TUV denies one-to-one talks with DUP on unionist unity - saying any co-operation must be based on sea border 'resistance'

However, the TUV says any unionist unity must be based on “resistance” to the Irish Sea border, accusing the DUP and UUP of walking away from a united front by returning to Stormont before its removal.

​It comes after a survey published in Saturday’s News Letter showed that an overwhelming majority of respondents wanted a unionist merger. However, views were split on how that would be best achieved.

On Saturday, the DUP leader told party members that Unionism’s “collective voice and clout will be stronger if we work together and our people can see a plan of action which they can help shape and then support”.

Mr Robinson said he was open to talks about “how we might best strengthen pro-Union co-operation” – adding that he had “previously met with Jim Allister and he knows we stand ready to co-operate to maximise unionist representation”.

In response, a TUV spokesperson said: “We note the DUP’s recent letter. However, there are some critical truths that must be stated plainly.

“First, we must make it unequivocally clear that there have been no one-to-one meetings with the TUV leader or representatives of the party.

“The reality is that the DUP walked away from unionist unity, and that decision has had consequences. Their abandonment of consistent, collective opposition to the Protocol fractured an agreed unionist position and fundamentally weakened the Union. That fracture now means the DUP can scarcely even mention the Protocol — certainly not without reminding people of their own broken promises”.

Jim Allister’s party said it would “welcome the DUP and the UUP back to this ground of unity”.

However, it said that must be based on “principled, unambiguous opposition to the Protocol’s implementation as it currently stands, and on a clear articulation that protecting the Union requires rejecting its operational impact”.