile over Brexit.

[Spoonman]

It wouldn't surprise me if Sammy Wilson tried to make a move, given his raised profile over Brexit.

I don't think even the DUP are that stupid! It'll most likely be an MLA from Stormont.

[MisterMuncher]

They're certainly not replete with rising stars. Can't imagine Little-Pengelly throwing her hat in the ring. Sammy, Gregory, Jim Wells, Eddie Poots aren't viable in terms of age and craziness, even for the DUP. Droopy Dodds isn't going to cut it after he allowed his wife* to attend cross border body meetings.

On the other hand, IP Jr is obviously deplorably corrupt, but "represents the party values" and had enough support on the ground to survive a recall for said massive corruption. Fredo Paisley moves into Daddy's chair?


*Obviously, I don't think like that. They do.

[Spoonman]

They're certainly not replete with rising stars. Can't imagine Little-Pengelly throwing her hat in the ring. Sammy, Gregory, Jim Wells, Eddie Poots aren't viable in terms of age and craziness, even for the DUP. Droopy Dodds isn't going to cut it after he allowed his wife* to attend cross border body meetings.

I reckon that were he not getting treatment for cancer, Poots would actually be one of the front runners. You only have to look at his actions and words over the past year or so to see him slithering about especially when it concerned breaking ranks with the executive.

[Watchman]

I take it Arlene's seen as being too liberal

[Bones McCoy]

I take it Arlene's seen as being too liberal

Yeah: Abstained on a Gay Conversion vote, when most of her party were in support.

[Andy McDandy]

Yeah, that's practically akin to going on a camping holiday with KD Lang by their standards.

[Malcolm Armsteen]

La Kuenssberg reporting that Foster has resigned.

[Samanfur]

It's trickling through other outlets at the moment.

[Boiler]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-56910045

Arlene Foster has announced her resignation as leader of the Democratic Unionist Party and as NI first minister after an internal revolt.

Mrs Foster said she would step down as DUP leader on 28 May and as first minister at the end of June.

[Spoonman]

So Foster has resigned. Worth noting that she was ousted because the backbone of the DUP reckoned she was too left wing!

As for potential replacements for DUP leader, Edwin Poots appears to be the favourite at the moment - for those in Britain unfamiliar with him (he's 'only' an MLA), he's an avowed creationist whom in his time as NI Health Minister went all the way to court to defend his decision to ban gay persons from donating blood. Also relatively outspoken about the NIP, and has taken to making solo runs outside of the NI executive concerning COVID-19 lockdowns.

[MisterMuncher]

Was it him or Flegory that wanted a creationist plaque at the Giant's Causeway?

Overall, not sure if Michelle O'Neil or Naomi Long had the better day, but pretty sure they've had worse days

[Spoonman]

Lagan Valley assembly member Paul Givan has been announced as Northern Ireland's new first minister.

Mr Givan will on Monday take over from Arlene Foster, who was ousted as Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader in April after an internal revolt.

Edwin Poots, Stormont's agriculture minister, replaced her as DUP leader amid tensions within the party.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-57399375

Looking at the ministerial appointments made by Edwin Poots, there's a clear fracture in the DUP.

[Youngian]

The article is a rogue’s gallery of DUP homophobic grimness.

In February 2015, Givan proposed a Northern Ireland Freedom of Conscience Amendment Bill to equality legislation, after controversy and legal action arose over a religious bakery, “Ashers Baking Company”, having denied the baking of a cake in support of same-sex marriage. This bill was an attempt to enable legal discrimination through the denial of services to any LGBT persons under the grounds of religious beliefs. This motion caused uproar on popular websites like Twitter, having led to an American petition against the bill, receiving 100,000 signatures in 48 hours.Stephen Fry promptly commented on this bill, claiming it to be “sick” and further pointing that “Once again the religious right twist(ing) truth to present themselves as victims” https://thegaysay.com/2015/04/28/the-co ... y-of-hate/

[Spoonman]

And just to add..

[Spoonman]

Fookin' ell! Didn't take long for Poots to get so many high up in the DUP pissed off at him!

Paul Givan and Michelle O'Neill have been confirmed as Northern Ireland's first and deputy first ministers amid internal revolt within the DUP...

...BBC News NI understands the vast majority of DUP MLAs - 24 to four - voted against Mr Poots nominating Mr Givan as first minister, during a meeting ahead of the special assembly sitting.

Sammy Wilson later said the feeling of the party was "very, very clear".

"What has been done today... shouldn't have been done and the vast majority of people believe that is the case," said the East Antrim MP.

Asked if he had confidence in Mr Poots, Mr Wilson said any leader should "bring people along with them" and that could not be achieved by "ignoring the views of a huge number of people".

"A leader who acts without the support of even a marginal majority of his party has to live with the consequences of that," he said...

...Asked on his way into the meeting if there will be a vote of no confidence in Mr Poots, Mr Wilson said: "Wait and see."

"I think Edwin has got to ask does he have any confidence in the party now? If he decides to ignore the views of the party, maybe he doesn't have any confidence in us," he added.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-57507176

[MisterMuncher]

Suppose Michelle can measure up for curtains in Paul's office when she's over to congratulate him.

[Spoonman]

More fookin' 'ell! Not even three weeks in the job...

[MisterMuncher]

She should see if there's room for the sofa too, I guess.