Arlene Foster resigns as DUP leader and Northern Ireland First Minister

Arlene Foster will step down Northern Ireland’s First Minister following an internal party revolt, prompting fears in Whitehall that a hardline successor could lead to heightened tensions over post-Brexit trading arrangements.

The DUP leader on Wednesday confirmed that she would resign as figurehead of the party by the end of next month and as head of the Northern Ireland Executive in June.

Her resignation came just 24 hours after the vast majority of the party’s 27 representatives at Stormont and four of its Westminster MPs were reported to have signed a letter of no confidence in her.

The putsch follows mounting criticism over her handling of Brexit, with more religious elements in the party also angered by her decision to abstain last week on a vote to ban gay conversion therapy.

Mrs Foster’s departure, after a turbulent five years in charge, now threatens to usher in further political upheaval in the province, which is already reeling from recent rioting in loyalist areas and mounting anger over the Northern Ireland Protocol.

The Telegraph understands that she spoke to Boris Johnson on Wednesday morning before announcing her resignation, with UK Government sources on Wednesday evening privately expressing their frustration at the move to oust her.

There are fears that her successor will be drawn from the more conservative, religious wing of the party, leading to collisions with ministers on issues such as abortion and LGBT rights, as well as the implementation of post-Brexit checks and infrastructure.

A more hardline figure is also likely to pose challenges for maintaining the power sharing agreement, which was only restored in 2020, three years after Stormont collapsed.

One Conservative source expressed concern that a shift away from Mrs Foster’s “pragmatic unionism” towards a more “fundamentalist” position could make it “significantly harder” for ministers to work with the party.

“We’re not thrilled,” said another.

In her resignation statement, Mrs Foster said: “It has been the privilege of my life to serve the people of Northern Ireland as their first minister and to represent my home constituency of Fermanagh/South Tyrone.

“I have sought to lead the Party and Northern Ireland away from division and towards a better path. There are people in Northern Ireland with a British identity, others are Irish, others are Northern Irish, others are a mixture of all three and some are new and emerging. We must all learn to be generous to each other, live together and share this wonderful country.”

However, in an apparent warning shot to those behind her departure, Mrs Foster added: “The future of unionism and Northern Ireland will not be found in division, it will only be found in sharing this place we all are privileged to call home.”

In a statement posted on social media, Mr Johnson praised Mrs Foster for her “dedication to the people of Northern Ireland,” while Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis said: “Arlene is a truly dedicated public servant. There are many young people, particularly young women, who will be inspired by her example to follow a path into politics.”

While Mrs Foster has been a vocal opponent of the protocol, which has caused significant disruption for traders moving goods across the Irish Sea, hardliners in the party have grown increasingly critical of the leadership’s handling of Brexit in recent years.

Some critics believe that the party squandered its considerable influence as confidence and supply partners to Theresa May’s minority government.

The leadership was also seen as having helped Boris Johnson secure power on the back of promises to resolve the fundamental challenges that Brexit posed for Northern Ireland’s place in the United Kingdom.

Fearing a backlash from loyalist voters in next year’s assembly elections, the rebels behind Mrs Foster’s departure hope to reframe the narrative and prevent supporters defecting to other unionist parties.

However, a more hardline successor could alienate non-aligned voters.

Her successor will now be chosen by just a few dozen MPs, peers and assembly members, with a number of senior figures already being touted as potential runners.

They include Ian Paisley Jnr, the son of the late Ian Paisley, the former first minister and founder of the DUP, the party’s Brexit spokesman Sammy Wilson, and Edwin Poots, Northern Ireland’s agriculture minister.

All three are staunch critics of the protocol and are likely to be far more combative in their dealings with the UK Government and in their approach to implementing it.

More moderate figures tipped to stand include Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, the party’s Westminster leader, and backbencher Gavin Robinson.

Arlene Foster's statement in full

"A short time ago I called the Party Chairman to inform him that I intend to step down as leader of the Democratic Unionist Party on the twenty-eighth of May and as First Minister of Northern Ireland at the end of June.

"It is important to give space over the next few weeks for the Party Officers to make arrangements for the election of a new leader. When elected I will work with the new leader on transition arrangements.

"As First Minister it is important that I complete work on a number of important issues for Northern Ireland alongside other Executive colleagues. Northern Ireland and its people have been heavily impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic and there remains more work to be done to steer us thorough the pandemic and to lessen its impact on the lives of everyone.

