Jeffrey Donaldson Removed from Privy Council After Conviction
Jeffrey Donaldson, the former leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), has been officially removed from the Privy Council following his conviction on 18 counts of child sex abuse, including one count of rape. The conviction was handed down on 22 June.
Donaldson had requested the revocation of his membership in June after being found guilty of offences committed against two women when they were children.
The Privy Council convened at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday and agreed to remove Donaldson's membership. An order published by the Privy Council indicated that a letter sent by Donaldson requesting the removal of his name from the list of members was read during the meeting, and the council subsequently ordered that his removal be executed.
In addition to his removal from the Privy Council, Donaldson has also requested to forfeit his knighthood, although this process has not yet been finalized.
What is the Privy Council?
The Privy Council is one of the oldest governmental bodies in the United Kingdom, with origins tracing back to Norman times. Its primary role is to advise the monarch. The council comprises more than 600 members, though most meetings are attended by only a small number of participants.
Meetings are held regularly and address matters that, due to historical precedent, fall under the purview of government ministers acting as privy counsellors rather than in their departmental capacities. These matters include setting bank holidays, determining coin designs, and amending university charters.
The membership predominantly consists of senior politicians, including cabinet ministers. Full meetings of the Privy Council are convened only on significant occasions such as the announcement of a royal engagement or the death of a monarch.
Jeffrey Donaldson attended the most recent full meeting of the Privy Council in September 2022.
- Donaldson to give up knighthood and seat on Privy Council
- Ex DUP leader Donaldson guilty of child sex abuse charges including one of rape
- How four weeks in court unravelled 'sinful and deceitful' Jeffrey Donaldson
