Democratic Unionist Party facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Democratic Unionist Party
Abbreviation	DUP
Leader	Gavin Robinson
Chairman	The Lord Morrow
Lords Leader	The Lord Dodds of Duncairn
Deputy Leader	Gavin Robinson
Commons Leader	Gavin Robinson (interim)
General Secretary	Michelle McIlveen
Founder	Ian Paisley
Founded	30 September 1971; 53 years ago (1971-09-30)
Preceded by	Protestant Unionist Party
Headquarters	91 Dundela Avenue Belfast BT4 3BU
Ideology	British unionism British nationalism Ulster loyalism National conservatism Social conservatism Right-wing populism Euroscepticism
Political position	Centre-right to right-wing
Colours	Red, white, blue      Copper (customary)
House of Commons (NI seats)	Parliament dissolved
House of Lords	4 / 777
NI Assembly	25 / 90
Local government in Northern Ireland	122 / 462
Politics of Northern Ireland Political parties

The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) is a political party in Northern Ireland. It believes Northern Ireland should stay part of the United Kingdom. This belief is called unionism. The party was started in 1971 by Ian Paisley. He led the party for 37 years.

Currently, Gavin Robinson is the leader. The DUP is the second-largest party in the Northern Ireland Assembly. It was the fifth-largest party in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom before Parliament was dissolved. The DUP supports traditional values and wants to protect Britishness and Ulster Protestant culture. They are also against the UK being part of the European Union.

The DUP grew from the Protestant Unionist Party. It has strong ties to the Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster, which Ian Paisley also founded. For a long time, the DUP did not want to share power with Irish nationalist parties. They also did not want the Republic of Ireland involved in Northern Irish matters. They opposed agreements like the Sunningdale Agreement (1973), the Anglo-Irish Agreement (1985), and the Good Friday Agreement (1998).

The Ulster Unionist Party used to be the biggest unionist party. But by 2004, the DUP had more seats in the Northern Ireland Assembly and the UK House of Commons. In 2006, the DUP signed the St Andrews Agreement. The next year, they agreed to share power with Sinn Féin. Ian Paisley became the joint First Minister of Northern Ireland.

After Ian Paisley, Peter Robinson led the DUP from 2008 to 2015. Then Arlene Foster took over from 2015 to 2021. After her, Edwin Poots was leader briefly. He was replaced by Jeffrey Donaldson in June 2021. In February 2022, the DUP pulled out of the power-sharing government. This was a protest against new trade rules called the Northern Ireland Protocol. On January 30, 2024, the DUP agreed to restore power-sharing. Donaldson resigned in March 2024, and Gavin Robinson became the interim leader. He was confirmed as the party leader in May 2024.

The DUP's Story

How the Party Began

Ian Paisley, who founded the party and led it for 37 years

The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) started on September 30, 1971. It grew from an older party called the Protestant Unionist Party. Ian Paisley, a well-known Protestant minister, founded the DUP. He also founded the Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster. For 37 years, Paisley led both the DUP and his church, which were closely connected.

When the DUP formed, Northern Ireland was in the middle of a conflict known as the Troubles. This conflict was about whether Northern Ireland should stay part of the UK or join the Republic of Ireland. It also involved protests against unfair treatment of the Catholic minority. The DUP was seen as a tougher, more loyalist party than the Ulster Unionist Party. They wanted to protect the interests of the Protestant working class.

Early Years and Major Protests (1970s)

The DUP was against the Sunningdale Agreement of 1973. This agreement tried to solve the conflict by creating a new government where unionists and Irish nationalists would share power. It also suggested working with the Republic of Ireland. The DUP won eight seats in the 1973 election. They joined other parties to form the United Ulster Unionist Council (UUUC) to oppose the agreement.

In February 1974, the UUUC won most of the Northern Ireland seats in the UK election. On May 15, 1974, anti-agreement unionists called for a general strike. This strike aimed to bring down the agreement. DUP leader Paisley and other leaders were part of the strike committee. The strike lasted 14 days and stopped many things in Northern Ireland. It led to the agreement failing on May 28.

In 1975, the British government set up a Northern Ireland Constitutional Convention. This was an elected group that tried to find a political solution. The DUP and its allies won 53% of the votes. They wanted to go back to a system where the majority ruled, which meant unionist rule. This was not acceptable to nationalists, so the convention ended.

