Unionist co-operation talks backed by UUP and TUV but rivals warn gains cannot flow to DUP alone

From the Newshound archive · first published 21 September 2026.

The DUP's call for unionist parties to co-operate at next year's Stormont Assembly election has hit immediate resistance, with both the Ulster Unionist Party and Traditional Unionist Voice welcoming talks in principle but rejecting any arrangement that serves DUP interests alone. TUV leader Jim Allister revealed DUP leader Gavin Robinson had never approached him directly about co-operation despite claiming regular contact, while UUP leader Jon Burrows criticised a "personalised jibe" from a DUP minister as incompatible with a unity pitch.

Robinson told his conference that divided unionist voting had delivered seats to Sinn Féin, the SDLP and Alliance, urging unionist parties to stop surrendering winnable constituencies to their opponents.

Allister warned he has no interest in co-operation that returns more ministers to implement what he called the 'union-dismantling' Northern Ireland Protocol.

Burrows pointed out that almost a third of the DUP's Assembly team owe their seats to TUV transfers, arguing unionism needs to grow its vote, not just manage it.