THE last time the DUP withdrew a first minister – thereby collapsing the structures – was on February 3 2022.

Jeffrey Donaldson told the media: “I have been inundated with messages of support from right across Northern Ireland. Some people have, of course, expressed concern for the future of the Assembly. I have sought to address those concerns. I withdrew the FM because, despite assurances given by the PM, protocol issues have not been addressed. I would like to see them resolved by the time of the election. I am clear that we will not be involved in forming a government until they are.”

Three months later, on May 5, the election saw the DUP lose almost seven percentage points, three MLAs and the status, held since 2003, of largest party (which went to Sinn Féin, along with the role of FM).

The protocol issues had not been resolved and weren’t resolved; forcing the DUP to crawl back into the Executive in February 2024 on the basis of the supposed pro-union promises of a command paper negotiated between the party and Rishi Sunak.

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Right now, seven months away from an Assembly election, the DUP – according to the last LucidTalk poll – is sitting on 15%, down just over six points on the........

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