The leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), Jeffrey Donaldson, told a meeting in London on Monday that nationalism was not the dominant view in Northern Ireland as the majority of its people still favoured remaining in the UK.
Donaldson stated that “many of our objectives” had been achieved thanks to the Safeguarding the Union deal. The statements came after the DUP ended its boycott of the Northern Ireland parliament (Stormont) after agreeing a new deal with the British government on post-Brexit trade rules.
“What we have achieved takes us a long way in that direction. Two years ago, it wasn’t possible to buy British standard goods in many of our supermarkets in Northern Ireland…all of those goods are available in our supermarkets.”
Post-Brexit checks on goods from the UK to Northern Ireland will be cancelled, despite the European Union declaring in 2021 that the bloc “will not return to the negotiating table [and] the protocols will not be negotiated.”
The Northern Ireland Protocol, the first post-Brexit trade deal with the EU, provided for checks on goods from the UK entering Northern Ireland. Although it was amended in 2023 by a new protocol called the Windsor Framework, the DUP has expressed opposition to the scheme.
Donaldson emphasised that the majority of people support remaining in the UK, reminding that the Sinn Fein party received less than 30 per cent of the vote, which is “well below” the 50 per cent majority. Stating that not a single person had died as a result of political disagreements in Northern Ireland in 2023, Donaldson highlighted that this was an indication of the progress they had made.
However, he added that they want to do more, noting that Northern Ireland’s first 25 years were dedicated to fostering peace, with two things to be done over the next 25 years.
“Firstly, dealing with the legacy of our troubled times, which is going to be difficult and painful… and secondly, prosperity.”
Asked whether they would work with Sinn Fein on a cease-fire in Gaza, the DUP leader claimed a cease-fire “does not work.” Donaldson commented that it should ultimately be up to the Israelis and Palestinians to make decisions and take action.
“Our solution is not the solution for the Middle East, but there are key lessons that can be drawn from that experience. It is my view that Hamas should release the hostages and that Israel should respond to that.”
