BBC News Published Northern Ireland Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots has been elected leader of the Democratic Unionist Party. Mr Poots beat MP Sir Jeffrey Donaldson to take the top post in the party. It is the first time in the party's 50-year history that a leadership contest has taken place. Mr Poots received 19 votes and Sir Jeffrey 17 votes. North Belfast MLA Paula Bradley has been elected as the party's new deputy leader, after incumbent Lord Dodds announced he would not bid for re-election. She beat MP Gregory Campbell by 18 votes to 16, and is the first woman elected to the post.