The DUP deputy leadership election is tipped to be between MP Gavin Robinson and MLA Jonathan Buckley.

They are the only two candidates put forward to replace Paula Bradley as deputy leader, sources told Belfast Live.

DUP MPs and MLAs are expected to vote on Friday, with the result to be ratified at a later meeting of the wider party executive.

Read more:DUP to hold election for deputy leader role

It is believed nominations for the deputy leader role closed on Tuesday afternoon.

The DUP did not respond to requests for a comment. Ms Bradley, Mr Robinson and Mr Buckley were also approached.

Several DUP representatives who were asked about the leadership election declined to comment.

Mr Robinson, 38, has been MP for East Belfast since 2015 and is considered a close ally of DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson.

He was previously a Belfast councillor and in 2012-13 was the city's lord mayor.

Mr Buckley, 31, the DUP's economy spokesperson, has been an MLA for Upper Bann since 2017 and was formerly a councillor in Portadown.

He was previously appointed as the DUP's chief of staff during the short-lived tenure of Edwin Poots as party leader following an internal revolt against Arlene Foster.

Ms Bradley became deputy leader in 2021 during a turbulent time for the DUP when Mr Poots was briefly party leader.

The former MLA chose not to contest her North Belfast seat in last year's Stormont Assembly election in order to spend more time caring for her elderly parents.

Ms Bradley was later co-opted to Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council and was returned to the local authority in elections last month.

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MLAs in the Assembly chamber at Parliament Buildings, Stormont

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