The DUP also opposed the UK joining the European Economic Community (EEC), which is now the European Union. In 1979, Ian Paisley won a seat in the first European Parliament election. He kept this seat until 2004.

Standing Against Agreements (1980s and 1990s)

In 1981, the DUP opposed talks between the British and Irish leaders. Ian Paisley and other DUP members tried to create a Protestant volunteer group called the Third Force. They wanted this group to help fight the Irish Republican Army (IRA). Paisley said his men were ready to defend the Union.

In November 1985, the Anglo-Irish Agreement was signed. This agreement said Northern Ireland's status would not change without the consent of its people. It also gave the Irish government a say in some Northern Ireland matters. The DUP and the UUP strongly protested this agreement. They called their campaign "Ulster Says No". They resigned their seats in the UK Parliament and held mass rallies.

In 1986, DUP politicians protested by occupying the Stormont Parliament Building. They were removed by police. Later, Peter Robinson, a DUP leader, led a protest in Hillsborough. He also led supporters into a village in the Republic of Ireland, where they caused damage before leaving.

In November 1986, Paisley, Robinson, and Ivan Foster announced the creation of the Ulster Resistance Movement (URM). This group was formed to oppose the Anglo-Irish Agreement. The URM later helped smuggle weapons into Northern Ireland. These weapons were shared with other loyalist groups. After this was revealed, the DUP said they had cut ties with the URM in 1987.

The DUP also strongly opposed the Irish republican party Sinn Féin. They campaigned with the slogan "Smash Sinn Féin". DUP councillors tried to exclude Sinn Féin councillors from council meetings.

In 1994, a loyalist group called the UDA suggested a plan to make Northern Ireland entirely Protestant if the British Army left. DUP press officer Sammy Wilson spoke positively about this idea.

The Good Friday Agreement and Beyond (1998-2007)

During the Northern Ireland peace process in the 1990s, the DUP was involved in talks for the Good Friday Agreement of 1998. However, they left the talks when Sinn Féin was allowed to participate while the IRA still had weapons. The DUP opposed the agreement for several reasons:

• They did not like the early release of prisoners.
• They disagreed with Sinn Féin holding government office while the IRA was still active.
• They felt there was not enough accountability for ministers and cross-border bodies.

Despite their opposition, the Good Friday Agreement was approved by 71.1% of voters. The DUP won 20 seats in the 1998 election and took two government positions. However, they refused to sit with Sinn Féin at meetings. The government later collapsed due to an alleged IRA spy ring.

In the 2003 Northern Ireland Assembly election, the DUP became the largest party, winning 30 seats. In 2004, they also became the largest Northern Ireland party in the UK Parliament.

In the 2005 UK general election, the DUP won nine seats, making them the fourth-largest party in the British House of Commons. They also became the largest party in local government in Northern Ireland.

In 2006, the DUP consulted its voters about entering a power-sharing government. In March 2007, the party agreed to set up a power-sharing government on May 8, 2007. However, their Member of the European Parliament (MEP), Jim Allister, resigned from the party in protest. He formed a new party called Traditional Unionist Voice.

Peter Robinson's Leadership (2008–2015)

On May 31, 2008, Ian Paisley stepped down as leader. Peter Robinson became the new leader, with Nigel Dodds as his deputy.

In the 2010 United Kingdom general election, Peter Robinson lost his own seat. However, the DUP kept its strong position in other areas.

The DUP faced criticism over a scandal involving a company called Red Sky. DUP ministers were accused of trying to influence a decision about a contract. The party suspended a councillor who said she was pressured to change her vote.

In the 2015 United Kingdom general election, there was talk of the DUP forming a government with the Conservative Party and the UK Independence Party. Some concerns were raised about the DUP's views on issues like the death penalty and same-sex marriage. However, Nigel Dodds stated the DUP was against discrimination based on religion or sexual orientation.

In September 2015, Peter Robinson stepped down as First Minister.

Arlene Foster's Leadership (2015–2021)

Arlene Foster became DUP leader on December 17, 2015. She served as First Minister of Northern Ireland from January 2016 to January 2017.

Before the Brexit referendum in 2016, the DUP spent a lot of money on an advertisement in a newspaper to encourage people to vote to leave the European Union.

After the 2017 United Kingdom general election, the DUP signed an agreement to support the Conservative Party's government in the UK Parliament. This was because no party had a clear majority.

