it is quite careful minutes ago is it is quite careful in its language there aboutjeffrey donaldson. so, one of the things that i have over many years learned to pick up on dup statements is the precise wording of them. sometimes they give an impression of something which later on turns out to not quite be what they were driving at, so if you look at how they phrased that, they say that the party chairman has received a letter from jeffrey donaldson confirming he has been charged with allegations, etc, and indicating that he is stepping down as leader. now, it doesn't say that he is resigning as leader. that is obviously implied and that is what we are assuming this means, but is this a temporary stepping down? might he come back if he is cleared by a court? talks about gavin robinson been put there as an interim party leader. it is that because jeffrey interim party leader. it is that becausejeffrey donaldson might still return or is that because they need to a formal protest to ratify him as party leader because those are the questions that the party will face, but whether they will be able to answer them, not so sure.

so, the key details of the story we are bringing you that has been developing over the last 30 minutes or so. developing over the last 30 minutes orso. sirjeffrey developing over the last 30 minutes or so. sirjeffrey donaldson, who was the leader of the largest unionist party in northern ireland, the democratic unionist party, has been charged with historical sexual offences and is stepping down as leader. 57 woman has also been charged with aiding and abetting in connection with the alleged offences. the dup, whichjust earlier this year went back into a power—sharing government with sinn fein at stormont, said the party chairman has received a letter from sirjeffrey donaldson confirming

that he has been charged with allegations of an historical nature, and indicating he is stepping down as leader of the dup with immediate effect. another dup mp, gavin robinson, has been appointed as interim party leader. we can talk now to mark devenport, who joins me. he is the bbc? former political editor in northern ireland. give me your thoughts on what has been happening. 0ur momentous story. sir happening. 0ur momentous story. s " jeffrey donaldson is leader of the largest unionist party there and he has just largest unionist party there and he hasjust taken largest unionist party there and he has just taken the lead role in selling the packets that led to the restoration of power—sharing instrument. as sam mcbride was indicating, that is a selling job

thatis indicating, that is a selling job that is still going on within the unionist community and now he has been effectively removed from the political stage in these most shocking of circumstances. whilst gavin robinson, who has been named as interim leader, shares a lot of the political perspectives of sir jeffrey donaldson, it is possible the removal of the leader will shift the removal of the leader will shift the balance of power towards those more sceptical about the deal. haw more sceptical about the deal. how wor in: is more sceptical about the deal. how worrying is that _ more sceptical about the deal. how worrying is that for _ more sceptical about the deal. how worrying is that for those who absolutely want to see the northern ireland assembly succeed? it was on ice for a couple of years, now it is back up and functioning but still very young, only a couple of months. how concerned will those who support power—sharing baby? i how concerned will those who support power-sharing baby?— power-sharing baby? i think there will be an element _ power-sharing baby? i think there will be an element of— power-sharing baby? i think there will be an element of that. - power-sharing baby? i think there will be an element of that. it - power-sharing baby? i think there will be an element of that. it is i will be an element of that. it is hard at this stage to be definitive as to which way things will go. we

have had a honeymoon period in terms of power—sharing and there has been relatively little kickback from unionist grassroots, instead we have seen emma little pengelly, who was co—opted to take jeffrey seen emma little pengelly, who was co—opted to takejeffrey donaldson�*s seatin co—opted to takejeffrey donaldson�*s seat in the assembly, quite smoothly moving into the role as deputy first minister, and they have a lot of good publicity on their trip with the first minister from good publicity on their trip with the first ministerfrom sinn fein to the first ministerfrom sinn fein to the usa over st patrick's day. there is the potential electoral challenge that will come in the forthcoming westminster election. then i have this extra scandal. it may be that those who were concerned about some of the compromises that were made in relation to that deal, the critics thought it's the watered—down

northern ireland's british identity too much, this might embolden them. what does it mean for the balance between unionism and nationalism in northern ireland, and looking at elections there for the role of the alliance party, the cross community party, which has really been gaining strength in recent elections in northern ireland?— strength in recent elections in northern ireland? certainly, one of the taruet northern ireland? certainly, one of the target seats _ northern ireland? certainly, one of the target seats that _ northern ireland? certainly, one of the target seats that alliance - northern ireland? certainly, one of the target seats that alliance has . the target seats that alliance has had an itch mite for quite awhile has been lagan valley, which was sir jeffrey donaldson�*s seat. he was an ulster unionist mp, then the dup mp. the thought that anybody other than a unionist could threaten to take that seat was impossible, but the young energetic alliance candidate there has eaten into sir geoffrey's majority. i suppose within that particular constituency it might embolden the alliance challenge. in terms of the overall balance between

