Closest matches to “Unionism has been failed by its MPs”
From other parties, ranked by how close their text is in meaning. Close in meaning is not the same as agreeing. Include TUV · Back to the release
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DUP failing Unionism - Empey
Lord Empey, Ulster Unionist Peer, says the DUP is failing Unionism by its Stormont boycott over the NI Protocol and Windsor Framework, citing poll figures showing Unionist voters are now a minority. He responds to Sir Jeffrey Donaldson's call to 'finish the job'.
Constitutional affairs Issue: DUP Stormont boycott and opinion poll on Unionist support Original release: DUP failing Unionism - Empey (opens in a new tab)
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The battle goes on
DUP Leader Gavin Robinson says the DUP will vote against the Stormont arrangements on Tuesday, calling the Windsor Framework barriers to trade unacceptable and claiming the vote is rigged by Sinn Féin, Alliance and SDLP support. He also urges Unionists to co-operate ahead of the 2027 elections.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Democratic Consent vote on the Windsor Framework continuation Original release: The battle goes on (opens in a new tab)
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Donaldson - Protocol destroyed cross-community balance
DUP Leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson tells the Foreign Press Association in London that Stormont has no solid foundation unless the Protocol is replaced with arrangements unionists can support. He says the Protocol has eroded cross-community balance and that devolved government cannot work without its…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Original release: Donaldson - Protocol destroyed cross-community balance (opens in a new tab)
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We need a solution that unionists can support - Brett
DUP North Belfast MLA Phillip Brett, speaking from London at the EU-UK Parliamentary Partnership Assembly, says the Northern Ireland Protocol must be replaced with arrangements unionists can support. He claims it caused the Executive's collapse and calls for its replacement to restore Northern…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Parliamentary Partnership Assembly meeting at Westminster on Protocol talks Original release: We need a solution that unionists can support - Brett (opens in a new tab)
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Demographic Changes Demand Need For a Referendum For a Pluralist all Ireland Republic - Tóibín
Aontú Leader and Meath West TD Peadar Tóibín says census demographic results showing a Catholic-background majority in Northern Ireland's counties are hugely significant. He calls for reform of northern political institutions and a referendum within five years on a pluralist, democratic…
Constitutional affairs Issue: Catholics outnumbering Protestants in Northern Ireland census figures Original release: Demographic Changes Demand Need For a Referendum For a Pluralist all Ireland Republic - Tóibín (opens in a new tab)
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Bill is now the only route to restoring the constitutional balance in…
DUP Leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, speaking at the Second Reading of the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill, says the Bill aims to reset Northern Ireland's ties to the rest of the UK after the Protocol's economic and constitutional effects. He says it is recognition that the Protocol cannot continue as…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Northern Ireland Protocol Bill Second Reading in House of Commons Original release: Bill is now the only route to restoring the constitutional balance in… (opens in a new tab)
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Unionist Protections Are Non-Negotiable Amid Reform Debate
UUP MLA John Stewart warns against diluting the Belfast Agreement's cross-community protections, arguing that an SDLP motion on reforming the institutions, including removing ministers, sets a dangerous precedent and that reform must not proceed without unionist input.