Arlene Foster was involved in a green energy scheme that led to a financial scandal. This scheme ended up costing a lot of public money. Foster refused to step down, which led to Martin McGuinness resigning in protest in January 2017. This caused the Northern Ireland Executive to collapse. In the election that followed, the DUP lost 10 seats.

Northern Ireland did not have a working government for three years because of this scandal and disagreements between the DUP and Sinn Féin. In January 2020, the main parties signed a new agreement, and the government was reformed. Arlene Foster became First Minister again.

In April 2021, Arlene Foster announced she would step down as DUP leader and First Minister.

Short Leadership of Edwin Poots (2021)

After Foster's announcement, the DUP held its first-ever leadership election in May 2021. Edwin Poots won, but his victory caused some disagreements within the party. Some members resigned, and there were claims of bullying during the election.

Just 21 days after becoming leader, Poots announced he would resign. This was because most DUP members disagreed with his decision to allow a law about the Irish language to pass in Westminster.

Jeffrey Donaldson's Leadership (2021–2024)

Jeffrey Donaldson became DUP leader on June 30, 2021. His main goal was to remove the Northern Ireland Protocol, which were new trade rules after Brexit. Soon after he became leader, a DUP member left the party, meaning the DUP was no longer the biggest party in the Assembly.

As a protest against the Northern Ireland Protocol, the DUP's Paul Givan resigned as First Minister in February 2022. This again caused the Northern Ireland Executive to collapse.

In the May 2022 Assembly election, the DUP's vote share dropped, and they lost three seats. Sinn Féin became the largest party for the first time. The DUP said they would not allow the Assembly to start working again until their issues with the Protocol were solved. Other parties criticized this decision.

In January 2024, the DUP agreed to return to power-sharing at Stormont. This ended 23 months of political deadlock. However, Donaldson resigned as leader on March 29, 2024. Gavin Robinson was then named interim leader.

What the DUP Believes

Staying in the UK (Unionism)

The DUP are Ulster unionists. This means they strongly believe that Northern Ireland should remain part of the United Kingdom. They are against the idea of a united Ireland. The party sees itself as protecting Britishness and the culture of Ulster Protestants. They support the rights of groups like the Orange Order to hold marches. Many DUP members are also part of the Orange Order. They also want the British Union Flag to fly from government buildings all year.

The DUP believes that Irish and Gaelic culture should not get too much funding in Northern Ireland. They have stopped proposed laws that would support the Irish language. The DUP also strongly supports the British police and army for their role during the conflict in Northern Ireland. They want to prevent soldiers and police officers from being charged for actions during the conflict.

Views on Europe and Other Countries

The DUP is a Eurosceptic party. This means they are suspicious of the European Union. They supported the UK leaving the European Union in the 2016 Brexit referendum. They were the only party in the Northern Ireland government that campaigned to leave. The party does not want a strict border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. They want to keep the Common Travel Area, which allows people to travel freely between the UK and Ireland.

In 1991, Ian Paisley, then a Member of the European Parliament, said the DUP believed in countries working together, not becoming one big country. He said Europe should be a "family of nations," not a "federation of nations."

The DUP is also very supportive of Israel. In 2013, the DUP opposed the British government's plan to take military action in the Syrian Civil War. However, they supported military action against Islamic State in Syria in 2015.

Traditional Social Views

The DUP is a socially conservative party. This means they hold traditional views on many social issues. They have strong connections to the Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster, which Ian Paisley founded. Most DUP members are evangelical Christians.

The DUP has opposed LGBT rights in Northern Ireland. They have voted against laws that would extend rights for LGBT people. For example, they opposed allowing unmarried gay and straight couples to adopt children. They also opposed the Civil Partnership Act 2004.

From 2015 onwards, the DUP used its power to stop same-sex marriage from becoming legal in Northern Ireland. This made Northern Ireland the only part of the UK where same-sex marriage was not allowed for a time. One DUP minister said that "Peter will not marry Paul in Northern Ireland." In 2012, a DUP councillor suggested making homosexuality illegal again. The DUP leader at the time, Peter Robinson, said the councillor was "entitled to that opinion."

The party also tried to introduce a "conscience clause" into law. This clause would let businesses refuse to provide a service if it went against their religious beliefs. This idea came after a bakery was taken to court for refusing to make a cake with a pro-gay marriage message. Critics said this clause would allow discrimination against LGBT people.

