DUP leader says ‘it’s clear’ party members withheld information about Jeffrey Donaldson- latest updates

Speaking to the media on Monday, Gavin Robinson said: “As a party we were not aware of allegations that have subsequently come to light.

“I may only have been leader of this party for a short period of time, but I am convinced that that is the case for a longer period of time.”

He added: “It is clear there are a number of individuals, either former members of the Democratic Unionist Party, or current who did indicate publicly on Friday that they had information that they did not share, information that was not reported through our appropriate channels and therefore information about which we could do nothing formally.

“Whilst I say that with confidence, I am also clear it is not okay for that to continue to be the case.

“I cannot countenance a circumstance or situation where I allow that to be the case.

“That is why I and my deputy leader and senior party colleagues agreed on Friday to institute a review; a review that will be independent of our party, a review that will be conducted by an individual with impeccable credentials in child safeguarding, sexual exploitation.

“I want them to establish if members of my party had information which they did not share.

“I also want them to establish if there are people within my party who continue to hold information which they haven’t yet felt about to share.”

Mr Robinson said he wanted the review to examine the party’s safeguarding policies.

But he added: “If somebody doesn’t come forward and whistleblow, you can’t use the safeguarding policies.

“It is my job to set our standards and what we have heard over the last number of days falls well below the standards that I hold and my colleagues hold for our party.

“It is our job to make sure we are not turning a blind eye and that we deal with the issues that we are in charge of.”

Mr Robinson said he had not yet spoken to Mr Poots about the issues raised in the Spotlight programme.