Constitutional affairs Issue: SDLP motion on reform of Stormont cross-community consent for removing ministers Original release: Unionist Protections Are Non-Negotiable Amid Reform Debate (opens in a new tab)
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Unionism needs to influence our future directly from Stormont – Nicholson
UUP Vice-Chair and former MEP Jim Nicholson urges unionism to stop relying on wish-list politics and to push for influence through a restored Stormont, rejecting a return to Direct Rule. He says the Windsor Framework still needs fixing and that the DUP's conditions remain unmet.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Windsor Framework House of Commons votes Original release: Unionism needs to influence our future directly from Stormont – Nicholson (opens in a new tab)
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What Unionism needs now is strategy, not stubbornness - Stewart
UUP MLA John Stewart says the Stormont boycott has failed and warns Unionism faces a difficult position unless a solution to the Windsor Framework impasse is found by end of October. He argues Unionists should return to Stormont to make their case, warning a boycott could accelerate a border poll.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Stormont boycott over Windsor Framework impasse Original release: What Unionism needs now is strategy, not stubbornness - Stewart (opens in a new tab)
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The Suspension of Democracy In The North of Ireland Is Dangerous and Damaging – Tóibín
Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín condemns the British Government's decision to push back the timetable for reforming the Executive and Stormont elections to January 2024, calling the suspension dangerous and damaging. He calls for reform of the law underpinning Stormont and says Aontú is investigating a…
Constitutional affairs Issue: Stormont Executive reformation and elections timetable pushed back to January 2024 Original release: The Suspension of Democracy In The North of Ireland Is Dangerous and Damaging – Tóibín (opens in a new tab)
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DUP Conference 2022 - Stephen Dunne MLA
DUP MLA Stephen Dunne, addressing the 2022 DUP Annual Conference as North Down MLA, says the party offers grassroots representation and backs the Union, and argues Westminster is best placed to protect households facing soaring bills.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Original release: DUP Conference 2022 - Stephen Dunne MLA (opens in a new tab)
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Sir Jeffrey – Government needs to focus on replacing the Protocol
DUP Leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson MP says the Government must focus on replacing the Protocol with arrangements unionists can support before meeting the Secretary of State, warning there can be no stable Executive or Assembly until Northern Ireland's place in the UK internal market is restored. He…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Original release: Sir Jeffrey – Government needs to focus on replacing the Protocol (opens in a new tab)
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McIlveen Says Unionism Must Win 2027 Election
DUP Deputy Leader Michelle McIlveen tells supporters in Newry and Armagh that unionists must be focused and disciplined before the 2027 Assembly election, arguing divided unionism helps Sinn Fein and calling for a strong team of pro-union ministers.
Constitutional affairs Original release: McIlveen Says Unionism Must Win 2027 Election (opens in a new tab)
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Unionism has a decision to make – Beattie
UUP leader Doug Beattie MC MLA says the Windsor Framework offers opportunities and serious challenges, and calls for a functioning devolved government to address them. He argues the DUP boycott has failed after the vote on the Stormont brake and urges unionism to choose influence via the Assembly…
Constitutional affairs Issue: Commons vote on the Windsor Framework Original release: Unionism has a decision to make – Beattie (opens in a new tab)
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Assembly Election 2022
People Before Profit, standing twelve candidates in the Assembly election, says the DUP and Sinn Féin have jointly presided over austerity and calls for Stormont to launch a Hardship Emergency Fund with payments of at least £1,000 for the poorest households, funded partly by major energy firms and…
Economy and employment Social security and welfare Original release: Assembly Election 2022 (opens in a new tab)
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Lord Empey: Growing Intolerance Within Unionism for Differing Points of View
UUP peer Lord Empey says tolerance for differing views within unionism has declined, criticising the DUP's boycott of Stormont over the Protocol and Windsor Framework and the 'collaborators' label used against those favouring another path. He argues the Brexit negotiations and DUP-backed 2019…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Original release: Lord Empey: Growing Intolerance Within Unionism for Differing Points of View (opens in a new tab)
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Sir Jeffrey – A return to cross-community consensus can provide…
DUP Leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson calls for a return to cross-community consensus to restore devolution, ahead of the British Irish Council meeting in Blackpool and a Prime Minister-Taoiseach meeting. He says the Protocol's trade barriers must be removed in a way unionists can support.
Constitutional affairs Issue: British Irish Council meeting attended by British Prime Minister, November 2022 Original release: Sir Jeffrey – A return to cross-community consensus can provide… (opens in a new tab)
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Empey comments on Lord Benyon letter
Lord Empey, UUP peer and member of the Lords Committee on the Northern Ireland Protocol, says Lord Benyon's letter on physical infrastructure at NI ports is not the real reason for the checks, blaming the Government for sidelining the NI Department of Agriculture and calling for talks and a fresh…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Lord Benyon letter on Protocol green and red lanes Original release: Empey comments on Lord Benyon letter (opens in a new tab)
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Council of Europe warned that hostility to unionist concerns must end
DUP North Antrim MP Ian Paisley tells the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly that a report claiming Brexit caused human rights backsliding in Northern Ireland is wrong, and calls for unionist concerns about the Protocol to end being treated as expendable.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: PACE report on Brexit and human rights in Ireland debate Original release: Council of Europe warned that hostility to unionist concerns must end (opens in a new tab)
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Assembly to debate first applicability motion on new EU law
The DUP says it has tabled an applicability motion giving the Assembly its first vote on whether EU Regulation 2023/2411, expanding EU intellectual property law, should apply in Northern Ireland. Sir Jeffrey Donaldson MP says the party will vote against it and urges others to join.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Assembly applicability motion on EU Regulation 2023/2411 intellectual property law Original release: Assembly to debate first applicability motion on new EU law (opens in a new tab)
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DUP to Trigger Stormont Brake Over New EU Customs Rules
DUP Upper Bann MLA Jonathan Buckley says the party will seek to activate the Stormont Brake against new EU customs rules, which he claims would add red tape, costs and delays for trade with Great Britain. He urges MLAs to back a DUP petition asking the Speaker to object to the legislation.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: Stormont brake request on EU customs regulations Original release: DUP to Trigger Stormont Brake Over New EU Customs Rules (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 8 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Burrows: More money must come with greater responsibility
UUP leader Jon Burrows MLA urges the Assembly's final session of this mandate to focus on quality over volume, passing fewer, better Bills with proper committee scrutiny, and calls for any extra budget funding to come with wiser spending and waste reduction.
