Jeffrey Donaldson

Donaldson was born in Kilkeel, County Down, Northern Ireland, and was the oldest of five boys and three girls. He attended Kilkeel High School, where he excelled at debating,{{Cite news |last=Gordon |first=Gareth |date=July 2021 |title=Sir Jeffrey Donaldson: The Artful Dodger who became DUP leader |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-57667388 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210701073709/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-57667388 |archive-date=1 July 2021 |access-date=3 July 2021 |work=BBC News}} then Castlereagh College. At the age of sixteen he joined the Orange Order, and then the UUP's Young Unionists.

Two of Donaldson's cousins were killed by the Provisional Irish Republican Army (PIRA) while serving in the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC): Sam Donaldson was killed in 1970{{Cite news |last=Toolis |first=Kevin |author-link= Kevin Toolis|date=25 November 2000 |title=Kevin Toolis meets Unionist MP Jeffrey Donaldson |work=The Guardian |location=London |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2000/nov/25/northernireland.kevintoolis |url-status=live |access-date=12 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151018193406/http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2000/nov/25/northernireland.kevintoolis |archive-date=18 October 2015}} and Alex Donaldson, a Chief Inspector, died in a mortar attack on a Newry police station in 1985.{{cite web |title=About Jeffrey |url=https://www.jeffreydonaldson.org/about-jeffrey/biography |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210623144234/https://www.jeffreydonaldson.org/about-jeffrey/biography |archive-date=23 June 2021 |website=Jeffrey Donaldson MP official site}}

Donaldson served with the Kilkeel company of the 3rd Battalion UDR (3 UDR),{{dead link|date=November 2023}} and was promoted to corporal.

Donaldson worked as an insurance broker in the 1980s.Sunday Tribune, 11 October 1987.

From 1982 to 1984, he was the constituency agent for the UUP MP Enoch Powell,{{Cite news |last=McCormack |first=Jayne |title=Sir Jeffrey Donaldson: Who is the man set to be DUP's new leader? |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-56998692 |date=22 June 2021 |url-status=live |access-date=23 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210623134529/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-56998692 |archive-date=23 June 2021}} managing Powell's successful re-election campaigns in 1983 and 1986. He then worked as personal assistant to the UUP leader James Molyneaux until Molyneaux retired from politics in 1997.

In October 1985, at the age of 22, following the death of Raymond McCullough, Donaldson was elected with a large majority in a by-election to the Northern Ireland Assembly to represent South Down.{{Cite web|title=Inside Ulster|url=https://bbcrewind.co.uk/asset/5e3c24b0438fea0026236ee3|website=BBC Rewinds}} In April 1986, Donaldson took part in a unionist demonstration attempting to blockade a conference of the Ulster Teachers' Union held in Newcastle, County Down, in protest at the Anglo-Irish Agreement. Demonstrators blocked teachers' cars and scuffled with the police; at one point protestors broke through police lines and attacked Education Minister Brian Mawhinney's car with flag poles. After further violence, arrests were made. Donaldson told reporters afterward: "What we're saying to Brian Mawhinney here today is that he may think that he is an Ulsterman but the people of Ulster want no part of a man who has betrayed the people of Ulster." Mawhinney labelled the protestors "thugs". In June that year, after Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Tom King, ordered the dissolution the Assembly, Donaldson was one of 21 unionist representatives who refused to leave the chamber at Stormont and was eventually physically removed from the building by the RUC.{{Cite web|title=Inside Ulster|url=https://discover.bbcrewind.co.uk/asset/5e4aa0a7e6440e00277a4446|website=BBC Rewinds}}

In 1996, he was first-placed candidate on the UUP list for the Northern Ireland Forum elections, virtually guaranteeing him a seat. Donaldson, by that time serving as Assistant Grand Master of the Orange Order, was a prominent figure in the ongoing Drumcree conflict over a yearly loyalist parade in the town of Portadown. He justified unionist demonstrators cutting off Belfast International Airport by saying, "in a democracy people have the right to protest and unfortunately some people get inconvenienced.""Protest takes on surreal holiday camp atmosphere",Sunday Tribune, 10 July 1996. That led to his selection, in January 1997, as a candidate for the Westminster Parliament, and he was elected at the 1997 general election as the MP for the Lagan Valley constituency, succeeding James Molyneaux. At that time, he was tipped as a potential future leader of the Ulster Unionist Party.{{cite web |date= |title=Westminster Election 2001: Profile: Lagan Valley |url=http://www.rte.ie/news/features/westminster_election/constituencies/lagan_valley.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040621101415/http://www.rte.ie/news/features/westminster_election/constituencies/lagan_valley.html |archive-date=21 June 2004 |website=RTÉ News}}{{cite web |first=Maureen |last=Connolly |date=2003 |title=Elections deepen crisis – 2003 |url=http://www.permanentrevolution.net/?view=entry&entry=684 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924071305/http://www.permanentrevolution.net/?view=entry&entry=684 |archive-date=24 September 2015 |website=permanentrevolution}}

