EDWIN Poots has resigned as leader of the Democratic Unionist Party after just three weeks in the role.

His resignation came following a meeting of party officers at the DUP headquarters in east Belfast.

Poots left the meeting shortly after 8pm tonight.

Earlier in the day Poots faced an internal party revolt and vote of no confidence after he nominated Paul Givan as the First Minister despite the opposition of a sizeable majority of MLAs, MPs, party officers and peers present at a DUP meeting.

Senior party figures then gathered for a meeting at DUP headquarters in Belfast, amid anger in the party that Northern Secretary Brandon Lewis had announced early on Thursday morning that a compromise had been reached over the introduction of Irish language legislation.

This was viewed as a concession to Sinn Féin by many within the DUP.

In a statement, Poots said he had asked the party chairman Lord Morrow "to commence an electoral process within the party to allow for a new leader of the Democratic Unionist Party to be elected".

He said it had been "a difficult period for the party and the country".

"The Party has asked me to remain in post until my successor is elected.

"I have conveyed to the chairman my determination to do everything I can to ensure both unionism and Northern Ireland is able to move forward to a stronger place."

Poots succeeded Arlene Foster last month as leader of the DUP after beating MP Sir Jeffrey Donaldson in an internal election.

Givan was formally appointed first minister in Stormont yesterday but his nomination was opposed by most DUP assembly members (MLAs).

BBC News NI reported that DUP MLAs - 24 to four - voted against Poots nominating Givan as first minister, during a meeting ahead of a special assembly sitting.

DUP MP Sammy Wilson later said the feeling of the party was "very, very clear".

"What has been done today... shouldn't have been done and the vast majority of people believe that is the case," said the East Antrim MP.

Asked if he had confidence in Poots, Wilson said any leader should "bring people along with them" and that could not be achieved by "ignoring the views of a huge number of people".

Political commentator David McCann tweeted tonight: "Several DUP sources now say it's Sammy Wilson or Jeffrey Donaldson for DUP leader."

Poots was announced as leader of the DUP on 14 May 2021, beating Donaldson by 19 votes to 17. He was officially ratified as the party's leader on 28 May 2021.

During the contest some DUP members spoke of their "disgust" at the way in which Foster had been ousted.

And following the internal election there were also claims that Poots' supporters engaged in bullying and intimidation during the leadership contest, with some party members walking out before his victory speech.

Poots denied claims of intimidation. Several party members resigned, including councillors.

The First Minister in the Northern Ireland Executive had always been the leader of the largest party, but Poots said he did not want this role if he became DUP leader and would continue as agriculture minister, nominating Givan for the top job instead. He had previously served as culture minister.

Poots is considered to be from the more hardline/religious fundamentalist wing of the DUP.

He is a creationist, who in 2007 said he believes the world is 6000 years old. He also criticised scientists for wanting to “indoctrinate everyone” with the theory of evolution.

Asked during a BBC interview how old he thinks the Earth is, he reportedly said: “My view on the Earth is that it's a young Earth. My view is 4000 BC.”

Another interviewee replied: “You’re the culture minister and you don’t believe in evolution?”

Poots said: “Yes, absolutely. And you're telling me that all of this evolution took place over billions of years, and yet it's only in the last few thousand years that Man could actually learn to write?”

When Foster became first minister, Poots caused controversy by saying her “most important job” was still “that of a wife, mother and daughter”.