Jeffrey Donaldson has launched his second bid for the DUP leadership amid mounting concerns over his hardline views on the Northern Ireland Protocol and Irish language legislation.

The hapless Paul Givan has the dubious distinction of being both the youngest and shortest-serving Northern Ireland First Minister.

Boris Johnson has directly intervened in Northern Ireland's intensifying political crisis by urging rival parties to respect the January 2020 deal which restored the British-controlled territory's devolved institutions.

The Irish Republican group Sinn Féin is refusing to participate in the formation of a new devolved administration in Northern Ireland until its demands on Irish language legislation are met.

Newly-elected DUP leader Edwin Poots has risked the collapse of Northern Ireland's devolved institutions by declining to give firm guarantees on Irish language legislation.

A highly emotional row over the Irish language threatens to derail the establishment of a new stable leadership at the apex of the Northern Ireland Executive.

As expected Paul Givan has been appointed Northern Ireland's First Minister but his first few months as head of the Executive are expected to be marked by tension and volatility.