"It has been the privilege of my life to serve the people of Northern Ireland as their First Minister and to represent my home constituency of Fermanagh/South Tyrone. I first entered the Assembly in 2003 and undoubtedly the journey of the last eighteen years has been memorable. There are many people who have helped and supported me throughout that period and I will always been grateful for the kindness and support shown to me by them.

"Whilst there have been many difficult and testing times for the Executive it remains my firm view that Northern Ireland has been better served having local Ministers at this time. It is unthinkable that we could have faced into the Coronavirus pandemic without our own devolved Ministers in place and no Ministerial direction for Departments.

"As I prepare to depart the political stage it is my view that if Northern Ireland is to prosper then it will only do so built on the foundations of successful and durable devolution. That will require continued hard work and real determination and courage on all sides.

"Whilst the focus is on me today I recognise that will pass. For me my decision to enter politics was never about party or person, it was about speaking up for the voiceless and building a Northern Ireland which could prosper and be at peace within the United Kingdom.

"I am the first to recognise there have been ups and downs over the last five and a half years.

"The 2016 Assembly election result and our Party's best ever Westminster result in 2017 stand out amongst the high points when the electorate sent a clear message that they wanted to keep Northern Ireland moving forward.

"The Confidence and Supply Agreement was able to bring one billion pounds of extra spending for everyone in Northern Ireland. Our priorities were not narrow but based on more investment in mental health and hospitals, bringing broadband to rural communities, improving our roads and ensuring funding to encourage more shared housing and education.

"For our innocent victims, I am proud we battled together and whilst too late for some, we finally secured a truly deserved pension for you.

"For our armed forces, the Veterans' Commissioner is in place. You have an advocate to stand up for you and ensure your voice is heard at the heart of government.

"Of course as with highs there were lows along the way.

"The three years without devolution caused untold harm to our public services and the RHI Inquiry was a difficult period. The Protocol being foisted upon Northern Ireland against the will of unionists has served to destabilise Northern Ireland in more recent times.

"Whilst there is still a job of work to do, I am proud that there is a young generation of Democratic Unionists getting involved in politics and trying to shape Northern Ireland for the better.

"Over the last twelve months, I have been holding online meetings every week with young people mainly from working class communities and encouraging them especially the young women to get involved.

"I echo that encouragement today. Politics and debate is the only path to effect change in society. You will and can be the MPs, MLAs and Councillors of tomorrow.

"My election as leader of the Democratic Unionist Party broke a glass ceiling and I am glad inspired other women to enter politics and spurred them on to take up elected office.

"I understand the misogynistic criticisms that female public figures have to take and sadly it's the same for all women in public life.

"I want to encourage you to keep going and don't let the online lynch mobs get you down.

"To the hundreds of Party supporters who have been in touch over the last few days, I say a sincere thank you for the opportunities to serve you and the support you have given me. For almost five and a half years I have been incredibly humbled to have the opportunity to lead the Democratic Unionist Party.

"I have sought to lead the Party and Northern Ireland away from division and towards a better path.

"There are people in Northern Ireland with a British identity, others are Irish, others are Northern Irish, others are a mixture of all three and some are new and emerging. We must all learn to be generous to each other, live together and share this wonderful country.

"The future of unionism and Northern Ireland will not be found in division, it will only be found in sharing this place we all are privileged to call home."

Reaction to Foster quitting as leader

Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis led the tributes to Arlene Foster on Wednesday afternoon.

He said: "Arlene is a truly dedicated public servant, devoting her political career to her constituents for over 18 years and the people of Northern Ireland as First Minister for several years.

"There are many young people, particularly young women, who will be inspired by her example to follow a path into politics.

"I wish her all the best and look forward to continuing to work with her in the days and weeks ahead, delivering for all the people of Northern Ireland."

DUP MP Gavin Robinson tweeted: "There will be more to say about what lies ahead in the days to come, but for now, I want to thank Arlene personally for her dedicated service to Northern Ireland.

"She has been a constant source of encouragement to me and my colleagues throughout the province. Facing difficulties with courage and determination; and sacrificing so much over all of us over her 18 years in elected politics, I pay tribute to her, her leadership and her commitment to our Country."

DUP MP Nigel Dodds tweeted: "Arlene has dedicated her life to defending the Union and moving Northern Ireland forward. She has demonstrated great courage and is an example for women in public life.

"Thank you Arlene. It's been a privilege to work alongside you."