DUP MLA Jonathan Buckley said at the weekend that individual parties need to get over themselves and put the country first in future Westminster elections, appearing to hint at support for more independent candidates in certain constituencies. Party leader Gavin Robinson and Mr Buckley had both singled out the success of Alex Easton in reclaiming the North Down during the DUP conference. Advertisement Advertisement Did you know with an ad-lite subscription to NorthernIrelandWorld, you get 70% fewer ads while viewing the news that matters to you.
The News Letter asked Mr Robinson about the remarks, and whether greater representation for unionism could be best achieved outside party politics by having more independent candidates. “I don’t know, we can talk about all of that. I think what is very clear to say is, as it comes to unionist infighting – I’m not interested.
I won’t be interested. I don’t go on your pages and the pages of other newspapers continually attacking other unionists because it doesn’t help us. It doesn’t help collectively in what we say is our stated aim.
That’s to protect Northern Ireland’s place within the United Kingdom and strengthen those bonds”, he said. The DUP boss said he hoped others will “engage positively” because the public “recognise the cost of not doing so, as has been demonstrated in the last election”. Unionism held the same number of seats overall in the general election, however the DUP lost three – to Alli.