DUP leader warns divided unionism fuels opponents at conference

East Belfast MP Gavin Robinson, the Democratic Unionist Party leader, opened the party's annual conference with a blunt warning that divided unionism benefits opponents. He told delegates outside Belfast that 'when unionism is divided, our opponents prosper,' framing the gathering as a test of the DUP's ability to steer a still-fragile Northern Ireland power-sharing arrangement. The conference is Robinson's second as DUP leader and comes more than a year after devolution was restored in 2024 following a two-year hiatus in Stormont. The party had previously blocked the institutions in protest over post-Brexit trade rules, but relinquished its boycott after a deal with the UK government. The DUP now shares power at Stormont with Sinn Féin, the Alliance Party and the Ulster Unionist Party, though it remains under pressure from smaller rivals.

Robinson acknowledged the Northern Ireland Assembly is 'far from perfect' but rejected suggestions that people would be 'better off with Starmer than with Stormont.' He argued that devolution matters, saying the DUP's approach to government has been proven across the years, and that holding office has tangible effects. The speech, delivered ahead of the weekend's party program, underscores the DUP's aim to reposition itself as the senior partner in a reconfigured unionist bloc while wary voices warn against complacency.

During the address Robinson is expected to renew calls for greater co-operation between unionist parties. He is to tell delegates that 'no party or personality should ever trump our shared strategic aims' and to emphasize that, 'under my leadership, we will be strong, but we will not be selfish.' The deputy leader, former Stormont minister Michelle McIlveen, elected in March, will join him on the platform as the party's new number two.

Robinson is expected to reaffirm support for Northern Ireland's devolved government, arguing that 'things happen' when DUP ministers hold office and that the union must be stronger for being part of Stormont. He is likely to say there is 'not a single area, or a single policy, where it would be better without devolution' and to frame the party's platform as rooted in 'fairness' and 'common sense' rather than 'radical ideology.'

Historically, the DUP was the largest party at Stormont, in Westminster, and in local councils, but it has been surpassed in recent elections by Sinn Féin, which last year took up the first minister post in the Northern Ireland Executive for the first time. The party's position at the top has weakened as smaller rivals like the Traditional Unionist Voice, or TUV, have pressed their case. The conference comes amid a swirl of polling and political analysis about how unionist votes are shifting.

Michelle McIlveen's elevation as deputy leader in March marked a generational transition within the party as it navigates competition from the TUV. The TUV, led by Jim Allister, has presented a challenge to DUP supremacy, albeit one that has yet to translate into sustained electoral gains. A LucidTalk poll published in recent weeks showed the DUP at around 17 percent with the TUV close behind in third place at roughly 13 percent, ahead of Alliance, the SDLP and the UUP. The DUP's message to supporters continues to be framed around opposition to post-Brexit trade rules, known as the Irish Sea border, even as opponents argue that such rhetoric has limited appeal in final tallies.

Analysts warn that the TUV has not disappeared, and its support could dent the DUP's share in future elections. Gareth Gordon, BBC News NI political correspondent, notes that the TUV remains a potential spoiler, and that the DUP’s ability to unify the broader unionist vote will be tested at the 2027 campaign. The stakes are high as Sinn Féin consolidates power in Stormont and opposition parties seek to recalibrate the unionist axis after years of DUP dominance. Attacks on Sinn Féin have intensified since assembly members returned from the summer break, underscoring the volatility of the period and the challenge of rallying backing around a common platform. Naomi Long, the Alliance leader, has already signaled that the DUP's 2027 strategy is underway.

On the Ulster Unionists and the broader poll landscape, observers have warned that parties must manage split loyalties among unionist voters. The UUP itself has shown resilience, and some insiders say the DUP cannot outpace the TUV in certain districts without a more co-operative approach. The mood around the conference suggests a push to present a united front on core unionist priorities while resisting the risk of fragmentation that could drag down voter turnout and create space for Sinn Féin to advance.

As the DUP conference continues, political watchers will be watching for concrete proposals, especially on cross-unionist collaboration and how the party intends to mobilize support ahead of future elections. The message from Robinson will be tested as he tries to balance appeasing party hardliners with appealing to a broader electorate that is increasingly contested by smaller rivals and shifting allegiances.