DUP leader warns divided unionism hands opponents the advantage, calls for greater party unity

The leader of Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party, Gavin Robinson, told his annual conference that "when unionism is divided, our opponents prosper," signaling a push for greater unity among unionist parties as Northern Ireland's politics realign. He also acknowledged that the Northern Ireland Assembly is not perfect but rejected the idea that people would be better off with Starmer leading the rest of the United Kingdom than with Stormont.

The conference, held outside Belfast, is Robinson's second as DUP leader and the second since devolution was restored in 2024 after a two-year hiatus. The DUP had blocked the institutions in protest over post-Brexit trade rules but ended its boycott following a deal with the UK government. Under pressure, the DUP now shares power at Stormont with Sinn Féin, the Alliance Party and the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP), but it has faced challenges from smaller rivals such as the Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) in recent elections.

At the event, Robinson is expected to renew calls for greater cooperation among unionist parties. He will say that "no party or personality should ever trump our shared strategic aims." He will also state, "Under my leadership, we will be strong, but we will not be selfish," arguing that the party is committed to governance rooted in reality. He will add that any suggestion that Northern Ireland would be better off with a Labour-led government at Westminster—under Sir Keir Starmer—lacks evidence of a single policy or area where devolution would be worse.

Michelle McIlveen, a former Stormont minister, was elected deputy leader in March, marking the first leadership team change since the party returned to power-sharing after the 2024 restoration of devolved government. Robinson is expected to emphasize the DUP's support for remaining part of Northern Ireland's devolved government, arguing that things happen when DUP ministers hold office.

Analysts note that the traditional engine of unionist politics remains divided, with the TUV continuing to contest the DUP's dominance. Gareth Gordon, BBC News NI political correspondent, points out that the TUV has long been a vocal challenger, and recent polling suggests a tightened field: a LucidTalk poll placed the DUP around 17% and the TUV close behind in third on 13%, ahead of Alliance, the SDLP and the UUP. That dynamic matters because transfer dynamics in proportional representation systems make it difficult for larger parties to shrug off smaller rivals, and exaggerated claims about erasing the Irish Sea border continue to shape the contest.

The campaign environment is further complicated by tensions around Sinn Féin, which returned to government previously and took the first minister post in the Northern Ireland Executive for the first time last year. The recent surge in attacks on Sinn Féin since assembly members returned from the summer break has raised concerns about security and political rhetoric ahead of future elections. Naomi Long, leader of the Alliance Party, has already signaled that the DUP's assembly election strategy for 2027 has begun, underscoring the multi-party contest in which unionists and nationalists alike jockey for influence. The Ulster Unionists have offered warnings about competing with the DUP’s traditional stance, echoing the old adage that you cannot out-DUP the DUP—and now possibly adding, you cannot out-TUV the TUV.

The conference, the first since McIlveen became deputy leader, underscores a broader shift in Northern Ireland's political landscape as parties navigate a power-sharing framework that remains fragile and highly competitive. The event serves as a barometer for how unionist parties plan to collaborate—or compete—while balancing the realities of governance in Stormont and the ongoing effects of post-Brexit trade arrangements.