However, in recent years, some DUP members have started to change their views on LGBT issues. In 2021, deputy leader Paula Bradley apologized for past "hurtful comments" made by party politicians about LGBT people. DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson supported her apology. In September 2021, Donaldson met with an LGBT group, which was the first official meeting between a DUP leader and such a group.

Money and Jobs (Economic Policies)

The DUP supports keeping the "triple lock" for pensions. This means pensions increase by the highest of inflation, average earnings, or 2.5%. They also support the Winter Fuel Payment, which helps older people with heating costs. The DUP wants more money spent on services like health in Northern Ireland.

To help with the cost of living crisis, the DUP supported a special tax on energy companies. They also wanted payments to help families with energy costs.

The DUP has been described as a party that is right-wing on social issues but more left-of-centre on economic issues.

Other Social Ideas

Some DUP politicians have suggested that creationism (the belief that the universe was created by a divine being) should be taught in state schools. They also think museums should include creationism in their exhibits. In 2007, a DUP spokesperson confirmed these views were in line with party policy.

In 2011, the DUP asked for a discussion in the House of Commons about bringing back the death penalty for some serious crimes.

Images for kids

• 

  Peter Robinson, DUP leader from 2008 to 2015.

• 

  Arlene Foster, DUP leader from 2015 to 2021.

• 

  Edwin Poots, DUP leader in 2021.

• 

  Jeffrey Donaldson, DUP leader from 2021 to 2024.

• 

  Gavin Robinson, current DUP leader.

• 

  Ian Paisley, founder of the DUP.

• 

  Map showing DUP seats in UK Westminster elections from 1997 to 2019.

Party Leaders

The DUP has had several leaders since it was founded. Ian Paisley led the party for 37 years.

Party Leader

The table below shows the leaders and their time in office:

Deputy Leader

Chairman

General Secretary

Northern Ireland Government Ministers

Westminster Leaders

These are the DUP leaders in the UK Parliament:

Westminster Chief Whip

Westminster Spokespersons

These DUP members speak for the party on different topics in the UK Parliament:

DUP Representatives

Members of the UK Parliament

These DUP members were in the UK Parliament before it was dissolved:

Members of the House of Lords

These DUP members are in the House of Lords:

Members of the Northern Ireland Assembly

These DUP members are in the Northern Ireland Assembly as of May 2022:

Election Results

UK General Election Results

Election	Leader	Share of votes	Seats	±	Government
Feb 1974	Ian Paisley	5.7%	1 / 12	1	Labour minority
Oct 1974		5.8%	1 / 12		Labour
1979		10.2%	3 / 12	2	Conservative
1983		19.9%	3 / 17		Conservative
1987		11.7%	3 / 17		Conservative
1992		13.1%	3 / 17		Conservative
1997		13.6%	2 / 18	1	Labour
2001		22.5%	5 / 18	3	Labour
2005		33.7%	9 / 18	4	Labour
2010	Peter Robinson	25.0%	8 / 18	1	Conservative-Liberal Democrats coalition
2015		25.7%	8 / 18		Conservative
2017	Arlene Foster	36.0%	10 / 18	2	Conservative minority with DUP confidence & supply
2019		30.6%	8 / 18	2	Conservative

Northern Ireland Assembly Election Results

Election	Northern Ireland Assembly	Leader	Total Votes	Share of votes	Seats	+/-	Government
1973	1973 Assembly	Ian Paisley	78,228	10.8%	8 / 78	8	Opposition
1975	Constitutional Convention		97,073	14.8%	12 / 78	4	Fourth largest party
1982	1982 Assembly		145,528	23.0%	21 / 78	9	Opposition
1996	Forum		141,413	18.8%	24 / 110	24	Second largest party
1998	1st Assembly		145,917	18.5%	20 / 108	4	Junior party in coalition
2003	2nd Assembly		177,944	25.7%	30 / 108	10	Largest party, direct rule
2007	3rd Assembly		207,721	30.1%	36 / 108	6	Coalition
2011	4th Assembly	Peter Robinson	198,436	30.0%	38 / 108	2	Coalition
2016	5th Assembly	Arlene Foster	202,567	29.2%	38 / 108		Coalition
2017	6th Assembly		225,413	28.1%	28 / 90	10	Coalition
2022	7th Assembly	Jeffrey Donaldson	184,002	21.3%	25 / 90	3	Junior party in coalition

See also

In Spanish: Partido Unionista Democrático para niños

• List of Democratic Unionist Party MPs
• List of Northern Ireland Members of the House of Lords
• British Isles fixed sea link connections