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Government criticises Allister's 'absolute nonsense' Jeffrey Donaldson comments

News imageHouse of Commons Jim Allister is speaking in the House of Commons. He is a bald man and wears wire-framed glasses. He is wearing a dark grey suit, pale shirt and a red, white and blue tie. Behind him is wooden panelling.House of Commons
Jim Allister also said the DUP had 'issues to address'

Comments made by TUV leader Jim Allister, suggesting that knowledge of Jeffrey Donaldson's crimes may have been used as "leverage" in a deal to restore power sharing in 2024, have been described as "absolute nonsense" by the government.

Donaldson was found guilty on Monday of 18 sex abuse charges against two women when they were children, including one count of rape.

In a statement, Allister said it was "inconceivable the government was unaware of his proclivities and the idea of such being used as leverage is far from fanciful".

The Northern Ireland Office said: "Mr Allister's allegations are deeply distasteful and absolute nonsense."

In the statement, the NIO said its thoughts "are first and foremost with the victims of Jeffrey Donaldson who have shown immense courage in coming forward and giving evidence".

In January 2024, two months before his arrest, Donaldson, then the leader of the DUP, reached a deal with the Westminster government to restore power sharing in Northern Ireland.

The DUP had collapsed Stormont in 2022 over the Northern Ireland Protocol - the post-Brexit agreement which was agreed by the UK and EU to ensure free movement of trade across the Irish land border after Brexit.

Unionist politicians were critical of it and said it damaged Northern Ireland's place in the UK, with the DUP, and Donaldson, demanding changes before returning to power sharing.

After the January 2024 deal, which led to the command paper entitled Safeguarding the Union, TUV leader Allister accused the DUP of a "tawdry climbdown".

On Monday, Allister commended Donaldson's victims for their "immense courage", but added that for unionism, the convictions meant "a very chilling and troubling issue arises, namely, how far did his 'troubles' give rise to his sell out on the (Northern Ireland) Protocol?".

He added that Donaldson's "about turn from 'unalterable opposition' to the protocol to protocol facilitator was telling".

"From sharing platforms with me and others in robust opposition, he somersaulted to lying salesmanship of the phoney 'Safeguarding the Union' document.

"How did this come about?"

News imageGetty Images Jeffrey Donaldson, a man with short grey hair and glasses is walking into a courthouse. Behind him are a bank of photographers taking his picture. He is wearing a dark blue suit, a white shirt and green tie.Getty Images
Jeffrey Donaldson entering Newry Crown Court during his trial

Allister also said that during the talks to restore Stormont, Donaldson met with the government alone.

"The fact Donaldson insisted in key meetings with HMG on being unaccompanied by colleagues raises red flags in itself.

"Was he on a mission of attempted self-preservation in the hope, no matter how deluded, he could stave off the fate that has now befallen him?

"There is much here for the DUP to address."

In a statement to The Nolan Show, the party said that as a long-standing MP, it was not unusual for Donaldson to have one-to-one meetings with representatives of the government.

"However, we had our internal decision-making processes, and Jeffrey Donaldson was not empowered to take decisions on his own," the statement added.

"It is now clear that Jeffrey Donaldson led a double and duplicitous life. The party never received any complaints about inappropriate and/or criminal behaviour by Jeffrey Donaldson."