Who is Jeffrey Donaldson? Unionist stalwart, ex-British Army soldier and devout Protestant

In the same year, The Daily Telegraph revealed that Sir Jeffrey had repaid £555 in parliamentary expenses which he had spent on pay-to-view films during overnight hotel stays.

In total, he submitted receipts for 86 films, with hotel sources saying that the films he claimed for during 2004 and 2005 were in the highest price category, which would have included the latest blockbusters as well as adult movies.

Sir Jeffrey denied watching any adult or pornographic content.

During his time as an MP Sir Jeffrey was one of 21 MPs to vote against LGBT-inclusive sex and relationship education in English schools. He also opposes same-sex marriage in Northern Ireland.

In 2019 he succeeded Nigel Dodds as leader of the DUP in Westminster. Two years later, he lost to Edwin Poots in the contest to succeed Lady Foster as leader of the national party – but when Poots resigned the following month, Sir Jeffrey was elected unopposed.

The intervening years have been turbulent for the party.

Collapsing power-sharing

In 2022, Sir Jeffrey collapsed the Stormont power-sharing institutions in protest at post-Brexit trading arrangements, which the DUP argued amounted to placing a border in the Irish Sea.

However, after protracted negotiations, the party agreed to return to Stormont in February, following the agreement of a new deal on trade arrangements and a series of measures aimed at providing assurances around Northern Ireland’s constitutional position within the United Kingdom.

Sir Jeffrey lives with his wife Eleanor, with whom he has two children. The couple are renowned Formula One fans and live in a rural house close to where Sir Jeffrey grew up.

His study, which boasts a view of the Mourne Mountains, is littered with political mementos such as a photograph of him taking part in his first Prime Minister’s Questions and a bound copy of his maiden speech. 

He also has on display a small New Testament which belonged to a First World War soldier from Lisburn.

“I am chairman of the WW1 Centenary Committee in Northern Ireland so one day a constituent came to my office and asked if I would like to have it,” he told an interviewer.

“They knew of my interest in WW1 and also the importance I place on faith.”