Letter: A short‑term electoral setback could create the space necessary for new leadership and more strategic forms of political unionism to emerge
A letter from Kirk McDowell:
The sensational conviction of Jeffrey Donaldson and its subsequent fallout have left the DUP in its weakest strategic position in years, both organisationally and reputationally.
It is becoming increasingly clear that the party was overly dependant on Donaldson’s personal political brand, and that has been hollowed out by career‑driven politicians who prioritise personal advancement over principled decision‑making.
These weaknesses were exposed most clearly in the party’s decision to restore the Executive through their sordid ‘Safeguarding the Union’ deal made with the Tories in 2024.
What best illustrates the DUP’s fallen state, however, was not simply the leadership’s decision to reverse its core manifesto pledge, but the complete absence of internal dissent that followed.
That silence speaks volumes about the party’s internal culture and the grip its leadership exerts over members.
It also highlights a deeper structural problem within the party that cannot be easily resolved. When so many members are elected representatives, genuine independence of thought becomes almost impossible.
A party built around personal networks and political careers does not encourage scrutiny or fresh thinking. Instead, it becomes self‑protective, inward‑looking, and focused primarily on retaining political offices and their associate salaries.
Yet the DUP continues to survive…for now. It does so largely because unionist voters have repeatedly accepted the narrative that they must vote for the party or risk handing seats to Sinn Féin or Alliance (ironically the DUP’s partners in government). This fear-based message is recycled at every election, trapping unionism in a cycle where poor leadership is rewarded rather than challenged.
If unionism is to develop a long‑term strategy to resist the Irish Sea border, that cycle must be broken. Doing so may require short‑term electoral pain. Unionist voters must now become willing to withhold even lower‑preference votes from the DUP, even if this results in temporary gains for nationalism.
Such an outcome would undoubtedly be difficult for many to accept, but a short‑term electoral setback could create the space necessary for new leadership, renewed vigour and more strategic forms of political unionism to emerge.
The alternative is to continue following a party where careerism dominates, allowing the Union to continue to erode not only through external pressure but through internal complacency.
Kirk McDowell, Belfast BT5