DUP leader Gavin Robinson said he had met UUP Jon Burrows and sees to TUV leader Jim Allister regularly.
Unionists will not tolerate “egos” scuppering the “huge opportunity” that is next year’s Stormont Assembly election, DUP leader Gavin Robinson has said.
Mr Robinson said unionists want to see unionist parties co-operating, and revealed he has met with UUP leader Jon Burrows and has more meetings planned.
The last Assembly election in 2022 saw Sinn Féin make history by being the first non-unionist party to top the poll, and Michelle O’Neill become the first nationalist First Minister.
Then Sinn Féin (27 MLAs) finished two seats ahead of the DUP (25), which now has 26 Assembly seats following the co-option of Peter Martin after the election of independent Alex Easton to Westminster in 2024.
Asked whether he believes his party can top the poll and reclaim the post of first minister, Mr Robinson described a “huge opportunity for the wider unionist community” and called for unionist parties to co-operate.
He said the UUP benefited from co-operation in the past, referring to the election of Tom Elliott to the Fermanagh South Tyrone Westminster seat in 2015.
“If 2022 taught us anything it’s that division costs – there are fewer unionists around the Executive table because of division within unionism, and so I believe that in this election in May, unionism can win if it is prepared to co-operate,” he told Press Association.
“I am willing to co-operate with other unionists. That’s not a new thing. I benefited from co-operation in 2015.
“The Ulster Unionists benefited from co-operation in 2015, and actually throughout the history of our party there has been a willingness to co-operate within the wider strategic interests of unionism.
“It’s not for us; it’s to advance the principles that we have, the benefits of being in being in the United Kingdom, the benefits from Northern Ireland, and benefiting through cultural and historic and family and economic ties right throughout this United Kingdom, being a part of the sixth largest economy in the world, all of that is beneficial for Northern Ireland and for all of our people.
“The opportunity is for unionism to win, but it’ll only happen, if individual parties with, sometimes simply nuanced differences, are able to co-operate and collaborate to deliver for people rather than only ourselves.”
Mr Robinson said it is also an opportunity for TUV leader Jim Allister and his party.
“I don’t think anyone should have veto on this process. I don’t think anyone should come in with preconceived notions or an agenda, because the people that we represent require it,” he said.
“They’re asking it of us. I’m more than willing to have those conversations, and I’ll do that in a collective way.
“Whether others are as enthusiastic or not remains to be seen but these conversations need to happen privately, I don’t think it’s worth going through all of the options or all of the various twists and turns.
“What I know is our electorate require it. They ask it all of us.
“They will not tolerate egos getting in the way, and nor will they tolerate some misplaced ambition to upturn party strengths, party positions, they’ll not take that only to find that in May 2027, unionism collectively is weakened and diminished because individual leaders prepared for themselves first, rather than collective calls.”
He added: “I see Jim quite often in Westminster. He knows that there’s an interest in these discussions.
“We’ve had previous discussions that were hosted with the Orange Order in Schomburg House about wider co-operation.
“But I think the onus is on all of us to engage productively and with an open mind and faithfully in these discussions.”
Earlier this year, Mr Burrows said he was prepared to talk to any unionist about maximising the unionist vote, but also said he was aiming to see the UUP return to its former strength of being the largest unionist party.
