Donaldson charges 'not a political story' - Robinson

The DUP leader Gavin Robinson has criticised opponents he claims might use the allegations against Sir Jeffrey Donaldson for "party political advantage" in the general election.

Sir Jeffrey resigned as DUP leader in March after he was charged with rape and other historical sexual offences.

Mr Robinson replaced him as interim leader, but was ratified by the party's ruling executive last week.

On Wednesday, he said some would "use this poorly and pathetically" for their own political gain.

He was speaking to BBC Talkback presenter William Crawley, who is interviewing a range of party leaders in the run-up to the general election.

Asked whether the crisis would affect the DUP's vote on 4 July, Mr Robinson said it was hard to determine.

He said that many voters he has spoken to recognise it is "not a political story".

But he added: "I don't doubt there are some people who will use this poorly and pathetically for party political advantage.

"There's no doubt it will happen but it's not what I see and hear when I'm out talking to ordinary people, I don't get a sense they see this as a problem for us politically. It's not something they're holding against my colleagues or I, because it doesn't involve us."

Sir Jeffrey is strenuously contesting the allegations against him.

His wife, Lady Eleanor Donaldson, a co-accused in the case, faces four charges.

Their case was mentioned in court last month and is to be reviewed again on 12 June ahead of a preliminary enquiry at the start of July.

Mr Robinson, who was previously DUP deputy leader, also said he did not see circumstances in which the DUP would collapse power-sharing at Stormont again, but stopped short of making an outright commitment.

The DUP returned to Stormont in February after a two-year suspension, following their opposition to post-Brexit trade arrangements for Northern Ireland,

Mr Robinson said he regretted that the DUP's withdrawal from the institutions happened, but that it had been necessary. He added that if he had been leader then, he would have made the same decision as then-leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson.