The DUP had begun to hope that the deal to restore the assembly a few weeks ago had bedded in well enough to secure it from serious political/electoral threat. That is no longer the case.

Jeffrey Donaldson – who had taken possession of it and then pushed it through the governing parts of the party – is no longer leader. Gavin Robinson has replaced him as an interim, but there may well be a leadership contest.

That provides his internal critics with an unexpected moment: a moment in which they might replace him with one of their own.

As the outworkings of the deal, particularly the parts to do with securing, safeguarding and strengthening the union appear to be less robust than first suggested, there are MLAs and party members who worry that the new TUV/Reform UK pact could hurt the party.

‘My generation has been completely failed by our LLW education’ says Youth MP Lauren Bond as survey finds teaching on consent is inadequate

Alex Kane: Shock Donaldson news leaves DUP facing big, unexpected problems

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