What is really going on in politics? Get our daily email briefing straight to your inbox Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

The leader of the DUP Arlene Foster has denied she intends to stand at the next general election at Westminster.

"I will not be standing in the general election, my focus will very much be on devolution and the return of Stormont, that's what I'm focused on," she said in an interview this evening.

"That and the fact that I want to see a deal with the European Union. I think these two big deals will take up a lot of my time in the coming weeks."

The leader of the Democratic Unionist Party stands as an Members of the Legislative Assembly in Northern Ireland for Fermanagh and South Tyrone.

She does not however stand as an MP, meaning she does not represent her party in Westminster.

(Image: Getty)

She still wields a fair amount of power in British politics however, having brokered a deal with previous prime minister Theresa May.

This evening the conservative politician showed her support at a rally against the legalisation of abortion in Northern Ireland.

Thousands of people have staged a silent demonstration at Stormont over the planned liberalisation of abortion laws in Northern Ireland.

Protesters gathered at the front gates of the estate before walking up Prince of Wales Avenue to Parliament Buildings.

They stood there in silence, with heads bowed and holding lights, for six minutes, to represent the six counties in Northern Ireland.

Foster and UUP leader Robin Swann were among the crowd, which was estimated to number 4,000.

In July, MPs passed the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation) Act, which contained a provision placing a duty on the Government to regulate to provide for access to abortion in Northern Ireland.

It comes into effect if the Stormont executive is not restored by October 21, with regulations required to be in place by the end of March 2020.