THE DUP

HOW THEY STARTED

• Founded by Ian Paisley & Desmond Boal in 1971
• More radically unionist than UUP
• Established representing insecurities from the Protestant working class
• Won eight seats in NI Assembly 1973-74
• Paisley was replaced in 2004 by Jim Allister, who resigned in 2007

POST-TROUBLES

• Withdrew in protest to the Good Friday Agreement when Sinn Fein was allowed to participate
• Sinn Fein was linked to the IRA, and they had yet to decommission
• Because of the UUP's failure to the the IRA decommissioned, the DUP began to gain popularity
• In 2003 NI Assembly Election, DUP became the largest political party in the region with 30 seats
• December 2004 - English MP Andrew Hunter took the DUP whip, giving them 12 additional seats

ROBINSON'S SCANDAL

• Peter Robinson became leader of the DUP in 2008
• Has remained in charge to this day
• Expenses scandal leaked - "Swish Family Robinson"
• Deputy MP Nigel Dodds, 13th highest expenses clams in the UK
• Further embarrassment caused through the infedility between 60 year-old Irish Robinson & 19 year old boy

BELFAST AGREEMENT 1998

• Opposed by the DUP for a number of reasons:
• Release of early paramilitary prisoners
• Allowing Sinn Fein in Government despite IRA
• Lack of accountability of Ministers within the Executive
• They argued for a "fair deal" in 2003 that could command support for both communities