Fractures in unionism cost seats in election, says DUP leader

Unionism lost seats in the recent Northern Ireland Assembly elections due to divisions between parties, DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has said.

Sinn Fein emerged as the largest party in May’s Stormont elections for the first time, forcing the DUP into second place.

But the DUP has refused to allow the powersharing Assembly to meet or an executive to be formed as part of its protest against the Northern Ireland Protocol, which has created a trade border in the Irish Sea.

Sir Jeffrey told a meeting in Co Down that there was a unity of purpose across unionism to oppose the protocol.

He was speaking to party members in Kilkeel where he addressed the relaunch of his party’s South Down constituency association.

During the election campaign, members of the DUP South Down association resigned to back a candidate with the rival TUV.

The party’s former MLA for the area, Jim Wells, also resigned his membership and said he would not support the DUP candidate Diane Forsythe.

Despite this, Ms Forsythe retained the seat for the DUP.

Sir Jeffrey said: “Our slogan in the Northern Ireland Assembly election was ‘moving forward together’.

“That is true in relation to the Northern Ireland Protocol where we cannot make progress if the concerns of more than 40% of the electorate are ignored.

“Moving forward together also relates to the situation amongst those of us who value and cherish our place within the United Kingdom.

The DUP leader added: “I am delighted to be addressing a reinvigorated DUP constituency association in South Down which is relaunching with a unity of purpose and energy.

“The unionist seat here in South Down was retained and there is much to build for the future. I am delighted to see an influx of new members with a renewed energy.

“Across Strangford, North Antrim and East Antrim however, sufficient votes were cast to return 12 unionist MLAs yet only nine were elected.

“That is a direct result of the fractures within unionism with a multitude of candidates.

“It’s no good repeating the theory that you can’t split the vote in a PR election when in the real world we see pro-union representation reduced because of it.

“There is a unity of purpose within unionism in relation to the Northern Ireland Protocol.

“Even opinion polls show that the vast majority of unionists support our stance that the protocol must be resolved before devolution can be restored.

“I want to see that unity of purpose built upon. Right across unionism we all share much more in common than divides us.

“A more cohesive unionism is not only what the unionist community want to see, but it is vital in maximising the pro-union voice and in strengthening our place within the United Kingdom.”