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Good morning John

After a few weeks of touring Northern Ireland and four great days at Balmoral Show engaging with people, I believe more than ever that unionists now realise division is gifting seats and influence to our opponents. 

More and more people on the doors are recognising the need to unite behind the DUP and strengthen our hand.

On door after door, the pro-Northern Ireland people are recognising that we share a great deal more in common than divides us. More effective co-operation is something unionists want to see, regardless of their party preference.

It is most important in Councils where unionism is in the minority, or where pro-union representatives can gain an additional seat that voters maximise the impact of their ballot by voting DUP and then transferring to other pro-union candidates.

Another talking point on the doors has been the desire for Councils to get back to focusing on their core services and responsibilities.

Since the formation of Northern Ireland’s eleven local councils, some have become distracted by an ever-increasing list of additional activities and ‘pet’ projects which have duplicated the work of others or have been of questionable value to the ratepayer.

All too often, Councillors have wasted time and money debating motions on foreign policy, for which they have no responsibility, and attempts to reinvent the wheel, duplicating the work of central government and public bodies. This has to stop.

We seek to re-establish the Northern Ireland Assembly on a fair and sustainable basis by finishing the job of fully restoring Northern Ireland’s position in the United Kingdom.

The DUP has consistently campaigned to ensure that the Protocol is replaced by arrangements that restore our place within the United Kingdom and those arrangements must be capable of commanding the support of Unionists as well as Nationalists.

The Protocol upset the delicate political balance in Northern Ireland and was not supported by the Unionist community.

Our judgement and our principled position in opposing the Protocol in Parliament and at Stormont has been vindicated. When others said there would be no re-negotiation and no change our determination has proved what can be achieved.

At this election we are seeking support to finish the job and build the necessary solid foundations for a return of local accountable government at Stormont. We want to see the restoration of the Assembly and Executive on the basis that democratic decision making is in the hands of locally elected representatives rather than having no say over laws governing our economy and our people.

With your help we can finish the job.  Strengthen our hand by voting on Thursday and ensure your family and friends also vote for their local DUP candidates.

Best wishes

Sir Jeffrey Donaldson MP
DUP Leader

P.S. - Download our Manifesto here.