Gavin Robinson, after his unanimous confirmation as the leader of the DUP, vowed to persist in his opposition to an Irish Sea border. Since April 2021, following the resignation of his predecessor Jeffrey Donaldson over historical sexual offences, Mr Robinson has been acting as interim leader. His promise to the DUP party was to lead them with honour, humility and commitment into the future.
The faithful leader in his address to fellow DUP members in Lisburn argued that the individuals of Northern Ireland had been neglected in the formulation of the post-Brexit protocol, which he claimed was forced upon them without any support from a unionist representative. According to him, this has disrupted the formerly stable political equilibrium in Northern Ireland, precipitating a loss of confidence among the unionists.
It is noteworthy that after a two-year non-engagement with the devolved government in Northern Ireland, the DUP came to a mutual understanding with the British government regarding post-Brexit scenarios in February. Assurances concerning Northern Ireland’s status in the union and mitigation steps to cut through the bureaucratic red tape on Irish Sea trade influenced Donaldson’s choice to reintegrate his party into Stormont.
Despite this, a considerable fraction of the DUP’s elected officers are not satisfied with the agreement; stating it doesn’t provide a comprehensive resolution to the controversial “Irish Sea border”, which they are determined to do away with.
Mr Robinson also expressed his displeasure with the Conservative Party, blaming them for some of the major issues facing Northern Ireland. He pointed out that the decision to rejoin the Stormont assembly was made to ensure that local decisions could be met at a regional level, rather than by Conservative ministers through direct rule.
Although the proposal didn’t completely solve the long-term issues resulting from the protocol, he acknowledged that it comprised some significant benefits.
The leader of the DUP conveyed an emphatic message that the party is committed to re-establishing Northern Ireland’s role within the United Kingdom, regardless of whether the government is led by Labour or Conservative. This involves opposing the enforcement of EU law in Northern Ireland and eliminating the internal border between Ireland and Northern Ireland, a sentiment that was received with applause.
Moreover, he used the gathering to officially announce the general election candidates representing their party. These included Gregory Campbell for East Londonderry, Sammy Wilson in East Antrim, Jim Shannon in Strangford, and Ian Paisley representing North Antrim. East Belfast named Gavin Robinson, with Paul Girvan for South Antrim, Carla Lockhart in Upper Bann, and Jonathan Buckley vying for Lagan Valley. North Belfast will see Phillip Brett, while South Belfast and Mid Down have Tracy Kelly. West Belfast selected Frank McCoubrey, Foyle chose Gary Middleton, with Tom Buchanan in West Tyrone and Keith Buchanan for Mid-Ulster. South Down will be represented by Diane Forsyth, and Gareth Wilson will handle Newry and Armagh. – PA