Donaldson stated in Richard English's book, Armed Struggle: The History of the IRA, that because of a "deep sense of injustice that I felt had been perpetrated against my people and specifically against my family", he joined both the UDR and the UUP at the age of 18 to oppose the IRA both militarily and politically.English, Richard. (2003) Armed Struggle: The History of the IRA, Oxford University Press, USA, p.373

In 1998, Donaldson was in the UUP's negotiating team for the Good Friday Agreement.{{Cite journal |last=FitzGerald |first=Garret |date=2 September 1999 |title=What happened to Good Friday? |url=https://www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v21/n17/garret-fitzgerald/what-happened-to-good-friday |url-status=live |journal=London Review of Books |volume=21 |issue=17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090427103849/http://www.lrb.co.uk/v21/n17/fitz01_.html |archive-date=27 April 2009}} However, on the morning the day the agreement was concluded on 10 April 1998, Donaldson walked out of the delegation. He rejected some of the arrangements, notably the lack of a link between Sinn Féin's admittance to government and IRA decommissioning.{{Cite news |date=18 December 2003 |title=Donaldson's departure from party |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/3330877.stm |url-status=live |access-date=23 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040316135042/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/3330877.stm |archive-date=16 March 2004}} Privately Donaldson came close to meeting a senior republican leader and kept alive contacts with the republican movement through third parties.Sam McBride, [https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/politics/jeffrey-donaldson-had-secret-backchannel-to-sinn-fein-in-2001-which-could-have-devastated-his-political-career/a1695155811.html 'Jeffrey Donaldson had secret backchannel to Sinn Féin in 2001 which could have "devastated" his political career']. Belfast Telegraph, 24 March 2025. Retrieved 25 March 2025

Donaldson engineered several party council meetings in protest against David Trimble's policies. The council, however, backed Trimble's leadership, and on 23 June 2003, along with fellow MPs David Burnside and Martin Smyth, Donaldson resigned the Ulster Unionist whip at Westminster.{{Cite news |date=26 June 2003 |title=UUP rebels to face discipline |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/3021536.stm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140115064738/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/3021536.stm |archive-date=15 January 2014}} The MPs remained party members and in November 2003 Assembly election Donaldson was elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly for the UUP as an MLA for Lagan Valley.{{cite web |title=Candidates elected to The Northern Ireland Assembly|date=26 November 2003 |url=https://www.eoni.org.uk/getmedia/475d4cd1-e616-41f2-8884-075af0eec349/candidates-elected |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320180541/https://www.eoni.org.uk/getmedia/475d4cd1-e616-41f2-8884-075af0eec349/candidates-elected |archive-date=20 March 2021|website=Electoral Office for Northern Ireland}}

Following the success of the rival DUP in the same Assembly election of 2003, Donaldson reiterated his call for Trimble's immediate resignation,{{cite web |last=Kelly |first=Gary |date=2 December 2003 |title=Paisley pledges to play 'positive role' in North |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-10035286.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210623142352/https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-10035286.html |archive-date=23 June 2021 |location=Cork |newspaper=Irish Examiner}} but the party continued to back Trimble. On 18 December 2003 Donaldson, Norah Beare MLA and Arlene Foster announced their resignation from the UUP,{{Cite news |date=18 December 2003 |title=Donaldson resigns from UUP |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/3331805.stm |url-status=live |access-date=23 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031223204942/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/3331805.stm |archive-date=23 December 2003}} and on 5 January 2004 they announced that they had joined the DUP.{{Cite news |last=Tempest |first=Matthew |title=Ulster Unionist rebels defect to DUP |work=The Guardian |location=London |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2004/jan/05/northernireland.devolution |date=5 January 2004 |access-date=1 July 2021 |archive-date=28 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210628151252/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2004/jan/05/northernireland.devolution |url-status=live }}