unionism and nationalism i don't think it will change anything very much. in essence we have a kind of hung assembly were neither unionism nor nationalism is in the majority and centre—right parties hold the balance of power because of the peculiar rules we have at stormont they don't will be a kind of influence they might in a more traditional parliament. tdik influence they might in a more traditional parliament.- influence they might in a more traditional parliament. talk to us about the relationship _ traditional parliament. talk to us about the relationship that - traditional parliament. talk to us | about the relationship that jeffrey about the relationship thatjeffrey donaldson has had with the governments in westminster, in dublin and indeed in the usa, particularly. he dublin and indeed in the usa, particularly-— dublin and indeed in the usa, articularl . . , , ., ., ., particularly. he has been a man who has been living _ particularly. he has been a man who has been living in _ particularly. he has been a man who has been living in high _ particularly. he has been a man who has been living in high places - has been living in high places recently. he would have been central to the recent negotiations over that power—sharing deal. he would have had contacts with the governments in london, dublin and in washington. he is someone who had a bit of a journey. he came into politics in

northern ireland in the 1980s party because some of his family members were killed by the ira. he was initially sceptical of the good friday agreement and is disagreed with david trimble over that largely over ira prisoner releases and decommissioning. that's why he moved from the ulster unionist party to the dup. he is someone who believes in the necessity to have stormont up and running, that solidifies the union more than having a power vacuum there so he has been crucial to the decision in recent months by the dup to end their boycott of stormont and can step back into power—sharing. his absence will be felt by those ministers who have been working closely with them. because of that story that you allude to, his personal history, it makes these events very shocking because while in the last year or so he has been the person, and everyone

has talked about him being the salesman, who got the power—sharing assembly back up and running, if you go back a quarter of a century to the good friday agreement, which helped establish power—sharing in the first instance, he had lots of questions about it then. he was opposed to it then. it has been an interesting journey for him in that perspective and it makes him a very significant political figure, doesn't it? it significant political figure, doesn't it?— doesn't it? it is a classic political _ doesn't it? it is a classic political example - doesn't it? it is a classic political example of - doesn't it? it is a classic - political example of poacher doesn't it? it is a classic _ political example of poacher turned gamekeeper. back in 1998 he was one of those questioning the purpose of the deal and the price that was paid for it. but during those long battles that he had with david trimble, he stayed within the ulster unionist party for a few years before defecting to the dup, i think he learned something. we learned that david trimble probably wasn't quite as positive as he needed to be in selling the benefits of the good

friday agreement. what we saw in recent months was that sirjeffrey donaldson came out and really played an active role on the airwaves selling his safeguarding the union deal with the westminster government. i think you probably learnt a thing or two about the battles he had had with unionism he had had 25 years ago. i think he will be sorely missed within the dup because he was an effective seller of the deal and an effective political performer across the board. ., ., ., board. how have you found him as a olitician? board. how have you found him as a politician? very _ board. how have you found him as a politician? very astute. _ board. how have you found him as a politician? very astute. normally i politician? very astute. normally extremely polite _ politician? very astute. normally extremely polite to _ politician? very astute. normally extremely polite to deal- politician? very astute. normally extremely polite to deal with. - politician? very astute. normally i extremely polite to deal with. there have certainly been a couple of heated moments i could remember. just a few weeks back i was chairing a discussion event in which sir jeffrey donaldson appeared alongside the leader of the others unionist

party, doug beattie, and he was almost a person who was on the brink of having fulfilled his mission, not only restored power—sharing but seem to be moving the dup more into the unionist centre ground. in effect, trying to unite the unionist community if not into one party then into one political argument, so it is a real change in fortis now that we are witnessing today. just let me recap for our viewers the story that we are breaking. the news coming into us in the last 45 minutes or so that sirjeffrey donaldson has been charged with historical sexual offences and is stepping down, has stepped down indeed, as the leader of the largest unionist party, the democratic unionist party. a police statement said that a 57—year—old woman has also been charged with aiding and abetting in connection to the alleged offences. both were arrested

on thursday morning by detectives and questioned before being charged on thursday night and are due to appear in court next month. the dup has suspended jeffrey donaldson from membership with immediate effect pending the outcome of the judicial process and have appointed gavin robinson mp as the interim party leader. 0bservers had noticed that sirjeffrey donaldson's social media accounts had been deleted over nights. he was elected leader of the dup in 2021 and became the mp for lagan valley and the westminster parliament back in 1997 and a search was northern ireland's longest serving, is still the longest serving, is still the longest serving mp. what we are hearing todayis serving mp. what we are hearing today is in relation to his position within the dup. 0f today is in relation to his position within the dup. of course, he has

