IT HAS been a week of turmoil for the DUP since Edwin Poots was ratified as the new party leader last Thursday.

Tensions within the party were clear to see as outgoing leader Arlene Foster left the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Belfast before Mr. Poots’ inaugural speech.

She was not the only person to make for the exit as other senior figures – Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, Gavin Robinson, Lord Doods, Diane Dodds and Gregory Campbell – also left the hotel.

The first resignation from the party was made at the doors of the Crowne Plaza as Paul Bell, a DUP member for 20 years from Fermanagh and South Tyrone, Mrs. Foster’s home constituency, announced he was leaving the party after the party’s treatment of Mrs. Foster.

He hit out at those who had ousted the outgoing First Minister, and warned that the party stands to lose thousands of votes at the next election.

‘Disgust’

“This is going to be a real problem for the DUP. The votes that are going to be shed by the DUP is not in the hundreds – it’s in the thousands, it’s in the tens of thousands,” he said.

“We cannot go around the doors [campaigning]; the people in Fermanagh and South Tyrone will vote for anyone but the DUP. That is because, not of an election, that is because of what took place before the election [the DUP rebellion against Mrs. Foster].”

However, there is speculation that Mr. Bell may be looking to return to the party.

It comes after DUP Fermanagh and South Tyrone association released a statement voicing their “disgust” at the treatment of Mrs. Foster.

“Arlene has worked tirelessly over the years, not just for Fermanagh and South Tyrone but right across Northern Ireland – helping all constituencies.”

The Fermanagh and South Tyrone Association said the ousting of Mrs. Foster “was not done in our name”.

“The Fermanagh and South Tyrone DUP association have unanimously backed Arlene Foster to remain as our MLA; however, we recognise this is a personal decision.

“We appreciate that Arlene has sacrificed so much personally over the years for public service, but this Association will stand firm by her side.”

The post was shared by East Belfast MP Gavin Robinson, among others.

Further DUP resignations were due to be announced as it was reported Mr. Poots would be announcing his new ministerial team on Tuesday.

However, this was not the case, with MLAs Joanne Bunting and Jonathan Buckley announced as Chief Whip and Chief of Staff respectively, marking the only new announcements.

Mrs. Foster said she would step down as First Minister if a new ministerial team was announced, but Mr. Poots said he would name his team when he was ready.

Mr. Poots may be stalling to try and heal some of the division within the party and stop a large number of people leaving it.

At Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, it was speculated Deborah Erskine, a close ally of Mrs. Foster, was to be the DUP’s first Chair of the Council; however, that position was filled by Errol Thompson at a meeting on Tuesday evening.

When the time comes for Mrs. Foster to step down as First Minister, it will begin a seven-day countdown for the posts of First and Deputy First Minister to be filled.

Mr. Poots has signalled that he will become the first DUP leader not to take the position of First Minister at Stormont, and will instead nominate a colleague, to focus on the job of leading the party.

MLAs Mervyn Storey and Paul Givan are reportedly being considered for the post.