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The June 2021 Democratic Unionist Party leadership election was triggered by Edwin Poots' resignation from the leadership of the party on 17 June 2021.[1]
Poots released a statement on 17 June 2021 announcing his intention to resign as party leader and that he had requested a new leadership contest, and that he would remain in post until a successor was appointed.[2] Party chair Maurice Morrow later announced that the leadership election would take place on 26 June 2021.[3]
After nominations closed on 22 June, Sir Jeffrey Donaldson was declared the new leader of the Democratic Unionist Party after becoming the sole candidate,[4][5] and therefore no ballot was held. On 30 June, the party's executive body ratified Donaldson as leader.[6]
After agreeing to a deal that resolved the stalemate over the Irish Language Act, Poots stood down as leader on 17 June after a meeting where a majority of DUP MLAs and MPs voted against the party nominating Paul Givan to be First Minister.[7][8]
On 18 June 2021, a senior DUP source told The Irish Times that Sir Jeffrey Donaldson was expected to be the only candidate, as there was "no appetite for another potentially damaging leadership election."[9]
| Candidate | Born | Political office | Announced | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Jeffrey Donaldson | 7 December 1962 Kilkeel, Northern Ireland | Leader in the House of Commons (since 2019) MP for Lagan Valley (since 1997) | 21 June 2021 |
The election was scheduled to be held on 26 June 2021,[10] however after nominations closed on 22 June at 12:00 BST,[11] party chair Maurice Morrow revealed that Jeffrey Donaldson was the only candidate nominated.[12] Following a meeting of the party's MPs and MLAs to confirm the result (with the backing of 32 out of 36 votes),[13] the appointment of Donaldson as leader was ratified by the party executive on 26 June.[14]
| June 2021 Democratic Unionist Party leadership election | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Nominated by | |
| Jeffrey Donaldson | Self-nominated | |
2021 United Kingdom party leadership elections | ||
|---|---|---|
January: Welsh Conservatives February: Scottish Labour May: DUP June: DUP July: Scottish Liberal Democrats September: Green |  | |
