DUP last line of defence for the union - Paisley

The Democratic Unonist Party (DUP) is "the last line of defence for the union", Ian Paisley has said.

He said it was the only unionist party that could win a sizeable number of seats in the next general election.

The North Antrim MP insisted that despite recent upheaval, the party would have a "united manifesto".

In February, the party agreed to a deal called Safeguarding the Union, which laid out new measures aimed at simplifying domestic imports and encouraging trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

The DUP had quit the Stormont executive in 2022, demanding changes to the post-Brexit Irish Sea border, arguing it was damaging Northern Ireland's place in the union.

He has said he will strenuously contest the allegations.

Mr Paisley said new interim DUP leader Gavin Robinson had his "100% support".

"He will make a tremendous leader and steady the ship," he said.

He refused to say whether Sir Jeffrey had oversold the Safeguarding the Union deal, but said: "I think Gavin Robinson has created significant space for the party to tell the story properly, to allow those of us who felt there was a degree of spin, that we're back to a solid base of truth."

He said the deal was "not a finished destination" and that there was more to come.

Mr Paisley, who is running in the next general election to retain his North Antrim seat, said his party would have a united manifesto on the issue.

"My party is last line of defence for the union, no other unionist party coming behind is going to save the union, no other unionist party can win seats at Westminster," he said.

He said other unionist parties running in some constituencies could split the vote and allow Sinn Féin or Alliance to take the seat.

"It's not about us to determine what pacts look like, the electorate determine it," Mr Paisley said.