Donaldson was returned to the House of Commons in the 2005 UK general election and, in 2007, he was appointed to the Privy Council of the United Kingdom, entitling him to the honorific style of The Right Honourable. At the March 2007 Northern Ireland Assembly election, he was re-elected as an MLA for Lagan Valley.{{cite web |title=NI Assembly Election 2007 – Results |url=https://www.eoni.org.uk/Elections/Election-results-and-statistics/Election-results-and-statistics-2003-onwards/Elections-2007/Results |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170401023235/https://www.eoni.org.uk/Elections/Election-results-and-statistics/Election-results-and-statistics-2003-onwards/Elections-2007/Results |archive-date=1 April 2017 |date=2007|website=Electoral Office for Northern Ireland}}

In July 2009, The Daily Telegraph reported that Donaldson had repaid £555 claimed for pay-to-view films in overnight hotel stays. In total, Donaldson submitted claim forms, including receipts, for 68 pay-to-view movies. The newspaper claimed "hotel sources confirmed that films he put on his expenses during 2004 and 2005 were in the highest price category offered to guests, covering the latest blockbusters and adult movies", although no evidence was offered and Donaldson issued an official statement denying watching any content of an adult or pornographic nature.{{Cite news |last1=Prince |first1=Rosa |last2=Allen |first2=Nick |last3=Hope |first3=Christopher |date=4 July 2009 |title=Telegraph: MPs' expenses: Jeffrey Donaldson repays £555 claimed for pay-to-view films in hotel |work=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/mps-expenses/5737233/MPs-expenses-Jeffrey-Donaldson-repays-555-claimed-for-pay-to-view-films-in-hotel.html |url-status=live |access-date=2 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180122021944/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/mps-expenses/5737233/MPs-expenses-Jeffrey-Donaldson-repays-555-claimed-for-pay-to-view-films-in-hotel.html |archive-date=22 January 2018}}

Donaldson was appointed to government by First Minister Peter Robinson, and held the position of Junior Minister in the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister from 2008 to 2009. Being also an MP, he lost his position due to the DUP's phasing out of "double jobbing".{{Cite news |last= |date=11 May 2019 |title=Ben Lowry: The double jobbing ban hasn't helped Northern Ireland politics, if anything it has made it worse |work=The News Letter |location=Belfast |url=https://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/politics/ben-lowry-double-jobbing-ban-hasnt-helped-northern-ireland-politics-if-anything-it-has-made-it-worse-975529 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210623102505/https://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/politics/ben-lowry-double-jobbing-ban-hasnt-helped-northern-ireland-politics-if-anything-it-has-made-it-worse-975529 |archive-date=23 June 2021}} Following his re-election to the House of Commons at the general election in May 2010, Donaldson stood down from the Northern Ireland Assembly on 10 June, and was replaced on 16 June by Paul Givan.{{Cite news |date=16 June 2010 |title=New DUP MLA attends assembly |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10331461 |url-status=live |access-date=23 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100916062922/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10331461 |archive-date=16 September 2010}}

He was a member of the Public Bill Committee for the Defence Reform Act 2014.{{cite web |date=2013 |title=House of Commons Public Bill Committee on the Defence Reform Bill 2013–14 |url=http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2013-14/defencereform/committees/houseofcommonspublicbillcommitteeonthedefencereformbill201314.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921055141/http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2013-14/defencereform/committees/houseofcommonspublicbillcommitteeonthedefencereformbill201314.html |archive-date=21 September 2013 |publisher=UK Parliament}}

File:Prime Minister's Questions, 7 February 2024 09.jpg, 7 February 2024]]

On 3 May 2021, exactly 100 years after Northern Ireland was effectively established,{{Cite news |last=Kearney |first=Vincent |date=3 May 2021 |title=Northern Ireland established 100 years ago today |work=RTÉ News |url=https://www.rte.ie/news/2021/0503/1213418-northern-ireland-100/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210505180739/https://www.rte.ie/news/2021/0503/1213418-northern-ireland-100/ |archive-date=5 May 2021}} Donaldson declared his candidacy for the leadership of the DUP to replace Arlene Foster.{{Cite news |last=Leebody |first=Christopher |date=3 May 2021 |title=Sir Jeffrey Donaldson 'enters race' to be DUP leader |work=Belfast Telegraph |url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/sir-jeffrey-donaldson-enters-race-to-be-dup-leader-40381258.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210505152937/https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/sir-jeffrey-donaldson-enters-race-to-be-dup-leader-40381258.html |archive-date=5 May 2021}} He lost the subsequent leadership election to Edwin Poots MLA, by 19 votes to 17.{{Cite news |last=Hogan |first=Laura |date=14 May 2021 |title=Edwin Poots to succeed Foster as new DUP leader |work=RTÉ News |url=https://www.rte.ie/news/2021/0513/1221492-dup-leadership-latest/ |url-status=live |access-date=23 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210516105015/https://www.rte.ie/news/2021/0513/1221492-dup-leadership-latest/ |archive-date=16 May 2021}}

