Unionism

Lagan Valley MLA Robbie Butler has welcomed Mike Nesbitt's candidature and said he is right for the role 'at this time'. Pic credit: Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye.

​Butler says Mike Nesbitt is right for leader role ‘at this time’

A merged party delivering effective public services and growing the economy is best placed to grow much-needed support for the Union, writes Graham Nevin

Letter: Opportunity for broader unionism to deliver twin strategy

Rev Mervyn Gibson at the Derriaghy Twelfth demonstration 2024. Photo: David Thompson

Unionism could have less to fear from Labour after the Tory let down

Unionism lost Lagan Valley in last week’s election due to a splintering of the vote. Why do we need a multitude of unionist parties? asks Philip Smith

Philip Smith: Time for unionism to reflect, change and realign

The TUV’s Jim Allister was among the newly elected unionist MPs. Last week's election will be seen in the years ahead as an overall good election for Northern Ireland, writes Stevan Patterson

Letter: Diverse unionist field of MPs will prove good for Union

Last week's election saw unionists from three different parties elected, along with an independent unionist. Modern unionism must win back votes from middle of the road parties, writes Phil Kennedy

Letter: Unionist vote isn't big enough to be divided anymore

While less demanding than the full Northern Ireland Protocol, which was never implemented and thus never experienced, the green lane customs border will still fetter the flow of goods within the UK, dividing the country into two, writes Dan Boucher

Dan Boucher: Unionism must take a stand for democracy

Ulster Unionist Party Leader Doug Beattie claims the DUP lost Lagan Valley through “sheer arrogance and a sense of entitlement”. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye.

Beattie slams ‘arrogance and entitlement’ of DUP

The first past the post electoral system has led to a totally distorted UK-wide election outcome. It could begin to hurt unionists. Photo: Jacob King/PA Wire

Ben Lowry: Ten less noticed aspects of the NI general election outcome

Jim Shannon makes his acceptance speech after retaining his Strangford seat  Pic: Liam McBurney/PA Wire

Strangford: Unionism loses when it is divided, warns Jim Shannon

DUP Candidate for East Londonderry Gregory Campbell (Left) talllies votes at Meadowbank Sports Arena, Magherafelt, during the count for the 2024 General Election. Picture date: Thursday July 4, 2024. PA Photo. See PA story POLITICS Election Ulster. Photo credit should read: Niall Carson/PA Wire

Gregory Campbell under pressure from Sinn Fein in East Londonderry

Morning View

Editorial: Every unionist vote matters - and in all seats

TUV deputy leader Ron McDowell speaking at the party's conference in Kells earlier this year.

TUV: Unionism has been failed by its MPs

Morning View

Editorial: Robinson right to point out the lack of progress towards all Ireland

A non-party political campaign to increase voter turnout in unionist and loyalist communities in Northern Ireland has been launched by the Lets Talk Loyalism group.

Get The Brits Out! (To Vote)

Jim Allister said Nigel Farage has made some "dubious utterances" about Northern Ireland.

Allister rejects Farage's views on Russia

Jim Allister says he hasn’t spoken to Nigel Farage since his endorsement of two DUP rivals – and has distanced himself from the Reform UK leader’s views on issues such as Russia.

David Thompson

Unionists are battling it out for votes in next month’s election. There have been some concern about the unionist vote being split too many ways.

Letter: ​Strategic error from TUV in general election

TUV leader Jim Allister speaking during a public meeting on the Irish Sea border at Moygashel Orange Hall.. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA Wire

Jim Allister: ​Voters know who to trust

Ulster Unionist Party leader Doug Beattie was speaking on the BBC Nolan Show as the election battle gets underway.

Doug Beattie denies vote splitting and says pacts cost unionism votes

Letters to editor

Letter: Unionism must learn to have self-belief

Letters to editor

Letter: Rev takes a pastoral part in Ireland forum yet the event is political

Today’s event will hear from former taoiseach Bertie Ahern, pictured here in Belfast last year at an event marking 25 years of the Belfast Agreement (Getty)

Unionism should give no credence to Irish unity event says Jim Allister

Ten men died as a result of the Kingsmill atrocity. The mass shooting took place on January 5, 1976 near the village of Whitecross in south County Armagh

Letter: Unionism must abandon powersharing

Richard Tice of Reform and Jim Allister as with Ben Habib (Reform UK) and Cllr Ron McDowell

TUV and Reform pact is about strengthening NI’s position in the UK

Despite attempts to suppress violence, Stormont was suspended in 1972. When unionists looked for strong political leadership in the early Troubles it was absent

Letter: Unionism is fractured in face of united nationalism and republicanism

Naomi Long celebrates Stephen Farry's election as North Down MP in 2019. Alliance is the only winner in the DUP-UUP quarrel, yet the latter parties have no significant policy differences. They should recognise the importance of recuperating their combined strength at Westminster. Pic Laura Davison/Pacemaker

Dean Godson: A united unionism is the prize: political realism is the price

Ulster Unionist Party leader Doug Beattie and members of his party pictured in the Great hall in Stormont

Beattie says ‘very personal’ spat between DUP and TUV is damaging unionism

​Doug Beattie says his party’s position on the DUP’s Stormont boycott has prevailed – and that the “very personal” spat between the DUP and TUV is “both unedifying and damaging to wider unionism”.

