Ian Paisley founded the DUP in 1971 as the political wing of the Free Presbyterian Church, the religious sect he had founded, and as a vehicle for driving the principles of his sect.

That included resisting any concessions to ‘Romanism’ and ecumenism, and opposition to all liberalised societal changes introduced in Britain during the sixties.

Naturally his sect was dominant in his party and indeed for many members the religious principles Paisley advocated were the chief reason they joined.

Twenty years ago, when the DUP became the majority unionist party, most of its MLAs were Free Presbyterians so, extraordinarily, despite the fact that his sect never grew above 1% of northern Protestants, his tiny fundamentalist sect dominated unionist politics.

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None of this is true today. Only about 30% of DUP members are Free Presbyterians and it’s only the older MLAs who are likely to be adherents.

New members didn’t join the party as a vehicle to advance their religious principles. They joined........

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