The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) —Northern Ireland's main unionist party — has endorsed a deal to restore power sharing, its leader has said. Sir Jeffrey Donaldson said it provided a basis for Stormont's return, subject to laws being passed in parliament, and final agreement on a timetable. He said it was not perfect but was a "good outcome" for Northern Ireland. Monday night's private DUP meeting was leaked online via a recording device, BBC News NI understands. The "senior" DUP executive member behind the leak was wearing a wire, which relayed the party leader's speech to loyalist activist Jamie Bryson. Bryson then posted what Sir Jeffrey Donaldson said on X, formally Twitter. The DUP has boycotted government at Stormont for nearly two years. "Will we continue to fight for further change? Absolutely yes, we will," Sir Jeffrey told the BBC's Good Morning Ulster program. "I think when the detail emerges people will be able to see for themselves just how much progress we have made." The government is expected to publish the deal in full on Wednesday, and pass the legislation in Parliament on Thursday. This could then lead to a recall of the Northern Ireland Assembly by Friday, or even Saturday. The first order of business in the assembly chamber would be to elect a new speaker — this must happen before any other business can be conducted. Sir Jeffrey faced criticism from some in the party, who spoke against the deal at a private meeting of the DUP's executive, which lasted more than five hours. But he said the vote had been "decisive" and that he had been mandated to operate on that. "Are these proposals perfect? Have we achieved everything that we wanted to achieve? No, we haven't. I will be honest with people about what we have been able to deliver." However, he added: "I believe that what we've been able to achieve delivers a good outcome for Northern Ireland because there have been wins to strengthen the union." The DUP collapsed the Northern Ireland Assembly nearly two years ago in protest against post-Brexit trade arrangements. The party has been in talks with the UK government to change the arrangements agreed in the UK-EU Windsor Framework deal. Sir Jeffrey said the legislation agreed with Westminster would "remove checks on goods moving within the UK and remaining in Northern Ireland, and end Northern Ireland blindly following EU laws". He added: "There will be legislation protecting the Acts of Union, which guarantees unfettered access for Northern Ireland business to the rest of the UK." Regardless of who forms the next UK government, these measures will be taken as "legislative commitments", he said. Monday night's meeting was plagued with security issues. Despite the remote venue being kept secret, senior DUP members were confronted by protesters holding placards calling them "sell-outs". The DUP leader said there would be an investigation into how parts of the meeting were leaked. "I have always believed that when you have meetings with colleagues you have to take people on trust and it is regrettable that some decide to breach that trust," Sir Jeffrey said. Immediately after the meeting on Monday night, he had told reporters that no DUP party officer had "ever used the word betrayal but it was used tonight to describe someone who was leaking information from a private meeting". But speaking to the BBC's Good Morning Ulster program, Bryson said: "Senior people in the DUP felt so exercised about this and felt that this was such a defining moment, that they took the step that they did. "Obviously I wasn't in the room, the venue clearly wasn't bugged by some hidden device so there was clearly senior people — plural — within the DUP who felt so strongly about this that they took this extraordinary, unprecedented step." The specific details of the deal have yet to be published but Sir Jeffrey said he was "confident" in the progress he had achieved. He said he believed the government could move "quickly" to bring forward legislation to implement what has been agreed with the DUP. Chris Heaton-Harris MP, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, said the move is "a welcome and significant step". "I am grateful to Sir Jeffrey Donaldson and colleagues for the constructive dialogue over the past months and to the other political parties in Northern Ireland for the patience they have shown during this time. "I am pleased that the DUP have agreed to accept the package of measures that the UK government has put forward and as a result they are ready to return to the Northern Ireland Assembly and nominate representatives to the Northern Ireland Executive. "Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has said this is subject to the binding commitments between the Democratic Unionist Party and the UK government — I can confirm that we will stick to this agreement." The largest party in the most recent election was Sinn Féin. Party leader Mary Lou McDonald said she was "optimistic". "It is vital there is political stability to address the scale of the crisis across our public services," she said. "Let's now focus minds on the job at hand and to the solutions required to support workers and families who want and deserve functioning government." Sir Jeffrey said he gave his word to trade unions that pay awards to public sector workers would be prioritized when the institutions were restored. However, Davy Thompson of the Unite union said there was not enough for the unions to call off strike action on Thursday "because we don't know when that government will be formed". "Until there is government in Northern Ireland, there is no government in Northern Ireland." — BBC
