Donaldson criticised for warning that Givan could be pulled from First Minister role next week

Speaking after meeting Boris Johnson, Sir Jeffrey warned that if the Prime Minister didn’t take decisive action over the Northern Ireland Protocol, then his party would act. He said his party had “some big decisions” to take and that he had made it clear to the Government that “January was an important month”.

The DUP leader said the Government was working to bring talks with Brussels to a head by mid-February.

Asked if Mr Givan would still be First Minister next week, he said: “No, I can’t give that assurance because that depends on what others do.”

Sir Jeffrey told the BBC that the Government must honour its commitments to “protect Northern Ireland’s place within the UK internal market”. He said he had warned Mr Johnson that the current situation could not go on “indefinitely”.

He said: “We made clear to the Prime Minister that it is not a sustainable position for us, as unionists, for the protocol to continue to be implemented in a way that is harming our place within the UK. We will follow through on the actions we outlined as far back as September if the Prime Minister will not act.”

Sinn Fein MP John Finucane said: “The latest threat by Jeffrey Donaldson over the future of the political institutions clearly shows that the DUP do not care about the interests of ordinary workers and families.

“To threaten instability at a time when the health service and the Executive continues to deal with the challenges of the pandemic is reckless and irresponsible.”

Mr Finucane added: “People are struggling with a cost-of-living crisis and soaring energy prices and are looking to the Executive to continue providing support to put money back in their pockets.

“Pulling ministers out of government will be an abdication of responsibility, a glaring lack of leadership and a reactionary response to a Brexit mess that the DUP championed and helped deliver in the first place. The DUP should end the sabre-rattling and these threats now.”

UUP leader Doug Beattie said: “DUP threats to bring down Stormont haven’t worked in making changes to the protocol and they will do nothing to provide certainty and stability in Northern Ireland.

“We want to see the protocol replaced, but this approach certainly won’t do that because it would surrender the whole pitch to those who have shown little inclination to make the changes required.

“It’s self-defeating and will ultimately do more damage to Northern Ireland’s place within the UK.”

Alliance deputy leader Stephen Farry said: “While we are dealing with issues such as health, education, the economy and climate change among others. Issuing threats and ultimately collapsing the Executive would be a huge own goal for the DUP, while bringing massive harm to the people of Northern Ireland.

“Health reform, dealing with the rising cost of living and growing the economy are people’s priorities. No agreed budget and no Executive will mean missed opportunities for badly needed reforms.”

SDLP leader Colum Eastwood told the BBC that Sir Jeffrey had been threatening to collapse the institutions since last September and was “fast becoming the boy who cried wolf”.

He said: “We have access to the European market and the British market under the protocol. Are there problems with it? Yes — but they can be resolved so let the negotiators negotiate. I think it’s a bad mistake to threaten the institutions of the Good Friday Agreement — we will end up collapsing the institutions and Boris Johnson running the place.”

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