Arlene Foster RESIGNS as DUP leader

Arlene Foster RESIGNS as DUP leader and will step down as First Minister of Northern Ireland at the end of June after internal party revolt over her handling of Brexit

  • Arlene Foster this afternoon announced she is resigning as leader of the DUP 
  • Quitting as leader on May 28 and stepping down as First Minister at end of June
  • Comes after a DUP revolt at Mrs Foster’s leadership over her handling of Brexit 

Arlene Foster has announced she is resigning as DUP leader and First Minister of Northern Ireland after an internal party revolt over her handling of Brexit. 

Mrs Foster said in a statement published this afternoon that she intends to step down as DUP leader on May 28 and will then quit as First Minister at the end of June. 

She said: ‘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.’ 

Mrs Foster said it has been the ‘privilege of my life to serve the people of Northern Ireland as their First Minister’.    

Arlene Foster, pictured yesterday during a visit to a youth centre in Belfast, is on the brink of being forced out as DUP leader amid a growing backlash at her handling of Brexit