been introduced most recently because of being instrumental in steering his party back into the power—sharing assembly in northern ireland. that had been in the deep freeze for a couple of years because of post—brexit checks on goods arriving from britain into northern ireland's. the dup were deeply concerned that this put barriers up between northern ireland and the rest of the uk, that it impacted their sense of unionism, but in the last few months we have seen that power—sharing assembly restored, largely, as we have heard from all of the people i have spoken to so far, because ofjeffrey donaldson's role as as salesman, is this was a sales project, these the coach from my guests in the last half an hour

or so, my guests in the last half an hour orso, describing my guests in the last half an hour or so, describing how instrumental has been. let me bring back in mark devenport, a former political editor for bbc northern ireland. give us a sense of the shock that you are hearing about this news from people who have been talking to. $5 hearing about this news from people who have been talking to.— who have been talking to. as you sa , the who have been talking to. as you say, the rumours _ who have been talking to. as you say, the rumours started - who have been talking to. as you i say, the rumours started circulating after sirjeffrey donaldson deleted his social media accounts and i think there will be a general sense of shock across the community. we have to be careful about what we say about the legalities. in terms of the politics at this stage people are still trying to take the same and work about the implications will be. he was a very significant figure here, not the leader of the biggest party in northern ireland, that the

sinn fein, of the largest unionist party. he was central to the deal that restored to to stormont power—sharing executive. that came down because of a boycott there but the dup who were concerned that the trade arrangements put in place after brexit tyler took northern ireland's british identity and turned it more towards the eu and towards nice —— north— south all—ireland trade. sirjeffrey donaldson said he had won important concessions in making the new irish sea trade portal go away. 0thers sea trade portal go away. others said it may be deleted to tread water vapour didn't make a go away completely. he determined that in the round the concessions he had won were significant enough to lead his party back into power—sharing and it has to be said he has won plaudits from many sections of the community here, and internationally, when the

new power—sharing —— power—sharing executive at stormont seem to be having a bit of a honeymoon period. they seem to be getting on and governing in a fairly collegiate atmosphere. the removal of a key power brokerfor atmosphere. the removal of a key power broker for that deal will send shock waves across the northern ireland political system. it doesn't necessarily bring our new government on potatoes we can one of the planks thatis on potatoes we can one of the planks that is propping it up. the on potatoes we can one of the planks that is propping it up.— that is propping it up. the success ofthe that is propping it up. the success of the power-sharing _ that is propping it up. the success of the power-sharing assembly i of the power—sharing assembly between members of the protestant community, the catholic community, people of no religion but broadly people of no religion but broadly people have party affiliations along religious lines, that is a generalisation but namely that is the case in northern ireland, the success of that has such an impact both in the london government, around the eu and other parts of the

world, but especially in terms of the political relationship with westminster and the eu. it’s the political relationship with westminster and the eu. it's very im ortant westminster and the eu. it's very important that — westminster and the eu. it's very important that northern - westminster and the eu. it's very important that northern ireland i important that northern ireland should be seen to be heading in a positive direction. nobody wanted anything to slip back. it is only a short time ago that we were marking the 25th anniversary of the good friday agreement, which was seen as the deal that effectively brought the deal that effectively brought the troubles to a close. whilst we have had political vacuums of different kinds in recent years, fortunately we haven't seen a wholesale slip back into the bad old days of the trouble is, but that is the concern there is in the background, and that is why michelle 0'neill, the new sinn fein first minister, and i am pengelly, the new dup deputy first minister, were lauded when they were over in washington for st patrick's day as an example of two community leaders from a previously troubled part of the world who were showing that they

could get on with the business of governing together and they had been engaging notjust in that washington visit put in a number of positive photo shoot recently and i think rishi sunak will have regarded that as one of his achievements and certainly sir keir starmer and he backed that restoration to power—sharing. anything that could hamper that would be seen as bad news by dublin and washington. mark. news by dublin and washington. mark, thank ou news by dublin and washington. mark, thank you very — news by dublin and washington. mark, thank you very much _ news by dublin and washington. mark, thank you very much for _ news by dublin and washington. mark, thank you very much for your _ thank you very much for your thoughts on this. mark devenport, a former political editor for bbc northern ireland. i believe now we can go back to belfast and to your correspondentjennifer 0'leary and the correspondent jennifer 0'leary and the belfast correspondentjennifer 0'leary and the belfast newsroom there. jennifer, bring us up—to—date with what you're hearing. than? jennifer, bring us up-to-date with what you're hearing.— what you're hearing. any further news on the _ what you're hearing. any further news on the story. _ what you're hearing. any further news on the story. as _ what you're hearing. any further news on the story. as mark- what you're hearing. any further news on the story. as mark was| news on the story. as mark was saying, this story and this

development certainly comes as a shock, not only across the political spectrum in northern ireland, but certainly in britain and in the republic of ireland's because sir jeffrey donaldson is somebody who has been involved in unionist politics in northern ireland for many decades. he will be well to many decades. he will be well to many politicians and community leaders on both sides of the border. of course we are limited in what we of course we are limited in what we can say in terms of allegations and charges he is facing, but as a consequence of his arrest and charge with historic sexual offences, he informed his party of his intention to step down as leader of the dup. the democratic unionist party, the dup or northern ireland's biggest unionist party, making him the de facto leader of unionism. athletes

avoid not only in this party. it is at a time when the storm and institutions are only recently back running and while we have a first minister who is a nationalist, michelle o'neill. this comes as a seismic political shock within northern ireland. the dup only released their statementjust before lunchtime statement just before lunchtime confirming statementjust before lunchtime confirming that sirjeffrey donaldson is stepping down. this donaldson is stepping down. as people absorb what is clearly shocking news, these allegations, it will take some time i expect for them to work out what those

implications might be.- them to work out what those implications might be. yes, and of course, implications might be. yes, and of course. today _ implications might be. yes, and of course. today is — implications might be. yes, and of course, today is good _ implications might be. yes, and of course, today is good friday. - implications might be. yes, and of course, today is good friday. the | course, today is good friday. the irony being that sirjeffrey donaldson, orjeffrey donaldson as he was known that before he was knighted, came to the fore politically in his opposition to the good friday agreement, or the belfast agreement. he was quite well—known at the time and quite vocalin well—known at the time and quite vocal in his opposition to the peace agreement. here we are on good friday, 26 years later, and the man who spent much of his political career towards the leadership of unionism, today his political career, as some people would see it, is effectively questionable. that tra'ecto is effectively questionable. that trajectory you — is effectively questionable. that trajectory you are _ is effectively questionable. that trajectory you are talking about from opposition to the good friday agreement signed a quarter of a century ago, to recent months, and

all the people i've spoken to have spoken of him being the salesman, pushing through to return to power—sharing in northern ireland, thatjourney has been a really interesting and remarkable one. the bi interesting and remarkable one. tue: big question interesting and remarkable one. t'ta: big question for interesting and remarkable one. tt2 big question forjeffrey donaldson in recent months was, was it going to have what is being termed a david trimble moment? was he going to go back into stormont or was he going to stay outside of the institutions? david trimble being the leader of the political party he firstjoined, the political party he firstjoined, the ulster unionist party. because started supported the good friday agreement, he stated his opposition and much later defected to the dup. he rose within its ranks to become the leader of the dup and was key in making the decision in the negotiations with the british

governments in managing to return his party to the stormont executive because he and others in the party, and he would have said the electorate who voted for him, were very concerned about the constitutionality of northern ireland in the wake of the post—brexit trading agreements. all of that appeared to have been smoothed over only weeks ago. and the party who were quite happy to see their leader returned to power, that party are today without a leader. , , , that party are today without a leader. , , ., , _ leader. jennifer, “ust well be happy with us, leader. jennifer, “ust well be happy with rm — leader. jennifer, just well be happy with us, i'm seeing _ leader. jennifer, just well be happy with us, i'm seeing a _ leader. jennifer, just well be happy with us, i'm seeing a statement. leader. jennifer, just well be happy l with us, i'm seeing a statement from the former secretary of state for northern ireland, gillian smith, he was secretary of state 2019—20. is that it was a big shock everybody, particularly the people of northern ireland. he said i am not sure this will change any momentum towards

power—sharing and the stability it has now brought as it returned a couple of months ago. he leads than in the statement as to howjeffrey donaldson played a critical role in the last few months leading the negotiations to get back to that power—sharing arrangement for the people of northern ireland. interesting to get tactic from gillian smith, he was very well regarded as a secretary of state for northern ireland. he thinks the momentum behind power—sharing will not be affected by this. fight! momentum behind power-sharing will not be affected by this.— not be affected by this. and the detail of that _ not be affected by this. and the detail of that statement - not be affected by this. and the detail of that statement as - not be affected by this. and the detail of that statement as you | not be affected by this. and the - detail of that statement as you read it out is quite important. the toon, also. he is acknowledging the shock, in terms of the day's development, and also, given what your client, possibly attempting to smooth the ship, trying to say that this development does not impact the standing of the stormont institutions. gillian smith, former secretary of state, was well liked

