Jeffrey Donaldson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jeffrey Donaldson
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Donaldson in 2017
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| Leader of the Democratic Unionist Party | |
| Assumed office 30 June 2021 |
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| Deputy | Paula Bradley |
| Preceded by | Edwin Poots |
| Leader of the Democratic Unionist Party in the House of Commons | |
| Assumed office 17 December 2019 |
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| Leader | Arlene Foster Edwin Poots Himself |
| Preceded by | Nigel Dodds |
| Democratic Unionist Party Chief Whip in the House of Commons | |
| In office 8 May 2015 – 17 December 2019 |
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| Leader | Nigel Dodds |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Succeeded by | Sammy Wilson |
| Junior Minister at the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister | |
| In office 26 February 2008 – July 2009 Serving with Gerry Kelly |
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| Preceded by | Ian Paisley Jr |
| Succeeded by | Robin Newton |
| Member of the Legislative Assembly for Lagan Valley |
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| In office 26 November 2003 – June 2010 |
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| Preceded by | Patrick Roche |
| Succeeded by | Paul Givan |
| Member of Parliament for Lagan Valley |
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| Assumed office 1 May 1997 |
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| Preceded by | Sir James Molyneaux |
| Majority | 6,499 (14.3%) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 7 December 1962 Kilkeel, Northern Ireland |
| Nationality | British |
| Political party | Democratic Unionist Party (since 2004) |
| Other political affiliations |
Ulster Unionist Party (until 2003) |
| Spouse(s) |
Eleanor Cousins (m. 1987)
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| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | Castlereagh College |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Branch/service |  United Kingdom Army |
| Rank | Corporal |
| Unit | Ulster Defence Regiment |
Sir Jeffrey Mark Donaldson (born 7 December 1962) is a Northern Ireland Unionist politician who has served as leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) since June 2021. He has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for Lagan Valley since 1997, and leader of the DUP in the UK House of Commons since 2019. He is Northern Ireland's longest-serving current MP.
Donaldson is a member of the Orange Order and served in the Ulster Defence Regiment during the Troubles. He was also the campaign manager for the UUP MP Enoch Powell's successful re-election campaigns in 1983 and 1986. He was the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) candidate for Lagan Valley at the 1997 general election, and was elected as an MP to the House of Commons. He simultaneously represented the same constituency as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) in the Northern Ireland Assembly from 2003 to 2010. Donaldson is known for his opposition to UUP leader David Trimble's support of the Good Friday Agreement during the Northern Ireland peace process, especially from 1998 to 2003. In 2003, Donaldson resigned from the UUP, becoming a member of the DUP in the following year.
He served in the Northern Ireland Executive from 2008 to 2009 as a Junior Minister for First Minister Peter Robinson. After Nigel Dodds lost his seat at the 2019 general election, Donaldson became the DUP Westminster leader. He was a candidate in the May 2021 Democratic Unionist Party leadership election, losing to Edwin Poots. After Poots resigned the following month, Donaldson was elected unopposed to succeed Poots in the June DUP leadership election; he was confirmed in the post by the party's ruling executive on 30 June.