Poots resigned after only 21 days as leader, having faced an internal revolt against his decision to proceed without delay to nominate Paul Givan as First Minister, after Sinn Féin had reached an agreement with the Westminster government about an Irish Language Act.{{Cite news |date=17 June 2021 |title=DUP leader Edwin Poots resigns amid internal party revolt |work=BBC News |language=en-GB |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-essex-57521158 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210618144210/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-57521158 |archive-date=18 June 2021 |accessdate=19 June 2021}} The Belfast Telegraph described the events as "one of the most tumultuous days in the DUP's 50-year history".{{Cite news |last=Hewitt |first=Ralph |date=17 June 2021 |title=Edwin Poots to step down as DUP leader just three weeks after taking the role |work=Belfast Telegraph |url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/edwin-poots-to-step-down-as-dup-leader-just-three-weeks-after-taking-the-role-40552186.html |url-status=live |access-date=18 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210623193655/https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/edwin-poots-to-step-down-as-dup-leader-just-three-weeks-after-taking-the-role-40552186.html |archive-date=23 June 2021}}

On 21 June, Donaldson declared his candidacy for the leadership of the DUP to replace Poots,{{Cite news |date=21 June 2021 |title=DUP leadership: Sir Jeffrey Donaldson confirms bid for top job |work=BBC News |language=en-GB |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-57547591 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210623134532/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-57547591 |archive-date=23 June 2021 |accessdate=21 June 2021}} pledging to make the Northern Ireland Protocol his main priority.{{Cite news |last=Hutton |first=Brian |date=21 June 2021 |title=Jeffrey Donaldson confirms he is to run for leadership of DUP |newspaper=The Irish Times |issn=0791-5144 |location=Dublin |language=en-ie |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/jeffrey-donaldson-confirms-he-is-to-run-for-leadership-of-dup-1.4599514 |url-status=live |access-date=21 June 2021 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210623202232/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/jeffrey-donaldson-confirms-he-is-to-run-for-leadership-of-dup-1.4599514 |archive-date=23 June 2021}} He was the sole candidate.{{Cite news |last=Andrews |first=Chris |date=22 June 2021 |title=DUP leadership: Sir Jeffrey Donaldson is only candidate |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-57560163 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210623134135/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-57560163 |archive-date=23 June 2021 |accessdate=22 June 2021}}{{Cite news |last=McCambridge |first=Jonathan |date=22 June 2021 |title=Sir Jeffrey Donaldson to become next leader of the DUP |work=Belfast Telegraph |agency=Press Association |url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/sir-jeffrey-donaldson-to-become-next-leader-of-the-dup-40567078.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210623134017/https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/sir-jeffrey-donaldson-to-become-next-leader-of-the-dup-40567078.html |archive-date=23 June 2021 |accessdate=22 June 2021}} The party's electoral college endorsed him as leader-designate and he was confirmed in the post by the party's ruling executive on 30 June.

In July 2021, Donaldson said in a UTV interview that he intended to resign his seat as a Westminster MP and become Northern Ireland First Minister before the 2022 Northern Ireland Assembly election, but also said that he did not yet know precisely how he would bring that about.{{cite news |url=https://www.irishnews.com/news/northernirelandnews/2021/07/06/news/paul-givan-expected-expected-stay-on-as-first-minister-until-later-this-year--2377681/ |title=Paul Givan to stay on as first minister 'until later this year' |date=6 July 2021 |newspaper=The Irish News |location=Belfast |access-date=10 July 2021|quote=Paul Givan is set to remain as First Minister for the summer when Sir Jeffrey Donaldson announces changes later within his party at the Stormont Assembly. Sir Jeffrey intends to stand down from his Westminster seat in Lagan Valley and take a place at Stormont. In a UTV interview on Monday evening, he said he hoped to do so "later this year" and take up the position of first minister before the next assembly election. However, he said he did not know yet exactly how he would make this happen.|archive-date=6 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210706065516/https://www.irishnews.com/news/northernirelandnews/2021/07/06/news/paul-givan-expected-expected-stay-on-as-first-minister-until-later-this-year--2377681/ |url-status=live}}

