Robinson ‘humbled’ by public support following party turmoil
The DUP interim leader became visibly emotional as he spoke of difficult days for the unionist party.
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Gavin Robinson said he has been humbled by the public support he has received since the sudden resignation of Sir Jeffrey Donaldson as DUP leader.
Mr Robinson, the party’s interim leader, became visibly emotional as he discussed the toll of the last six days since it emerged that Sir Jeffrey had been charged with several historical sexual offences.
However, he insisted that the unionist party was bigger than any one individual and was united in moving forward positively.
It is understood that Sir Jeffrey is facing one count of rape, one count of gross indecency, and several counts of indecent assault.
It is further understood that in a letter to party officers last week, he made clear he would be “strenuously contesting” all charges against him.
Mr Robinson, formerly the party’s deputy leader, had worked closely alongside Sir Jeffrey in striking the deal that led to the restoration of the Stormont powersharing institutions.
Asked, about the impact of the past week, he stated: “They have been difficult days, I can’t shy away from that.
“But I am not alone. The shock that I faced and the choices that I had before me were shared by many colleagues.
“In the first instance and by the wider community in the days that followed, and I’ve been really humbled by the prayers and the encouragement and support that people have offered to me, out personally and publicly in our community.
“There is hope and it has been difficult. I don’t shy away from that at all.”
I have to hold on to the collective encouragement that is there, the shock that is shared by many in our community. But our willingness not to be defined by this and to recognise that the Democratic Unionist Party and unionism is more than any one individual
Mr Robinson added: “I have to hold on to the collective encouragement that is there, the shock that is shared by many in our community.
“But our willingness not to be defined by this and to recognise that the Democratic Unionist Party and unionism is more than any one individual.
“I stand here not as a single person, but as an individual who can only be here because of the support of MPs and MLAs and none of us can stand anywhere without the support of our councillors and our voluntary members.
“We are united at this time in our willingness and our resolve to move forward positively for the people we have the privilege of representing.”