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Belfast Live
Belfast Live
National
Brendan Hughes

East Belfast MP Gavin Robinson elected as DUP deputy leader

Gavin Robinson has been elected deputy leader of the DUP.

The East Belfast MP defeated Ulster Bann MLA Jonathan Buckley in the vote of party MPs and MLAs.

DUP chairman Lord Morrow announced the outcome, but the number of votes each received has not been disclosed.

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Mr Robinson, who succeeds Paula Bradley in the role, said: "I am honoured that I have been elected to serve as deputy leader.

"I look forward to continuing to work with colleagues at every level within the party as we seek to deliver on our election commitments.

"A new generation of unionists are stepping forward to serve at every level within our party and in service to Northern Ireland.

“We all share the desire to play our part to help shape Northern Ireland into an even better place to live and work."

Lord Morrow said both candidates did not want the votes they each received to be revealed.

He said: "Both candidates have said that they do not wish to have the number of votes cast for each candidate made public.

"We're going to honour that, so that's the way it is, at their wish, and that's the way it's staying."

Mr Robinson, 38, has been MP for East Belfast since 2015. He was previously a Belfast councillor and in 2012-13 was the city's lord mayor.

He would be viewed as a close ally of current leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, while Mr Buckley was chief of staff for Sir Jeffrey’s predecessor Edwin Poots, who lasted only three weeks in post before being ousted in an internal revolt.

Sir Jeffrey was also re-elected as party leader in the vote on Friday.

He said: "It has been an honour to serve as not only the DUP’s leader but also the leader of unionism.

"I thank colleagues for their renewal of my mandate to serve."

On Thursday, Sir Jeffrey denied the deputy leadership contest was evidence that the party remains divided two years on from the leadership turmoil of 2021.

He said: "I don't detect any sense that this is about splits or divisions. And it is not unusual in a political party to have competition for posts such as this and it demonstrates that the DUP is in healthy shape."

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