In August 2021, UK Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, appointed Donaldson as the UK's trade envoy to Cameroon, in addition to his role as the trade envoy to Egypt.{{cite press release |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/pm-announces-new-trade-envoys-to-boost-british-business-around-the-world |title=PM announces new Trade Envoys to boost British business around the world |website=GOV.UK|date=23 August 2021 |access-date=23 August 2021 |archive-date=23 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210823071605/https://www.gov.uk/government/news/pm-announces-new-trade-envoys-to-boost-british-business-around-the-world|url-status=live}}

It was announced on 24 August 2021, that Donaldson was planning to stand as a candidate for Lagan Valley in the Assembly election the following year if he was not co-opted to a vacant seat in the time leading up to the election.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-58316753|title=Sir Jeffrey Donaldson to run for Lagan Valley MLA seat |date=24 August 2021 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB |access-date=8 September 2021|archive-date=8 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210908121244/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-58316753|url-status=live}} Plans were drawn up to temporarily re-allow "double jobbing", which would have allowed Donaldson to be in the Assembly and remain an MP. However, these plans were dropped, so, if Donaldson were to become a member of the Assembly, he would cease to be an MP, triggering a by-election.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-60050164 |title=Double jobbing: Plan to bring back dual mandate withdrawn, PM says |date=19 January 2022 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB |access-date=4 February 2022 |archive-date=27 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220127100327/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-60050164 |url-status=live }} Donaldson was elected to the Assembly in the May 2022 election, but declined to take up his seat, with the party instead co-opting Emma Little-Pengelly. Donaldson said he would not take up his Assembly seat until the situation over the Northern Ireland Protocol was resolved.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-61399657 |title=Little-Pengelly to take Donaldson's assembly seat |date=20 April 2020 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB |access-date=15 May 2022 |archive-date=12 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220512171026/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-61399657 |url-status=live }}

On 29 March 2024, Donaldson resigned as DUP leader after being charged with rape and other historical sexual allegations, which he said he would "strenuously contest".{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/jeffrey-donaldson-resigns-as-dup-leader-after-being-charged-with-historical-allegations/a799404796.html|title=Jeffrey Donaldson resigns as DUP leader after being charged with 'historical allegations'|publisher=Irish Independent|date=29 March 2024 |url-access=registration}} Due to the ongoing case, John McBurney, Donaldson's solicitor, confirmed in May 2024 that Donaldson would not be contesting the July 2024 general election.{{cite news|title = Jeffrey Donaldson will not contest next election but set to continue as MP for now|url = https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/politics/jeffrey-donaldson-will-not-contest-next-election-but-set-to-continue-as-mp-for-now/a351667796.html|work = Belfast Telegraph|date = 22 May 2024|access-date = 17 December 2024}}{{cite web|title = Vincent Kearney on X|url = https://x.com/vincekearney/status/1793228337558532225|website = X|date = 22 May 2024|access-date = 17 December 2024|quote = 1/2 Solicitor for former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson confirms he will not seek re-election as MP for Lagan Valley, but not resigning with immediate effect. John McBurney told @rtenews - “I can indicate that it is not Jeffrey's intention of course to stand for re-election…}}

