2025 Democratic Unionist Party deputy leadership election
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| This article is part of a series within the Politics of the United Kingdom on the |
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The 2025 Democratic Unionist Party deputy leadership election was held on 7 March 2025 to fill the Deputy Leader position within the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) which had been vacant since May 2024. Strangford MLA Michelle McIlveen was elected unopposed.[1]
Background
Belfast East MP Gavin Robinson was elected Deputy Leader of the DUP on 9 June 2023, defeating Upper Bann MLA Jonathan Buckley.[2] Robinson became interim Leader of the Democratic Unionist Party following the resignation of Jeffrey Donaldson after being charged with historical sexual offences on 29 March 2024.[3] In May 2024, Robinson was ratified as the party's permanent leader, vacating the deputy leadership.[4]
Procedure
Nominations closed on 3 March 2025 and the election took place by secret ballot on 7 March 2025. The party's Members of Parliament (MPs) and Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) were able to vote.[5]
Candidates
Declared
| Candidate | Born | Political office | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21 January 1971 | MLA for Strangford (since 2007) | McIlveen, a former Minister for Education and party veteran, could be a compromise candidate whom both wings of the party could agree on. She is seen as a “safe pair of hands” who would also ensure a gender balance in the leadership.[6] |
Declined
| Candidate | Born | Political office | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19 July 1991 | MLA for Upper Bann (since 2017) | Buckley represents the more traditional wing of the party.[7] | |
| 31 December 1979 | deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland (since 2024) MLA for Lagan Valley (since 2022) |
Polling has found Little-Pengelly to be the most popular minister in the Executive.[8][9] |
Results
DUP Chairman Lord Morrow announced that McIlveen was the only candidate nominated on 7 March 2025.[10]
| 2025 Democratic Unionist Party deputy leadership election | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Nominated by | |
| Michelle McIlveen | Gavin Robinson | |
References
- ^ "Michelle McIlveen on course to become DUP's new deputy leader". 2025-03-05. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2025-03-06.
- ^ "DUP: Gavin Robinson elected as DUP deputy leader". BBC News. 2023-06-09. Retrieved 2025-02-28.
- ^ "DUP: Gavin Robinson appointed interim leader by party officers". BBC News. 2024-03-29. Retrieved 2025-02-28.
- ^ "DUP stand aside in Fermanagh and South Tyrone". BBC News. 2024-05-29. Retrieved 2025-02-28.
- ^ "Revealed: Three in running to be deputy leader of DUP". 2025-02-28. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2025-02-28.
- ^ "Revealed: Three in running to be deputy leader of DUP". 2025-02-28. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2025-03-03.
- ^ "Revealed: Three in running to be deputy leader of DUP". 2025-02-28. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2025-03-03.
- ^ "Revealed: Three in running to be deputy leader of DUP". 2025-02-28. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2025-03-03.
- ^ "Emma Little-Pengelly confirms she did not put name forward for DUP deputy leadership". BelfastTelegraph.co.uk. 2025-03-07. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2025-03-07.
- ^ "Statement from DUP Chairman Lord Morrow". DUP. Retrieved 2025-03-07.