“For many weeks, the Government ensured a daily drip feed of negative stories designed to undermine the Democratic Unionist Party with the electorate. The sole purpose of this was to weaken our hand in negotiations with the Government in relation to outstanding community concerns in relation to the NI Protocol and Windsor Framework.

These partisan tactics failed. Despite all the predictions, DUP support stood firm, with our seat count remaining constant from the 2019 total. Unionist voters coalesced around the DUP position of wanting to finish the job of securing our position within the UK. We thank each and every one of our voters for placing their trust in us to get the job done.

Now is the time for the Northern Ireland Office to stop the game playing, and to stop the dithering, and get down to the business of serious solutions that address unionist concerns. This can be done quickly – the Government know well what is required. The DUP stand ready to re-enter an Executive when the Government takes these necessary steps. Ongoing delay to the restoration of Stormont is on Chris Heaton-Harris and Rishi Sunak. The ball is at their feet.

The key to stable, functioning devolution is cross community consent. Unionism has made clear in the Council election that consent is not in place, and what is needed to achieve that consent. It is time for the Government to step up with solutions.”