Donaldson opposed the Good Friday Agreement.{{cite web |last=Tonge |first=Jonathan |date=11 May 2021 |title=DUP leadership election Q&A: all you need to know as Edwin Poots and Jeffrey Donaldson |url=https://theconversation.com/dup-leadership-election-qanda-all-you-need-to-know-as-edwin-poots-and-jeffrey-donaldson-160670 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210601162350/https://theconversation.com/dup-leadership-election-qanda-all-you-need-to-know-about-edwin-poots-and-jeffrey-donaldson-160670 |archive-date=1 June 2021 |website=The Conversation |language=en}} He supported Brexit, but called for the Northern Ireland Protocol agreement between the UK and the EU in December 2020, which establishes a customs and regulatory border in the Irish Sea separating Northern Ireland from Great Britain, to be reformed or revoked.{{Cite news |last=Madden |first=Andrew |date=13 January 2021 |title=Brexit: DUP's Donaldson accuses UK Government of failing to consider impact of Northern Ireland protocol |work=Belfast Telegraph |url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/brexit/brexit-dups-donaldson-accuses-uk-government-of-failing-to-consider-impact-of-ni-protocol-39963614.html |url-status=live |access-date=14 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210127233231/https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/brexit/brexit-dups-donaldson-accuses-uk-government-of-failing-to-consider-impact-of-ni-protocol-39963614.html |archive-date=27 January 2021}} Despite his earlier rejection of the Good Friday Agreement, he stated in January 2021 that the Protocol "actually undermines the Good Friday agreement".{{Cite news |last=McCambridge |first=Jonathan |date=14 January 2021 |title=Sir Jeffrey Donaldson: Post Brexit trade disruption breaches the Good Friday Agreement |language=en |work=The News Letter |location=Belfast |url=https://www.newsletter.co.uk/business/sir-jeffrey-donaldson-post-brexit-trade-disruption-breaches-good-friday-agreement-3100172 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210121010933/https://www.newsletter.co.uk/business/sir-jeffrey-donaldson-post-brexit-trade-disruption-breaches-good-friday-agreement-3100172 |archive-date=21 January 2021}}

In 2009, Donaldson was accused of making anti-Catholic comments. Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) deputy leader Alasdair McDonnell demanded an apology from Donaldson and a retraction of his claim that Catholics owed allegiance in the first instance to the Pope and the Holy See.{{Cite news |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/world/2009/0328/1224243618836.html |date=28 March 2009 |title=DUP conflict of interest claim over fealty to pope angers SDLP |last=Keenan |first=Dan |newspaper=The Irish Times |issn=0791-5144 |location=Dublin |language=en-ie |access-date=1 July 2021 |archive-date=18 November 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111118182943/http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/world/2009/0328/1224243618836.html |url-status=live }}

In March 2019, Donaldson was one of 21 MPs who voted against LGBT-inclusive sex and relationship education in English schools.{{Cite news |date=28 March 2019 |title=MPs vote for LGBT inclusive sex and relationship education from primary school |work=i (newspaper) |url=https://inews.co.uk/news/education/lgbt-sex-relationship-education-mps-support/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190330104814/https://inews.co.uk/news/education/lgbt-sex-relationship-education-mps-support/ |archive-date=30 March 2019}}{{cite web |date=27 March 2019 |title=Draft Relationships Education, Relationships and Sex Education and Health Education (England) Regulations 2019 |url=https://commonsvotes.digiminster.com/Divisions/Details/650#noes |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190329025226/https://commonsvotes.digiminster.com/Divisions/Details/650#noes |archive-date=29 March 2019 |website=CommonsVotes}} He opposes same-sex marriage in Northern Ireland, legalised by the British Government in December 2019.

On 26 June 1987, Donaldson married Eleanor Cousins, with whom he has two daughters.{{Cite news |date=13 August 2016|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/life/features/band-of-brothers-who-are-the-best-of-friends/34957723.html|title=Band of brothers who are the best of friends|newspaper=Belfast Telegraph}}{{Cite journal |year=2007 |title=Donaldson, Rt Hon. Sir Jeffrey (Mark), (born 7 Dec. 1962), PC 2007; MP Lagan Valley, since 1997 (UU, 1997–2003, DUP, since 2004) |journal=Who's Who |doi=10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.U13906}}

He is a member of the mainstream Presbyterian Church in Ireland.

Speaking of his national identity, Donaldson says that he is "Irish and British, Northern Irish and British, and British." He noted that he was a member of the Irish Presbyterian church, which is organised on an all-Ireland basis. He described his national identity as geographically Irish, but also as being "part of a wider group of nations that is British". He believes that there is no contradiction in identifying as Irish, Northern Irish and British.

On 28 March 2024, Donaldson was arrested by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) and charged with rape and a number of other sexual offences.{{cite web |last1=McClafferty |first1=Enda |last2=O'Neill |first2=Julian |date=29 March 2024 |title=DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson resigns after rape charge |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-68686691 |access-date=29 March 2024 |website=BBC News}} His wife also faced aiding-and-abetting charges related to the same matter.{{cite news| last1=Barnes | first1=Ciaran| last2=Toner | first2=John | title=Jeffrey Donaldson's wife to face court on charge linked to his sex crimes case | newspaper=Belfast Telegraph| date=31 March 2024 | url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sunday-life/news/jeffrey-donaldsons-wife-to-face-court-on-charge-linked-to-his-sex-crimes-case/a1327826539.html|url-access=subscription}} The following day he stood down as leader of the DUP. The Orange Order{{cite news |last1=Rutherford |first1=Adrian |last2=Hewitt |first2=Ralph |last3=Leebody |first3=Christopher |title=Jeffrey Donaldson resigns as DUP leader and suspended by Orange Order after historical sex offence charges |url=https://m.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/courts/jeffrey-donaldson-resigns-as-dup-leader-and-suspended-by-orange-order-after-historical-sex-offence-charges/a645718063.html |access-date=29 March 2024 |work=Belfast Telegraph |date=29 March 2024}} and the DUP suspended his memberships in March 2024 pending the outcome of the judicial process, as required by their rules. Donaldson said that he would contest the charges.

