The DUP leader has urged Boris Johnson to “do what other prime ministers did” and prioritise Northern Ireland, instead of being distracted by controversies in Downing Street.

Sir Jeffrey Donaldson MP has urged Boris Johnson to prioritise the political crisis in Northern Ireland over controversies in Downing Street.

He warned the fall-out from lockdown parties in Number 10 was making it difficult for the prime minister to focus.

He said: “I would say this to the prime minister: Northern Ireland is an important part of the United Kingdom.

“You’re our prime minister and if you want to build confidence, then do what other prime ministers did in the past, recognise that we have a serious problem here and instead of being focused on what’s going on in Downing Street, be the prime minister the people need.

“Reach out to Northern Ireland, help us to resolve these issues, make this a priority, let’s get our political institutions restored on the basis of sound foundations.”

“We can’t go on with the situation where serious problems like we have here in Northern Ireland are not getting the attention they deserve,” he warned.

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Sir Jeffrey directed the DUP’s Paul Givan to resign as Northern Ireland’s First Minister last Thursday, in protest at the government’s failure to address concerns about the Northern Ireland part of the Brexit deal.

The Northern Ireland Protocol established a border in the Irish Sea, between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, to avoid a border between Northern Ireland and the Republic.

There are conflicting views on the economic impact of the arrangement but Unionists are equally concerned about constitutional politics – Northern Ireland’s place in the UK.

Sir Jeffrey said: “The prime minister did let us down and let us down badly and at the Conservative Party conference this year, he apologised to me.

“The problem is that we’ve had a lot of words about triggering Article 16, which the Protocol allows the government to do in circumstances where there’s economic or societal or political harm caused by the Protocol, and yet we haven’t had any action,” he added.

The first minister’s resignation signalled the beginning of the end for the current power-sharing administration at Stormont.

With friends like the Democratic Unionist Party, Boris Johnson doesn’t need enemies.

Five years ago, the Northern Ireland Party kept the Conservative Party in government, albeit at a price.

Who could forget the £1 billion confidence and supply deal when Theresa May failed to win a majority?

When the DUP lost faith in Mrs May, they turned their affection to Mr Johnson.

He told their annual conference that “no Prime Minister” could countenance an Irish Sea border.

Two years later, as Prime Minister, he agreed the Brexit Protocol establishing an Irish Sea border.

Having criticised his predecessors, the DUP is now urging him to follow the example of previous Prime Ministers.

But the exasperated tone of Sir Jeffrey Donaldson’s criticism of Mr Johnson is telling.

What happens if the DUP holds the balance of power again in the future?

That’s the question they will be asking on the Tory backbenches.

The next election is due to take place in May but forming a new devolved government will be difficult in the current political climate.

Sir Jeffrey said: “All of the controversy surrounding Downing Street is making it difficult for the prime minister to focus on what needs to get priority.

“I recognise the situation for example in Ukraine is critical. I recognise that getting the UK out of COVID and into a more normal situation and the recovery of our economy and supporting our health service are important but so is Northern Ireland.

“If the prime minister, as I do, cherishes the Union and I believe that the prime minister is a Unionist, then he needs to recognise that right now in Northern Ireland, there are serious problems that need to be addressed,” he added.

Watch the full interview on Trevor Phillips on Sunday.

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