DUP threat to collapse Stormont over NI Protocol on hold for a few more ‘weeks’

DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson it would be “churlish” to pull down Stormont at this point. Picture: PA

The DUP will hold back on its threat to collapse Stormont over the Northern Ireland Protocol for a few more weeks to enable negotiations between the UK and EU to continue, Jeffrey Donaldson has said.

The party leader has faced questions at to why he has not followed through on his ultimatum to withdraw ministers from Stormont at the start of November – thus collapsing powersharing – if major changes to the contentious Irish Sea trading arrangements had not been secured by that date.