Mike Robinson, the leader of the Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV), emphasizes the need for cooperation among unionist parties ahead of the May 2027 Assembly election in Northern Ireland. In a recent interview with Press Association, Robinson highlighted that division within unionism has cost them representation and stressed that now is the time to collaborate for mutual benefit. He specifically calls out individual egos and misplaced ambitions as barriers to collective success, urging all unionist parties to prioritize cooperation over personal gains to strengthen their position in the upcoming election.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-18,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Douglas Robinson, leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), has called for unity among unionist parties to maximize their chances in the upcoming Northern Ireland Assembly election scheduled for May 2027. He emphasized that internal division within unionism resulted in fewer representatives at the Executive table after the 2022 election, where Sinn Féin, a nationalist party, secured more seats than any unionist group, with 27 MLAs compared to the DUP's 25. Robinson highlighted the benefits of uniting and urged for cooperation among unionists to avoid repeating past mistakes. The last election saw Michelle O’Neill become the first nationalist First Minister after Sinn Féin topped the poll.
Written for “Northern Ireland Politics” on 2026-09-18,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
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Leaning score +0.45 for article 17416 (high confidence, 2 verified quotes) · logged 2026-09-18
Mr Robinson said unionists want to see unionist parties co-operating, and revealed he has met with UUP leader Jon Burrows and has more meetings planned.
asserted
meetings → say → Burrows
The last Assembly election in 2022 saw Sinn Féin make history by being the first non-unionist party to top the poll, and Michelle O’Neill become the first nationalist First Minister.
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O’Neill → see → poll
Then Sinn Féin (27 MLAs) finished two seats ahead of the DUP (25), which now has 26 Assembly seats following the co-option of Peter Martin after the election of independent Alex Easton to Westminster in 2024.
asserted
which → finish → 2024
Asked whether he believes his party can top the poll and reclaim the post of first minister, Mr Robinson described a “huge opportunity for the wider unionist community” and called for unionist parties to co-operate.
“If 2022 taught us anything it’s that division costs – there are fewer unionists around the Executive table because of division within unionism, and so I believe that in this election in May, unionism can win if it is prepared to co-operate,” he told Press Association.
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he → ask → Association
“I am willing to co-operate with other unionists.
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I → co → unionists
That’s not a new thing.
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That → ’ → ?
I benefited from co-operation in 2015.
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I → benefit → 2015
“The Ulster Unionists benefited from co-operation in 2015, and actually throughout the history of our party there has been a willingness to co-operate within the wider strategic interests of unionism.
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Unionists → benefit → unionism
“It’s not for us; it’s to advance the principles that we have, the benefits of being in being in the United Kingdom, the benefits from Northern Ireland, and benefiting through cultural and historic and family and economic ties right throughout this United Kingdom, being a part of the sixth largest economy in the world, all of that is beneficial for Northern Ireland and for all of our people.
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all → ’ → people
“The opportunity is for unionism to win, but it’ll only happen, if individual parties with, sometimes simply nuanced differences, are able to co-operate and collaborate to deliver for people rather than only ourselves.”
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parties → win → people
Mr Robinson said it is also an opportunity for TUV leader Jim Allister and his party.
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it → say → Allister
“I don’t think anyone should have veto on this process.
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anyone → think → process
I don’t think anyone should come in with preconceived notions or an agenda, because the people that we represent require it,” he said.
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he → think → it
“They’re asking it of us.
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They → ask → us
I’m more than willing to have those conversations, and I’ll do that in a collective way.
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I → ’m → way
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“Whether others are as enthusiastic or not remains to be seen but these conversations need to happen privately, I don’t think it’s worth going through all of the options or all of the various twists and turns.
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it → read → twists
“What I know is our electorate require it.
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electorate → know → it
They ask it all of us.
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They → ask → us
“They will not tolerate egos getting in the way, and nor will they tolerate some misplaced ambition to upturn party strengths, party positions
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they → tolerate → strengths
, they’ll not take that only to find that in May 2027, unionism collectively is weakened and diminished because individual leaders prepared for themselves first, rather than collective calls.”
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leaders → take → calls
He added: “I see Jim quite often in Westminster.
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I → add → Westminster
He knows that there’s an interest in these discussions.
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He → know → discussions
“We’ve had previous discussions that were hosted with the Orange Order in Schomburg House about wider co-operation.
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that → have → operation
“But I think the onus is on all of us to engage productively and with an open mind and faithfully in these discussions.”
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onus → think → discussions
Earlier this year, Mr Burrows said he was prepared to talk to any unionist about maximising the unionist vote, but also said he was aiming to see the UUP return to its former strength of being the largest unionist party.
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UUP → say → strength
The Aporia
