Arlene Foster: Letter of no-confidence sent to DUP politicians

Democratic Unionist Party politicians are being asked to sign a letter of no-confidence in leader Arlene Foster, the BBC understands.

The letter is being circulated among Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) MPs and Northern Ireland Assembly members.

The party said it would not be commenting.

One assembly member told the BBC he was presented with the motion on Mrs Foster, who is NI's first minister, but declined to say if he signed it.

It is understood 22 MLAs (Members of the Legislative Assembly) and four MPs have already signed the letter.

If this is the case, there is majority support within the party for a change in leadership.

It is only a small number of the DUP membership who will get to vote in a leadership contest - its 27 MLAs and eight MPs.

DUP councillors have also called for the resignation of Mrs Foster, along with deputy leader Nigel Dodds (pictured right)

In addition, a letter has been sent from DUP councillors to the party chairman, Lord Morrow, stating they were "severely worried" about the state of the party and country and calling for Mrs Foster and deputy leader Nigel Dodds to resign.

"We as councillors and as members are deeply concerned about the future of unionism, Ulster conservatism and the DUP," the letter states.

"As members and councillors, we have received the brunt of the anger from our voter base caused by ineffective leadership."

How did we get here?

Mrs Foster was elected as the first female leader of the DUP in December 2015, taking over from Peter Robinson. She had been the only candidate.

Her time at the helm has been turbulent, having faced Brexit, which her party supported, a botched green energy scandal which subsequently led to the collapse of Stormont for three years and of course Covid-19.

But the fall-out from the UK's EU exit has put particular pressure on the party top brass as it faces having to weather the storm caused by the Northern Ireland Protocol, which imposes a border down the Irish Sea.

The party has argued that it has never supported the protocol and has actively tried to have it overthrown.

It has also been suggested that recent changes to NI's abortion laws, and the commitment to implement an Irish language act were causing concerns with some elected DUP representatives ahead of next year's assembly election.

For some time there have been rumblings of discontent, but Mrs Foster's internal enemies have lacked the numbers, or the courage, to act against her.

'Bigger things'

Earlier, Mrs Foster played down suggestions her leadership of the party was under threat.

It followed a report in the Belfast News Letter, which said there was internal party unrest over her leadership.

But Mrs Foster said stories on leadership "come up from time to time".

"So we'll just deal with it and move on because I've bigger things to do, including getting us through this Covid pandemic, including listening to the concerns of working-class communities," she said.

Hanging by a thread

Arlene Foster's leadership appears to be hanging by a thread.

The very fact her opponents within the party felt the time was right to ask MLAs to sign up and be counted is very telling.

It is a bold and unprecedented move within the DUP.

But even with that process under way, the DUP leader was adamant there was nothing to see here, telling reporters earlier these stories come up from "time to time".

She said she would deal with it and move on because she had bigger things to do, including fighting a pandemic.

Does dealing "with it" include facing down those within her party who want her out?

It all comes down to a numbers game as the party's elected representatives are invited to take sides.

Early indications suggest it may not end well for Mrs Foster.

Read more here.

Mrs Foster has represented the Fermanagh and South Tyrone constituency since 2003.

The DUP said it would not be commenting.

"Whilst understanding that there will be from time-to-time public interest in party processes, these issues, in the first instance, are matters for members of the party and we are not able to make any further comment at this time," it said.

Mrs Foster was due to meet Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis on Tuesday evening but that has been cancelled.