229. Jeffrey Donaldson: The Rise, Fall & Future of the DUP | John Manley

Jeffrey Donaldson was once regarded as one of the most influential and respected figures in unionism. A former leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), Privy Counsellor and Westminster MP, his conviction has become one of the most dramatic falls from grace in modern Northern Irish politics.

In this episode, Irish News Political Correspondent John Manley explains Jeffrey Donaldson's political journey, the origins and evolution of the DUP, and how his downfall has reshaped unionist politics.

The conversation explores:

• The origins of the DUP
• Ian Paisley and the Free Presbyterian influence
• The Ulster Unionist Party and the Good Friday Agreement
• Jeffrey Donaldson's move from the UUP to the DUP
• Peter Robinson, Arlene Foster, Edwin Poots and Gavin Robinson
• Brexit and the Northern Ireland Protocol
• The Stormont boycott and the return to government
• Donaldson's resignation, conviction and its political consequences
• Internal pressures facing the DUP
• The TUV, Sinn Féin and the future of unionism
• What happens next for Northern Ireland politics

Recorded at the offices of The Irish News in Belfast.