Nigel Dodds: Reg Empey is attacking other unionists when voters want a united approach

Lord Empey (‘DUP have no-one to blame but themselves for disastrous election,’ May 12, see link below) points to a fall in unionist seats in the Northern Ireland Assembly to 37 from 40 in the previous term.

Whilst spotting the symptom, as all too often in the past he manages to miss the root cause.

At the election there were three constituencies where unionist seats were lost.

Across North Antrim, East Antrim and Strangford, sufficient votes were cast to return 12 unionist MLAs yet only 9 were elected.

A fractured unionist vote and a failure transfer to all pro-Union candidates saw those three seats he points to lost.

Lord Empey also refers to issues for which there is no evidence yet then levels a charge that it was at St Andrews that changes occurred in relation to the election of a first minister.

Having referenced evidence it would be useful if he can produce a single sentence from the St Andrews Agreement which delivered that change. A desire to attack other unionists serves no purpose other than fuelling division and weakening the pro-Union cause.

That is the clear lesson to be drawn from this election — a united and cohesive unionism is not only what the unionist community what to see, but is what can ensure maximum unionist representation.

The unionist community want and expect better from all of us who stand publicly to promote our place within the United Kingdom.

As unionists we all share much more in common than divides us.

A shared commitment to promoting and enhancing that common cause will not just strengthen unionism, but can see increased unionist representation within the Northern Ireland Assembly and elsewhere.

Lord Dodds of Duncairn, House of Lords

• Lord Empey: The DUP have no-one to blame but themselves for disastrous election

• Other commentary:

• Samuel Morrison: The TUV got 8% of the vote in Northern Ireland and can no longer be ignored

• Peter Robinson May 11: Ignore those who are urging DUP to just go back into Stormont

• John Cushnahan: SF hypocrisy to attack DUP leader over MP seat while boycotting Westminster

• Editorial: Any elaborate legacy system is likely to turn against the state

• Editorial May 11: Liz Truss hints at action on NI Protocol but unionists are right to be wary

• Ruth Dudley Edwards May 10: The nationalist vote is nowhere near enough for border poll

• Editorial May 10: If Irish language gets pledge today so must an overhaul of protocol

• Ben Lowry May 9: The TUV vote surge should have been one of the main stories of the election

• Owen Polley May 9: Unionists have an issue with sectarian SF, not with nationalism