Tuesday 08 June 2021 4:35 pm | Updated: Tuesday 08 June 2021 4:45 pm

Paul Givan to replace Arlene Foster as Northern Ireland first minister

A general view of the Northern Ireland Executive Assembly (Photo by Kelvin Boyes – Pool/Getty Images)

Paul Givan will on Monday start as first minister of Northern Ireland, the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) has announced.

The appointment follows current first minister Arlene Foster’s resignation as DUP leader and Northern Ireland first minister in April this year after an internal party revolt.

Givan was first elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly in 2010, representing the Lagan Valley constituency. He previously served as minister for the former Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure and environment minister.

Givan will also be Northern Ireland’s youngest first minister and said there is a “huge responsibility that comes with the position”.

Foster will remain as first minister for the British-Irish Council in County Fermanagh on Friday.

Foster came to national attention during the Brexit negotiations under former Prime Minister Theresa May’s administration, which was reliant on DUP votes to pass legislation in Westminster.

Foster was replaced by Edwin Poots, formerly Stormont’s agriculture minister, as party leader in May. Poots today announced a reshuffle of his DUP top team outside Stormont where he confirmed his choice of Givan, a former special adviser to Poots, as first minister.