As Donaldson and his wife are co-defendants they were initially bailed to separate properties, and thus she returned to their marital home in Dromore while he flew to London to reside in a flat in Greenwich.{{Cite news |title=Jeffrey Donaldson's wife Eleanor charged with aiding and abetting|newspaper=Irish Independent |date=31 March 2024 |url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/jeffrey-donaldsons-wife-eleanor-charged-with-aiding-and-abetting/a618758664.html}} In response to what it deemed "unhelpful speculation" by some members of the public and media outlets (in regards to his legal issues being used to influence his decision to restore the Executive in January 2024), the PSNI released a statement clarifying that they first received a complaint that resulted in Donaldson's arrest in early March 2024.{{Cite news |title=Jeffrey Donaldson: Police received complaint leading to ex-DUP leader being charged with sexual offences in early March|newspaper=Sky News |date=31 March 2024 |url=https://news.sky.com/story/jeffrey-donaldson-police-received-complaint-leading-to-ex-dup-leader-being-charged-with-sexual-offences-in-early-march-13105528}} On 7 April 2024, the Irish Independent newspaper reported that allegations had been made to police as early as January 2024.{{Cite web |date=7 April 2024 |title=The 11 sex crime charges levelled against Jeffrey Donaldson revealed for first time |url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/the-11-sex-crime-charges-levelled-against-jeffrey-donaldson-revealed-for-first-time/a1382511653.html |website=www.independent.ie}}

Donaldson is charged with 11 offences relating to two complainants. They are: one count of rape allegedly committed between 1985 and 1991, one count of gross indecency towards a child allegedly committed in 2005 or 2006, and nine counts of indecent assault against a female, allegedly committed between 1985 and 2006.{{Cite web |date=24 April 2024 |title=Details emerge on charge sheets |url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/courts/jeffrey-donaldson-more-details-emerge-on-court-documents-as-sex-charges-span-more-than-20-years/a1272535582.html |access-date=24 April 2024 |website=Belfast Telegraph}}{{Cite web |last1=Beattie |first1=Jilly |last2=Corr |first2=Shauna |date=24 April 2024 |title=What are the charges Jeffrey Donaldson is facing? Ex-DUP leader to appear in court in Newry |url=https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/jeffrey-donaldson-charges-court-latest-29049455 |access-date=24 April 2024 |website=Belfast Live}} His wife Eleanor is charged with two counts of cruelty to a person under 16 years old, one count of aiding and abetting rape, and one count of aiding and abetting indecent assault on a female. Her charges also relate to two complainants and are alleged to have occurred between 1985 and 2004.

On 24 April 2024, Donaldson and his wife appeared before Newry Magistrates' Court to confirm that they understood the charges against them. They were given bail of £350 each and the no-contact was lifted.{{Cite web |last1=Beattie |first1=Jilly |last2=Corr |first2=Shauna |last3=Breen |first3=Nadia |date=24 April 2024 |title=Jeffrey Donaldson court appearance as it happened as ex-DUP leader bailed over historical sex charges|url=https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/jeffrey-donaldson-court-appearance-live-29044699 |access-date=24 April 2024 |website=Belfast Live}}

