No assurances Paul Givan will be First Minister next week, DUP's Donaldson warns

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The leader of the DUP says he cannot give assurances that Paul Givan will still be First Minister next week.

Sir Jeffrey Donaldson's comments come after a meeting with the Prime Minister over the Northern Ireland protocol.

He also warned that if the government fails to take action then he will.

Sinn Fein called on their partners in government to end their "reckless and irresponsible" threats.

Speaking to UTV's Political Editor Tracey Magee in Downing Street, Sir Jeffrey Donaldson said: "We made clear to the Prime Minister that really we need to see action by the Government to address and resolve these issues.

"My party has some big decisions to make. I made it clear that January was an important month. I was absolutely clear on that.

Sir Jeffrey's comments come amidst ongoing talks between the UK and the EU, with the middle of February being suggested as a potential deadline.

Asked about whether Mr Givan will still be First Minister amidst the lack of agreement between the two sides, Sir Jeffrey said:

"No I can't give that assurance because that depends on what others will do but we are very clear.

"This week we are taking steps in relation to the checks that we believe are unacceptable that are taking place at Northern Ireland ports," he said.

"The Executive will meet to make a decision on those checks and in the absence of that decision we will take appropriate action.

"But secondly, I also am clear that if the government are not prepared to move, if there is not agreement between the UK and EU on removing barriers to trade within the United Kingdom, and if the Government is not prepared to trigger Article 16 in the absence of such agreement, then we will take the action that we said that we would take.

Asked when border checks will be halted, Sir Jeffrey said that would depend on what happens on Thursday at the Executive meeting.

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Sinn Fein North Belfast MP John Finucane said the DUP's threat to pull down the institutions "clearly shows that the DUP do not care about the interests of ordinary workers and families".

“To threaten instability at a time when the health service and the Executive continues to deal with the challenges of the pandemic is reckless and irresponsible.

“People are struggling with a cost-of-living crisis and soaring energy prices and are looking to the Executive to continue providing support to put money back in their pockets.

“And the Executive is working on a three-year budget which will make health and tackling hospital waiting lists its number one priority.

“Pulling Ministers out of government will be an abdication of responsibility, a glaring lack of leadership and a reactionary response to a Brexit mess that the DUP championed and helped deliver in the first place. “The DUP should end the sabre-rattling and these threats now. “People want strong, stable leadership and they want solutions in the ongoing talks between the EU and the British government.”

Speaking on View From Stormont last week, the Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots confirmed he would be bringing a paper on the implementation of post-Brexit checks here.

In the House of Commons on the subject of the Protocol, Conservative former Northern Ireland secretary Theresa Villiers urged the Government to replace the Northern Ireland Protocol in its entirety, "not just a few amendments".

She told the House of Commons: "The Northern Protocol is clearly causing political instability. Will the Secretary of State agree that it needs replacing, not just a few amendments?"

Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis said Ms Villiers "makes an important point", adding: "The protocol is not working and, clearly, the feedback we get from businesses across Northern Ireland is that it is not sustainable in its current form and needs to be dealt with, it needs to be fixed, and that's what the Foreign Secretary and I are working together on to ensure we can do, and do well, for the people in Northern Ireland."

Conservative MP Peter Bone (Wellingborough) later made a similar call, saying: "The Secretary of State says the Northern Ireland Protocol isn't working and he is right. Why don't we scrap it?"