Past attempts at unionist co-operation hit by personal discord – Gavin Robinson

Past attempts at co-operation between unionist parties have floundered because of “personal discord”, DUP leader Gavin Robinson has said.

Mr Robinson urged incoming Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) leader Jon Burrows to “set aside issues of the past” in his response to an offer of talks between the two largest unionist parties.

The DUP leader said at the weekend that he had invited Mr Burrows for talks to discuss areas of co-operation.

The invitation came a day after the former senior police officer emerged as the sole contender to succeed Mike Nesbitt as UUP leader.

In the past, the two parties have co-operated in specific constituencies in a bid to maximise the unionist vote and secure seats.

However, outgoing UUP leader Mr Nesbitt has said the two parties can “compete and collaborate simultaneously”.

Speaking at Stormont on Monday, Mr Robinson said he looked forward to engagement with Mr Burrows.

He said: “In one way or another I have been engaged in discussions around co-operation for almost the entire time that I’ve been in elected politics.”

Mr Robinson referred to discussions which took place when he first ran for the East Belfast seat at Westminster.

He said: “Then and since, in support of other party leaders, I have found that the desire of the unionist people in Northern Ireland has fallen, not because of principle, not because of policy positions, but because of personal discord.

“I don’t have any of that, I hope Jon doesn’t have any of that. I hope anyone who believes in Northern Ireland’s place in the union can set aside issues of the past for which they are not responsible and engage in this quest productively and responsibly.

“It is not about me or the DUP, it is not about any leader or their party, it is about our place in this country and how we can maximise the best outcome for the people we represent.”

Mr Robinson added: “I have taken the opportunity to explore this every time there has been a change of leader.

“I’ve been involved in discussions personally, I’ve been involved in discussions in support of others.

“What you find are issues of the past are dragged into those discussions.

“I am interested in focusing on the future.”

“Very often parties are pitted against one another, very often there have been electoral battles in constituencies across the province over decades.

“Some find it difficult to move beyond those. There is now the potential for discussion with someone who is newly in post, who is not confined by or bound to those experiences.

“The opportunity is there and I think it is worth pursuing.”

Mr Nesbitt said Mr Burrows would be meeting the leaders of all parties when he succeeded him.

He said: “In terms of what Gavin Robinson has called for, let me be clear, it is not an either or between competition and collaboration.”

Mr Nesbitt referred to 2015, when his party co-operated with the DUP to win the Fermanagh and South Tyrone Westminster seat, but also won the South Antrim seat from the DUP.

He said: “You can compete and you can collaborate simultaneously.

“I think it is fair for the new leader of the Ulster Unionist Party to ask why the leader of the largest unionist party is reaching out.

“I am sure he will do that when he meets Gavin Robinson.

“People call for unionist unity, my message to them is we already have unionist unity and that every unionist and every unionist party wants Northern Ireland to remain part of the United Kingdom.

“What happens after that is that we diverge in terms of our tactics and our strategy for achieving that and that is perfectly natural.”