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The Irish Times · Alex Kane · 2026-11-06 06:00 UTC

Unionism seems determined to cannibalise itself – a consequence of an Orange Order parade that was supposed to be a victory

The resignation of Carla Lockhart has reduced the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) to four MPs – three of whom are in their 70s and unlikely to contest the next general election, while the other, leader Gavin Robinson, is under enormous internal and external pressure.

Four recently held DUP seats are now held by Alliance, Sinn Féin, Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) and Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV). Former DUP MLA Alex Easton sits as the independent unionist MP for North Down and Lockhart will be the independent unionist for Upper Bann.

All of which means huge problems for the DUP, not least because none of the seats it presently holds or hopes to regain can be slotted into the bankable or probable columns.

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