Donaldson solicitor confirms MP will not contest election

A solicitor for Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has confirmed that the former DUP leader will not be standing in the next election.

In March, Sir Jeffrey was charged with rape and 10 other historical sex offences.

His wife, Lady Eleanor Donaldson, a co-accused in the case, faces four charges.

Their case was mentioned in court on Wednesday and is to be reviewed again on 12 June ahead of a preliminary enquiry at the start of July.

Speaking outside the court on Wednesday, his solicitor John McBurney said: “I can indicate that it is not Jeffrey's intention of course to stand for re-election.

“He will be concentrating on the case and defending the charges.

"He is continuing as the MP [for Lagan Valley] at the present time.

"There's various matters to be dealt with, constituency matters and administrative matters to do with his offices and so forth.”

Sir Jeffrey resigned as DUP leader after being charged.

In a letter to the party he said he would be strenuously contesting the charges.

Gavin Robinson was appointed as the party's interim leader.

Sir Jeffrey Donaldson was elected leader of the DUP in 2021.

He is Northern Ireland's longest-serving MP, having been first elected to Parliament in 1997 as a representative of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP)

He first entered politics when he worked for MP Enoch Powell between 1982 and 1984 after joining the UUP.

Sir Jeffrey's own career in front-line politics began in 1985 when he was elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly as its youngest member.

In 2003, he left the UUP to join the DUP due to his long-standing opposition to the 1998 Good Friday Agreement and the leadership of David Trimble.

Sir Jeffrey recently steered the DUP back into government in Northern Ireland ending a two-year boycott of the devolved institutions.

He was knighted in 2016 for political service.

He married his wife Eleanor in 1987.