MLA who cut funds for Irish tipped as next First Minister

The new DUP leader Edwin Poots may pick the former communities minister Paul Givan for the top post, having already turned it down himself

Edwin Poots and Paul Givan leave Government Buildings after meeting with Taoiseach Micheál Martin late last week. Picture: Getty

Speculation is mounting that Edwin Poots will name Paul Givan MLA as Northern Ireland’s First Minister in the coming days.

Givan, who accompanied Poots to his first meeting with Taoiseach Micheál Martin late last week, would be considered by many in Sinn Féin as a difficult First Minister to work with because of his decision to cut funding to Irish language programmes in 2016 when he was serving as Minister for Communities.

Givan began his ...