Jeffrey Donaldson's downfall leaves the DUP battling a conspiracy theory - The Irish Times
irishtimes.com
Jeffrey Donaldson's sudden exit handed the DUP not just a leadership crisis but a conspiracy theory it now has to fight on top of finding a replacement.
Institutional Trust ErosionConspiracy TheoryLeadership SuccessionCrisis Communication
Theory Briefing
- Donaldson's departure was so abrupt it forced the DUP into a rushed leadership search, leaving the party exposed at a critical political moment.
- Alongside the succession scramble, the party now faces a circulating conspiracy theory that threatens to overshadow any new leader's credibility.
- When a party's internal crisis and an unverified narrative collide, public trust can erode faster than the facts can catch up.