DUP leader Edwin Poots nominates Paul Givan as Northern Ireland's new first minister despite concerns within own party

DUP leader Edwin Poots has formally nominated Lagan Valley MLA Paul Givan as Northern Ireland's new first minister at a special sitting of the Stormont Assembly.

The nomination comes after the DUP and Sinn Fein agreed that the British government will legislate on the contentious issues around Irish language use.

Arguments over the promised legislation had threatened to prevent attempts to resume business at Stormont.

Sinn Fein asked the British government to go over the heads of the assembly, saying it would not return to power-sharing with the DUP without a firm commitment to the legislation.

The DUP had indicated it would not commit to a definite timetable.

Following the nomination, Sinn Fein's Conor Murphy put forward party colleague Michelle O'Neill as Northern Ireland's deputy first minister.

Sky's senior Ireland correspondent David Blevins said he understands from sources in the meeting that "the vote against nominating a first minister was decisive within the DUP group - somewhere in the region of 20 MPs and MLAs voted against, only around six voted for".

He added: "So despite the fact that the majority of his own party have told Edwin Poots not to nominate a first minister at this stage, because of their concerns over how the British government and Sinn Fein are dealing with the whole Irish language issue, he has gone into the assembly chamber and done that anyway.

"I have no idea what that literally means for the DUP, I suspect there is going to be a serious challenge to his leadership now and even a question about how long he will remain as leader, just three weeks after he won the contest to succeed Arlene Foster.

"The unionist electorate is already very angry about the Brexit protocol having been imposed by the British government, creating that trade border in the Irish Sea, and they see this as a further concession, so many elected unionists will be concerned about their seats given the depth of feeling there is about this within the unionist community."

Analysis: New DUP leader fighting for his political life just three weeks into the job

By David Blevins, senior Ireland correspondent

Three weeks in the job and the new DUP leader is fighting for his political life with the woman he ousted landing blows on Twitter.

A meeting of the party, described as "bedlam", was still going on when Edwin Poots went to the Assembly chamber and nominated a first minister

At the same time, the meeting he had left was voting 26-8 against the decision to nominate, leaving leader and First Minister in political limbo.

Mr Poots could face a vote of no confidence and his first minister, Paul Givan, could be forced to resign within hours of his appointment.

Elected members of the DUP object to the British government's offer to legislate for Irish language rights via Westminster at the behest of Sinn Fein.

Loyalist anger over the Brexit border in the Irish Sea has left Unionist politicians with little room for manoeuvre in efforts to save a power-sharing government.

Arlene Foster, who resigned as first minister on Monday, appeared to be enjoying the chaos around those who led the coup against her.

"Just had a lovely lunch… with a good friend. It is great hospitality is open again. Hope everyone is having a great day this lovely sunny afternoon," she tweeted.