Ousted DUP Leader Edwin Poots has said he regrets the fallout from nominating Paul Givan as First Minister but believes it was the right thing to do.
The Lagan Valley MLA made the comments in an interview today where he said that he had nominated the First Minister against the wishes of his party.
Speaking to Sky News, Mr Poots said: "My focus was on the NI protocol first and foremost because constitutionally that is what is damaging Northern Ireland.
"And our best asset at this moment in time in fighting the protocol is actually having the assembly because our ministers are in government offices, rooms every day of the week proclaiming the issues around the protocol, the problems with the protocol and I believe that is having an effect."
Mr Poots lasted 21 days in his role as DUP leader and resigned from the role last Thursday following a meeting at the party's headquarters on Dundela Avenue, hours after Paul Givan took on the role as First Minister.
He said that it was giving Mr Givan the role against party wishes that led to his ousting as leader, but still felt that it was the right thing to do and only regrets the fallout that has come from it.
He continued: "I regret the fallout from it , but I think it was the right thing to do and it is the right thing to do that we make sure we have maximum leverage, and ultimately it was my intention, had we not gotten success on the protocol then I would have been prepared to pull Paul Givan out of that job. That is something that I wished to express but I did not get the opportunity to express."