On 3 July 2024, Donaldson and his wife again appeared before Newry Magistrates' Court, where prosecution lawyers asserted that there was a prima facie case to answer and both defendants had failed to offer any contrary submissions. Donaldson and his wife then confirmed they understood the charges against them and both declined to make any verbal or written statements in relation to the charges. The court heard that Jeffrey Donaldson was now accused of 18 charges in total (increased from 11 charges): one charge of rape, four of gross indecency and 13 charges of indecent assault. His wife's charges were also increased from four to five, specifically that she aided and abetted her husband in connection with the allegations he faced. Both defendants were then released on continuing bail to be arraigned on 10 September 2024 at Newry Crown Court.{{Cite news |date=3 July 2024|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/politics/jeffrey-donaldson-to-return-to-court-in-autumn-to-answer-historical-sex-offence-charges/a1414662357.html|title=Jeffrey Donaldson to return to court in autumn to answer historical sex offence charges|newspaper=Belfast Telegraph}}{{Cite news |date=3 July 2024|url=https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2024/0703/1457886-jeffrey-donaldson-court/|title=Jeffrey Donaldson sent for trial on sex offence charges|newspaper=RTE News}}

On 10 September 2024, Donaldson and his wife both entered not guilty pleas to all charges during an arraignment hearing at Newry Crown Court.{{Cite news |date=10 September 2024|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/courts/jeffrey-donaldson-pleads-not-guilty-to-sex-offence-charges/a2035603309.html|title=Jeffrey Donaldson pleads not guilty to sex offence charges|newspaper=Belfast Telegraph}} Their joint trial was set for 24 March 2025 and is expected to last for two weeks.{{Cite news |date=10 September 2024|url=https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2024/0910/1469284-jeffrey-donaldson/|title=Jeffrey Donaldson pleads not guilty to 18 sex offences|newspaper=RTE News}} On 21 February 2025, Eleanor Donaldson applied to have two charges against her, one of aiding and abetting her husband along with a separate charge of child neglect, withdrawn during an in camera no-bill application hearing at Newry Crown Court. After a video recording of the Achieving Best Evidence police interview with one of the complainants was played to the court, legal arguments from the Prosecution and Defense teams were submitted to Judge Paul Ramsey.{{Cite news |date=21 February 2025|title=Jeffrey Donaldson listens in silence as footage is played of a police interview with complainant in sex case|url=https://www.irishnews.com/news/northern-ireland/jeffrey-donaldson-listens-in-silence-as-footage-is-played-of-a-police-interview-with-complainant-in-sex-case-FAQ2A7Z33JADTOPO3OYUCZ5JQ4/|newspaper=Irish News|language=en|archive-date=21 February 2025 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250221172136/https://www.irishnews.com/news/northern-ireland/jeffrey-donaldson-listens-in-silence-as-footage-is-played-of-a-police-interview-with-complainant-in-sex-case-FAQ2A7Z33JADTOPO3OYUCZ5JQ4/|url-status=live }} However, on 28 February 2025 Judge Ramsey rejected the application and ruled that Eleanor Donaldson would face trial on all five charges. In light of the ruling, Mrs Donaldson's legal team, led by Ian Turkington KC, informed the court that she would be pleading not guilty to the two charges.{{Cite news |date=28 February 2025|title=Eleanor Donaldson's bid to have two charges withdrawn in historical sex offences case rejected|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/eleanor-donaldsons-bid-to-have-two-charges-withdrawn-in-historical-sex-offences-case-rejected/a1086382241.html|newspaper=Belfast Telegraph|language=en }}

On 14 March 2025, it was announced that Eleanor Donaldson was unfit to stand trial due to a medical issue and Judge Paul Ramsey granted an adjournment application, with a review to be held on 16 May 2025 regarding a new scheduled start date for the Donaldsons' joint trial.{{Cite news |date=14 March 2025|title=Trial of Jeffrey Donaldson and wife delayed due to illness|url=https://www.rte.ie/news/courts/2025/0314/1502120-jeffrey-donaldson-trial/|newspaper=RTE News|language=en }}

Donaldson was sworn in as a member of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom in 2007. That entitles him to the honorific style "The Right Honourable" for life.

In the 2016 Birthday Honours, he was appointed Knight Bachelor for political service.{{London Gazette |issue=61608 |date=11 June 2016 |page=B2 |supp=y}}

{{reflist}}

• {{UK MP links |parliament=sir-jeffrey-m.-donaldson/650 |hansardcurr=2989 |hansard=mr-jeffrey-donaldson |publicwhip=Jeffrey_M._Donaldson |theywork=10172}}
• [https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm199798/cmhansrd/vo970520/debtext/70520-23.htm Maiden Speech: House of Commons – 20 May 1997]
• [https://www.c-span.org/person/?51659/JeffreyDonaldson Appearances] on C-SPAN (As UUP member)
• [https://www.c-span.org/person/?1000793/JeffreyDonaldson Appearances] on C-SPAN (As DUP member)

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Category:1962 births

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