David Thompson

TUV Bannside councillor and party treasurer Timothy Gaston has rejected DUP claims that the party is the “last line of defence of the Union”.

TUV reject Paisley claim that DUP is 'last line of defence for the Union'

Writing in the News Letter, DUP interim leader Gavin Robinson says he is "a proud and confident Unionist" - and the DUP is "the party with the strength to get things done". Photo: Jonathan McCambridge/PA Wire

Gavin Robinson: DUP makes no apology for supporting devolution

Both former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, and his Fine Gael colleague Simon Coveney have now left government.

Coveney ‘contempt’ for unionists​​​​​​​ – TUV

UUP leader Doug Beattie. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA

Unionists urged to 'reach forward with a vision' following Donaldson resignation

Letters to editor

Letter: The Orange Order is on the fence over the Irish Sea border

Former DUP leader Sit Jeffrey Donaldson. Photo: Jonathan Porter/PressEye

'Sense of unity' in DUP following departure of Sir Jeffrey Donaldson

Prof Jon Tongue says the resignation of Sir Jeffrey Donaldson as DUP leader poses serious challenges at many levels of the party.

Prof Jon Tonge: Loss of DUP leader poses serious challenges to party

TUV leader Jim Allister. Photo: Pacemaker

Sir Jeffrey Donaldson resignation: It has 'very wide ramifications for unionism'

DUP MP Gregory Campbell has accused the TUV of a "wrecking ball" approach to unionist politics

Echoes of past as unionism faces deal divisions

DUP MLA Phillip Brett says the TUV are pursuing a "scorched earth" policy by running against the DUP in the Westminster election.

Election campaign underway between DUP and TUV

TUV deputy leader Ron McDowell speaking at the party's conference in Kells

​TUV's McDowell: ‘we shall be dangerous’

The DUP leadership gave assurances that the Irish Sea border had been removed after they re-entered government earlier this year

Letter: ​DUP faces a difficult choice as General Election looms

TUV leader Jim Allister addresses Tuesday night's meeting in Carrickfergus Orange Hall

Jim Allister: 'Protocol implementers' are dividing unionism - not the TUV

Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has defended his decision to return to Stormont

Donaldson: Fully working Assembly the best way to build support for the Union

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at Stormont Castle to mark the return of power sharing on February 5. Saying that there is no sea border helps him and Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, not unionism. ​One reason for the unionist support for the deal is that it is widely believed that the Irish Sea border has been removed when it hasn’t been. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye

Ben Lowry: Unionism needs a debate - about pragmatism versus principle​

Sir Jeffrey Donaldson - who has previously ridiculed critics of his deal with the government - has told party members that he welcomes debate within unionism on the issue.

Donaldson ‘welcomes debate’ on deal

Lord Randolph Henry Spencer-Churchill was a political opportunist rather than a conviction politician

Why Lord Randolph Churchill agreed to play the ‘Orange card’ in 1886

Letters to editor

Letter: Unionism must stand firm and resolute against sea border

NEWTOWNARDS, NORTHERN IRELAND - JUNE 18: Traditional Unionist Voice party leader Jim Allister attends an anti-Northern Ireland Protocol protest rally on June 18, 2021 in Newtownards, Northern Ireland. (Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images)

Jim Allister encourages DUP members to consider rebelling and joining TUV

Unionism seems to have failed to grasp the importance of always being positive in politics; you must be the yes candidate, the go-ahead ones offering a bright shiny, future and change for the better, writes James Dingley

James Dingley: Unionists must learn to think if they want to save the Union

DUP MP Sammy Wilson (right) was always a supporter of a hard Brexit. Party leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson should learn to ignore him, writes Brian Wilson

Letter: Jeffrey Donaldson should ignore pied piper Sammy Wilson

DUP leader ​Sir Jeffrey Donaldson will push this week to secure a deal allowing a return of power-sharing at Stormont. Photo: Jonathan Porter / Press Eye

Former DUP SPAD: leak is about strength of feeling on Protocol

The DUP should present the relevant legal text of the proposed deal to John Larkin KC for his independent legal opinion as to whether, that which is proposed restores the guarantee of Article 6 of the Acts of Union and removes the Irish Sea border

Kate Hoey: DUP deal with the government needs the test of proper legal scrutiny

​PM Rishi Sunak explained the Windsor Framework to business leaders in Lisburn shortly after it was announced last February

Key week ahead for DUP as Sir Jeffrey consults unionists and loyalists

Jim Allister, leader of the TUV and MLA for North Antrim

'This is a defining moment for unionism - the DUP must remember its seven tests'

TUV leader Jim Allister has said that fundamental changes to the Windsor Framework is needed to remove the Irish Sea border.

Allister: Unionists must stand together against 'betrayal'

It's time for reconciliation with the UK government, writes Johnny Andrews

Letter: ​Unionism needs more friends at Westminster

Following the signing of the 1985 Anglo-Irish Agreement, tens of thousands took to the streets of Belfast as part of the ‘Ulster Says No’ campaign

Letter: Unionists need to wake up