Sir Jeffrey Donaldson set to be ratified as new DUP leader

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By Q Radio News

The DUP's ruling executive is set to ratify Sir Jeffrey Donaldson as the new party leader.

It will meet later this evening to rubber stamp the results of an electoral college vote on Saturday when Sir Jeffrey secured 32 of the 36 votes cast. 

The executive is made up of MPs, MLAs, peers, constituency association and university group members.

Sir Jeffrey was the only candidate to put his name forward for the position of leader, following Edwin Poots' decision to resign after just three weeks in the role.

The Lagan Valley MP will become the fifth leader of the party in its 50-year history, and its third in just 50 days.

North Belfast MLA Paula Bradley will remain in her role as deputy leader. 

On Saturday, Sir Jeffrey said that his priority as leader "will be to right the wrong that has been done by the imposition of this protocol".

He also warned the Irish government to stop "cheerleading" for the mechanism that creates a border in the Irish Sea and claimed it was "dragging our politics backwards".

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