Gavin Robinson’s conference address feels like a plea for survival rather than a bold step toward revitalisation
As the DUP gathered at the Crown Plaza in South Belfast for their first annual conference under Gavin Robinsons leadership, it was a somewhat muted affair compared to conferences of the past.
In an era where unionism appears to be constantly in a period of existential crisis, Robinson’s call for unity could be seen as a last-ditch effort to salvage a political cause in disarray.
However, the speech also reveals a startling lack of introspection, one that avoids grappling with the party's deeper identity crisis, even as it comes under external pressure to rebrand or perish.
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Firstly, Robinson’s central message—that Unionists must stop attacking one another and unify to secure the Union—seems obvious, if not belated. It is a noble appeal, but it sidesteps the core issue: the internal fractures within Unionism are not merely about power jockeying or ego-driven disputes.
The divisions reflect a broader crisis in purpose and vision that has plagued the DUP for years. The party's conservative brand of Unionism is losing touch with the electorate, particularly among younger voters who are more concerned with social issues than with the rigid dogma of old.
Simply calling for cooperation will not mask the fact that the DUP has been out of sync with the broader political and social landscape in Northern Ireland.
One of the key challenges facing Gavin Robinson is restoring trust among Unionist voters, particularly after his party's role in the return of powersharing at Stormont. In the run-up to the General Election, Robinson himself admitted that the DUP had "missold" the deal they agreed upon to return to Stormont. This misstep continues to weigh on the minds of many Unionist voters, creating a sense of disillusionment.
For some, it is not just the infighting within Unionism that has caused frustration, but also the perception that the DUP has not been fully transparent or consistent in its political strategy. Addressing this lingering doubt will be essential for the DUP leader if he hopes to rebuild the party's credibility and while he suggested in his speech that "any negotiation was not going to get better," he faces a tough job trying to sell that message to the voters who have abandoned his party for the TUV.
Gavin Robinson’s nod to the former DUP MLA turned Independent MP Alex Easton and the success of pro-Union votes in North Down indicates an attempt to show that collaboration is possible, but this feels like a superficial victory lap when set against the larger context of Unionism's declining dominance.
The DUP’s poor performance in recent elections, and the fact that Unionist parties continue to undercut each other in critical constituencies like Lagan Valley, underscores a movement that is failing to consolidate its base. While Robinson is correct in pointing out that pro-Union votes are being wasted through division, he offers no concrete strategy to fix this fragmentation.
Moreover, his speech hints at an opportunity for action but fails to define what that action should look like. Gavin Robinson speaks of a “new vision” and a need for delivery, but what exactly is this new vision? The DUP has long been defined by a defensive posture, fixated on safeguarding the Union at all costs. This has left little room for an inspiring, forward-thinking agenda that appeals beyond their shrinking base. The “season before us is unique,” Robinson claims, but unless the DUP fundamentally rethinks its policies and tone, this season will pass with little more than tired slogans and empty promises.
Robinson’s refusal to engage in “Pro-Union in-fighting” is admirable, yet it feels like a hollow declaration given the party’s long history of internal power struggles and its penchant for purges and infighting. The recent controversies surrounding former leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, who was charged with historical sex offences which he denies, and the broader scandals that have beset the DUP, expose a party deeply divided not just ideologically, but ethically.
While referencing the events of Good Friday and declaring that his party "won't live in the shadows of yesterday," Robinson fails to acknowledge that the DUP’s brand has been tarnished not simply by political division but by moral compromise. Be it Red Sky, NAMA or RHI, the public has not forgotten what some within the party have been involved in over the years. While he rightly identifies the cost of internal division, he ignores the damage done by the party’s inability to self-police and reform from within.
This brings us to the elephant in the room: the growing call for the DUP to rebrand, as echoed by Arlene Foster's former special adviser Lee Reynolds. Earlier this week Reynolds warned that the party cannot survive without a fundamental reimagining, and yet Robinson’s speech offers little in the way of such transformation aside from a nod to the appointment of Keith Buchanan as Director of Party Development in a bid to "reinvigorate" and "revitalise" their constituency associations and youth wing.
His call for unity is at best a stopgap measure, not a solution. The Unionist electorate is evolving, and as Northern Ireland changes, the DUP’s brand of politics risks further disintegration. But this speech does not embrace that challenge; it skirts around it.
Ultimately, Gavin Robinson’s address feels like a plea for survival rather than a bold step toward revitalisation. The path forward for the party and indeed Unionism in general, requires more than just an end to infighting and a vague call for action. It demands a rethinking of the party’s core values, its relationship to its electorate, and its role in a rapidly changing Northern Ireland. Without a clear, modern vision, the DUP risks being unable to offer the hope or action that resonates with the future it so desperately seeks to secure.
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