Lord Empey: The DUP have no-one to blame but themselves for this disastrous election for unionism
It is normal for any political party to do this, but for unionism, this election was truly awful.
In the outgoing assembly there were 40 MLAs who designated themselves as unionist: in this assembly there will be 37!
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Hide AdThis is equivalent to 41% of the membership of Stormont, a drop from 44% in the previous mandate.
If we go back further, to 2003, the picture gets really shocking.
In that year, Ian Paisley and the DUP took over leadership of unionism from David Trimble and the Ulster Unionists.
In that assembly, 55% of the seats were occupied by unionists.
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Hide AdIan Paisley inherited a majority of the electorate, 51%, giving 1st preferences to pro Union candidates.
Last week this dropped to 42%.
With nearly 20 years leading unionism, I think Sir Jeffrey Donaldson and his party need to reflect on these damming statistics.
They have nobody else to blame.
Recent tactics over the threat of a border poll, for which there is no evidence in the election results, and the disastrous policy they framed at St Andrews over the first minister position, have now come home to roost.
Under the rules negotiated in the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement, the first minister was to come from the largest party in the largest designation (either unionist or nationalist) and the deputy first minister from the largest party in the next largest designation (either unionist or nationalist).
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Hide AdThis was changed at St Andrews at the insistence of the DUP and Sinn Fein so that the first minister comes from the largest party regardless of designation.
We see the result of that before our eyes.
If the DUP had left things alone Sir Jeffrey would be first minister this week and not Sinn Fein.
Hoist by their own petard!
• Lord (Reg) Empey is a former leader of the Ulster Unionist Party who now sits in the House of Lords
• Other commentary:
• John Cushnahan: SF hypocrisy to attack DUP leader over MP seat while boycotting Westminster
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Hide Ad• Peter Robinson May 11: Ignore those who are urging DUP to just go back into Stormont
• 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
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Hide Ad• Editorial May 10: If Irish language gets pledge today so must an overhaul of protocol
• Owen Polley May 9: Unionists have an issue with sectarian SF, not with nationalism
• Henry McDonald May 9: A few facts are in order amid breathless reportage about SF
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Hide Ad• Emma Little Pengelly May 9: There has been no increase in the nationalist vote in 25 years
• Editorial May 9: It is clear that unionists need to have option of voting for a liberal party
• Ben Lowry May 7: Unionism now faces a considerable challenge in how to go forward
• Henry McDonald May 7: Sinn Fein’s day in the sun but no new dawn for Irish unity
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Hide Ad• Editorial May 7: Unionism more than ever needs London’s help on the protocol
• Ben Lowry May 7: Unionist overall vote stays ahead of nationalist total, albeit narrowly
• Brian John Spencer: Unionism was given no wriggle room by nationalism