Givan is named as Northern Ireland’s new first minister

The longtime ally of DUP leader Edwin Poots will take up the role when Arlene Foster steps down later this week

Paul Givan’s decision to cut funding to Irish language programmes in 2016 when he was serving as Minister for Communities means he will be viewed as difficult to work with by many in Sinn Féin. Picture: NurPhoto/Getty Images

Paul Givan has been named Northern Ireland’s first minister in waiting by Edwin Poots, the new leader of the DUP.

A longtime ally of Poots, the Lagan Valley MLA will take on the role when First Minister Arlene Foster steps down later this week following completion of her scheduled duties at a British-Irish Council meeting on Friday.

Ordinarily, the leader of the party and the top executive role go hand in hand, but Poots announced ...