by many on both sides of the community in northern ireland, but stressing perhaps by proxy in that statement that what happens in the last 24 hours has come as a shock, but stormont and its institutions will remain in situ. certainly an interesting and timely intervention and, as you have said, we are awaiting further reaction, but bear in mind that it is the beginning of the easter long weekend and, politically in westminster, in stormont and in the republic of ireland, politicians are back in their own bases or perhaps taking time out to take a break from it all, so certainly today's development, sirjeffrey donaldson stepping down, effectively resigning as leader of the democratic unionist party on the back of sexual offence

allegations and charges. it will come as a shock to many. jennifer o'lea , come as a shock to many. jennifer 0'leary. in — come as a shock to many. jennifer o'leary, in belfast, _ come as a shock to many. jennifer o'leary, in belfast, thank- come as a shock to many. jennifer o'leary, in belfast, thank you - come as a shock to many. jennifer| o'leary, in belfast, thank you very 0'leary, in belfast, thank you very much. let me recap for you. sir jeffrey donaldson, until a few hours to go leader of northern ireland's largest unionist party, the democratic unionist party, has been charged with historical sexual offences and has stepped down as leader. in the last few moments that statement from a former northern ireland secretary of state, gillian smith, who reflected on how shocking this nieces, these allegations are, but saying he was not concerned in any way that this would lead to any change in the momentum behind power—sharing, which was only restored a few months ago, and the stability that has been brought by this return to power—sharing. stay with us for more on this story. we

can bring you a look at the weather forecast now. hello there. good afternoon. well, a gradual improvement for most of us weather—wise over the next couple of days. here's the forecast for the bank holiday weekend. today, sunshine and some heavy showers. lighter winds than yesterday. fewer showers on saturday and sunday, but there could be some more rain in the south on bank holiday monday. drierfurther north. lots of rainbows spotted today with the general sunshine and showers theme. already some lightning strikes across parts of pembrokeshire. there could be some heavy downpours, some hail and some thunder in some of these showers, but generally fewer of them than we saw yesterday, with more in the way of sunshine. it's still breezy for england and wales, but not as gusty as yesterday. could be a bit drier across northern scotland and for most it will feel a little warmer too. 0vernight tonight it's still going to be quite chilly by night. we'll see the skies largely clear. the showers fading away. a scattering of them still out towards the west. a touch of isolated frost, i think, into tomorrow morning, with lows in low to mid—single figures.

also bit of patchy mist and fog, as well, but it will still be breezy for part of the night, but then lighter winds tomorrow morning. that's because our area of low pressure is pulling away towards the west. so the winds are lighter and it'll feel a bit warmer in the sunshine tomorrow, but another area of low pressure possibly giving some patchy rain across the far east of east anglia for a while, more cloud in the south—east of england, but a lot of dry weather on saturday, plenty of sunshine. the focus for any showers out towards the north and the west. it will feel warmer again — 11 to 15 degrees celsius. now, don't forget that the clocks spring forward by an hour on saturday night into sunday, so darker morningsjust for a while and, of course, lighter evenings on the way. easter sunday isn't looking too bad either. again, we could see some showers out towards western spots as we head through the morning, largely fading away into the afternoon. a lot of dry weather around with some sunshine, but perhaps a bit cloudier and cooler towards north sea facing coasts with more of an easterly wind developing. again, highs of 11 to 14 degrees. then we look to the south as we head through sunday night

and into bank holiday monday because we are going to see some areas of rain perhaps across england and wales. still a lot of uncertainty with the forecast, so do keep an eye on it. it could be drier further north, perhaps. temperature—wise, it's a bit cloudier and cooler again towards north sea facing coasts, so a bit milder further west. bye—bye for now.

live from london. this is bbc news. sirjeffrey donaldson, leader of the democratic unionist party in northern ireland,

has resigned — after being charged with historical sexual offences. he is due to appear in court next month after being arrested on thursday morning. gavin robinson, another dup lawmaker in the uk parliament, has been appointed as the party's interim leader. the syrian government blames israel for deadly air strikes near the city of aleppo, which killed at least 42 people. following famine warnings in gaza, the un's top court has ordered israel to enable the unhindered flow of aid into the territory hello, i'm annita mcveigh, welcome to bbc news now, three hours of fast—moving news, interviews and reaction. the democratic unionist party — which is the largest unionist party