TUV can win - and 'more Timothy Gastons' would change Stormont forever - Jim Allister

The TUV leader has also hailed the work of his sole MLA in the assembly – and said the political landscape could be changed forever if there were “more Timothy Gastons” elected.

Mr Allister has insisted that his party is now in a position to win in the upcoming assembly elections, as the party launched its youth wing with an all-male panel.

The Windsor Framework was again front and centre of the party’s platform, with Mr Allister warning that the protocol had achieved what the IRA was unable to – and push the border from Newry to Larne.

He said the “iniquitous” arrangements had been cemented in by the DUP with the "dud Donaldson deal” – and the “lies” told about the removal of checks and paperwork on the Irish Sea border.

Sinn Fein and the “thin-skinned” Alliance Party also came in for criticism, as Mr Allister slammed Stormont, saying it was not delivering for the public.

Addressing the guest speaker, Reform UK MP Danny Kruger, Mr Allister said he would be a far better occupant of Hillsborough Castle than the current Secretary of State Hilary Benn.

The TUV boss said his party would look to any government of which Reform is a part to fully restore NI’s place within the UK and “complete, not stymie, Brexit”.

He said he also looked forward to “moral clarity” at a national level from a future government that “knows what a man is and knows what a woman is”.

Mr Allister told the party faithful: “And a government that resists the radical trans agenda… that refuses puberty blockers to children and a government that makes sure there is parity of law on this subject across the whole UK on all those issues. We must be subject to the rulings of the UK Supreme Court, not the European Court of Justice.”

He highlighted another iniquity of the protocol, with a recent ECJ ruling saying gender choice trumps biological sex.

“That is poisonous perversion to which no part of the UK should be subject.

“We also need a government that unashamedly puts the British people first and actually stops rampant immigration. And that includes closing the back door that is the Irish border.”

The North Antrim MP said that “immigration is out of control in this country, to the point that it is redefining our communities and pushing public services to breaking point”.

There was praise for his successor in the assembly, Mr Gaston, who he said was the only MLA in Stormont worth a pay rise.

Mr Allister rejected the assertion by the DUP that the electorate face a choice at the next election between ‘Stormont or Starmer’.

“The choice is not Stormont or soon to be gone, Starmer, but enabling Sinn Fein or dumping SF. Pandering to SF or facing down SF... partnering SF or divorcing SF.

“When will the DUP have had enough of SF’s unfaithfulness to Northern Ireland; their desertion of good government and their unreasonable behaviour in lauding the murderers of our people,” he said.

There were also speeches from Mr Gaston, Mr Kruger and TUV deputy leader Ron McDowell.

TUV Youth was launched in the afternoon, where contributors blasted the DUP’s record in government – and said the TUV would be an uncompromising voice for unionism.

A call to revisit legislation on abortion and same-sex marriage received a warm reception in the conference hall, as youth members emphasised the importance of the Christian faith in their politics.

Kirk Wilson said the DUP had taken the opportunity, when they became the largest party, to “put terrorists into government” – claiming they had done so “for a ministerial car and a salary – and that’s completely wrong”.

He said public services are crumbling, including in the health service, policing and schools.

“Our local schools are closed down, while Irish language schools can open with very few pupils. Schools that have been at the heart of their communities for generations are closed, just because they are controlled, mainly Protestant schools,” he added.