DUP executive members invited to meeting with leader

DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson addressed the Commons on Wednesday saying he would not be 'deflected' from efforts to reach a deal to restore Stormont

DUP executive members have been invited to a meeting with the party leader, Sir Jeffrey Donaldson.

The invitation, sent on Friday, asked members to join on Monday for a "detailed update from the party leader on the current political situation".

But the email, which BBC News NI has seen, only provides the time of meeting but not the location.

It states the meeting will be at a "secure venue" and the location and directions will be circulated later.

Executive members were also asked not to discuss details of the meeting with the media.

The email invitation was leaked on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Friday evening.

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The party collapsed the executive nearly two years ago in protest against post-Brexit trade arrangements.

Since then efforts to restore power-sharing have seemed close to fruition at several times but Stormont has not yet been restored.

Earlier this week, the deadline for restoring devolution was extended to 8 February; if there is no executive in place by then, Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris will be under a legal duty to call an election.

It is understood he may instead put new governance arrangements in place including a greater role for London.

The DUP has more than 120 executive members, including MLAs, party officers and others.

In the email sent to those members, the party's chief executive wrote: "I apologise for the short notice of this meeting but due to circumstances beyond our control the officers... have determined to waive the normal notice period for calling a meeting."