The Irish protocol.

Seeing reports that the Protocol Bill will be scrapped and possibly the Legacy one as well. To be a fly on the wall in DUP HQ would be a great way to spend the day.

With any luck !

I count that as circa 70% support for parties that want or can tolerate The Protocol yet the British insist on their path trying to destroy it.

Normally 3.1% with polls from these people.

Yet another attempt to piggyback on uncritical hagiography in order to score a politcal goal. The simple fact that Trimble was often wrong, (like he was on Brexit, the Protocol and the PoC) as well as doing the right thing aometimes, just like Hume and Adams etc etc will be ignored.

I'm sure there's going to be rousing condemnation of the DUP for not engaging at Stormont again today because of the NIP.

Undemocratic Unionists at it again.

No no no. You're incorrect. I've been assured that Unionists don't engage in sectarianism and the DUP have a legitimate concern with the NIP protocol. Yes. That's it.

Even so, I'm sure their refusal to go back to Stormont for any reason, whether or not wanting to play second fiddle to MON, when the FM and dFM offices are equal or if it's the NIP; I'm assured their undemocratic refusal to go back to Stormont will be criticised by all.

Absolutely delighted the builders of HMS Brexitanic get the opportunity to smash it into the EU iceberg.

What makes you think the DUP would gain seats from May election? If anything I would imagine they would lose more.

In my opinion, the DUP are using the NI Protocol as an excuse to block Sinn Féin from having the First Minister.

If they can't achieve becoming the largest party they will continue to refuse to allow an assembly be formed.

The interesting thing will be if they manage to form the largest party and could elect the First Minister, how will they spin it that the NI Protocol was only an excuse the last time.

I hope the DUP voters from the last election move their vote over to another Unionist party that would be willing to form the assembly or better yet to the Alliance Party.

The irony is lost on them that the NI Protocol gives them the best of both worlds of direct access to the EU market and the UK market, and by fighting against it they are actually endangering their own prosperity, and that prosperity would be the biggest reason for NI voters to wish to remain a part of the UK.

If the NI Protocol were removed and the UK were subjected to stricter impositions from the EU, NI would suffer the most, and would push the voters towards a United Ireland.

Because their supposed collapse over Brexit etc didn't occur in last. What they HV right now is their base numbers only way is up.

I would imagine the age demographic of DUP is older than the rest of the parties in the north with maybe the exception of the TUV. Perhaps somebody knows a link to those stats. They seem to represent the most staunch of voters with the no surrender motto which tend to be older. The long term trend for this party is down not up. Perhaps when they do major f**k ups like creating a border between Ireland and Britain they might over shout this downward curve and bounce back a little in the next election but the long term trend is down. Remember this party is against gay marriage and abortion. I cant imagine it appealing to new younger votes.

Also would some unionists not be scared of the prospect of joint rule from London and Dublin should a Stormont government not be formed. With SF likely to be in government in the south and the Conservatives who dont even bother to run in the north in london I would not be pleased with this outcome. I would shift to a unionist who would set up a government.

SF running the north from Dublin whilst still having the NIP would be one absolute super f**k up creation of the DUP. But they have no foresight as they only can look backwards and live in the past so no suprises when they steer the north into that situation