Public finance and taxation Constitutional affairs Original release: Burrows: More money must come with greater responsibility (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 11 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Progress is only made by consensus – Sir Jeffrey
DUP Leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson MP urges the UK-EU Inter-Parliamentary Partnership Assembly to accept that cross-community agreement is essential in Northern Ireland, arguing the Protocol was doomed without unionist backing and that Stormont and cross-border bodies will return only once it is…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Original release: Progress is only made by consensus – Sir Jeffrey (opens in a new tab)
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The Public call for a Stormont return is growing louder - Butler
UUP MLA Robin Butler says calls for a Stormont return are growing, arguing unionist voters, not commentators, are pushing the DUP back into government. He cites pay freezes, roads, health services and cost-of-living pressures, and says canvassing in Lagan Valley shows strong support for Stormont…
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Original release: The Public call for a Stormont return is growing louder - Butler (opens in a new tab)
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Protocol must be replaced with arrangements unionists can support
DUP Leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson MP urges the Government to consider the Supreme Court judgement and its own arguments in the case, and to replace the Protocol with arrangements unionists can support.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Supreme Court ruling on Northern Ireland Protocol lawfulness Original release: Protocol must be replaced with arrangements unionists can support (opens in a new tab)
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Ulster Unionist Party Encourage Signing of Stormont Brake.
UUP MLA Dr Steve Aiken, who sits on the Windsor Framework scrutiny committee, urges all MLAs to back applying the Stormont Brake to EU chemical labelling Regulation 2024/2865. He says the committee has failed and that the UUP supports the first use of the brake.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Stormont Brake request on EU chemical labelling regulation Original release: Ulster Unionist Party Encourage Signing of Stormont Brake. (opens in a new tab)
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Attacking fellow unionists doesn’t strengthen unionism
DUP North Belfast MLA Phillip Brett says criticism of the DUP from fellow unionists will do little to counter non-unionist electoral gains. He points to lost unionist seats in Strangford, North Antrim and East Antrim after the last Assembly election, blaming a splintered unionist vote rather than…
Constitutional affairs Issue: 2022 Assembly election unionist vote splintering and seat losses Original release: Attacking fellow unionists doesn’t strengthen unionism (opens in a new tab)
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Ignoring unionists will never deliver a balanced outcome
DUP MLA Diane Dodds, Upper Bann, says she briefed European Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee members at Parliament Buildings and urged them to consider the unionist viewpoint. She says ignoring unionists will not produce durable outcomes and that Stormont cannot be restored until Northern…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: MEPs Foreign Affairs Committee visit to Parliament Buildings Original release: Ignoring unionists will never deliver a balanced outcome (opens in a new tab)
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Sir Jeffrey : Committed to building a more cohesive unionism
DUP Leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson tells Kilkeel members that unionist seats were lost due to fractures within unionism, citing 12 unionist votes returning only 9 MLAs across Strangford, North Antrim and East Antrim. He welcomes new members to the South Down association and calls for greater unity…
Constitutional affairs Original release: Sir Jeffrey : Committed to building a more cohesive unionism (opens in a new tab)
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Wilson slams TUV’s absurd & self-destructive plan
DUP MP Sammy Wilson accuses the TUV and Reform UK of a plan to split unionist votes at the next Westminster election, claiming it would hand seats to the Alliance Party and benefit Sinn Fein, and rejects their claim that the DUP is not real unionist.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Original release: Wilson slams TUV’s absurd & self-destructive plan (opens in a new tab)