Sir Jeffrey Mark Donaldson is a Democratic Unionist Party politician in Northern Ireland and Member of Parliament for Lagan Valley. First elected as an Ulster Unionist Party candidate, he is best known for his opposition to UUP leader David Trimble during the Northern Ireland peace process, especially from 1998 to 2003. He is Northern Ireland's longest-serving current MP. Since December 2019 he has been the leader of the DUP in the House of Commons.
| Born: | December 7, 1962, Kilkeel, County Down, Northern Ireland |
| Nationality: | British |
| Political party: | Democratic Unionist Party, Ulster Unionist Party (till 2003) |
| Children: | 2 |
| Alma mater: | Castlereagh College |
| Preceded by: | Nigel Dodds |
| Twitter: | Jeffrey Donaldson's Twitter profile |
| Facebook: | Jeffrey Donaldson's Facebook profile |
About Jeffrey Donaldson
In 1997, this Ulster Unionist Party politician took office as a Member of Parliament for Northern Ireland's Lagan Valley constituency. After transferring his allegiance to the Democratic Unionist Party, he returned to the Northern Ireland Assembly and held office as Northern Ireland's Junior Minister.
Before Fame
In 1985, after graduating from Castlereagh College, he began his first term in the Northern Ireland Assembly. Also in his early years, in response to the deaths of his cousins Sam and Alex Donaldson at the hands of the Provisional Irish Republican Army, he became a member of the Ulster Defence Regiment.
Achievement
He joined a Northern Irish Protestant social group known as the Orange Order.
Family Life
He spent his youth in Kilkeel, County Down, Northern Ireland. His marriage to Eleanor Donaldson began in 1987 and produced two daughters.
Associations
Early in his political career, he worked in the office of British politician Enoch Powell.
Information related to Jeffrey Donaldson
- Kilkeel High School - Kilkeel High School is a state comprehensive Protestant secondary school located in Kilkeel, County Down, Northern Ireland. It is within the Southern Education and Library Board area.
- Ulster Defence Regiment soldiers
- Democratic Unionist Party MPs
- People of The Troubles (Northern Ireland)
- Presbyterians from Northern Ireland
- Members of the Northern Ireland Forum
- UK MPs 1997–2001
