Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader Jeffrey Donaldson has insisted he doesn’t want to wait “another year” before securing a deal with the UK government and re-entering Stormont.
Speaking ahead of Saturday’s party conference, amid speculation that he is preparing the ground for a return to powersharing, Mr Donaldson expressed a desire to reach agreement with British politicians on post-Brexit trading arrangements before a general election next year.
Sources said Mr Donaldson is expected to give “soft signalling” about the DUP’s commitment to devolution at the Belfast conference.
On the eve of the event, Mr Donaldson confirmed his party recently held “interesting discussions” with Labour Party leader Keir Starmer, who polls suggest is likely to become the next British prime minister, and shadow Northern secretary, Hilary Benn.
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But the DUP leader said his focus remained on the “now” following months of private negotiations.
“Labour does have a plan in terms of how it will deal with some of the issues that confront us, including on EU regulations and on veterinary agreements,” he told the BBC.
“If Labour were to proceed on the basis they’ve spoken of for the United Kingdom as a whole, and let’s be clear, it’s UK-wide they’re speaking here, not specifically on Northern Ireland, then that would help to ease many of the difficulties that we have in moving goods, particularly from Great Britain to Northern Ireland.
“But, look, I’m not waiting on that, to be absolutely clear. I’m working to get an agreement with the current government, I don’t want to wait another year.
“If we can get this right now, if we can have measures that respect our economic rights as part of the United Kingdom, that restore our place in the UK internal market, why wouldn’t I take that now?”
There has been no functioning government in Northern Ireland for 20 months due to the DUP’s ongoing boycott of the devolved institutions over its opposition to the Northern Ireland Protocol deal on post-Brexit trading, as well as the agreement which replaced it, the Windsor Framework, earlier this year.
Mr Donaldson has repeatedly said over the past week that there is “no dissent” within his party over its Stormont boycott and tactics in trying to secure concessions for the operation of the framework.
However, it is understood the majority of the DUP Assembly team favour a return to Stormont while veteran party members, including East Antrim MP Sammy Wilson and former deputy leader Lord Nigel Dodds, are against.
There is no mention of Stormont’s restoration on today’s conference agenda, with a morning panel discussion instead focusing on ‘the DUP at Westminster’ ahead of next year’s poll.
The party’s current deputy leader, East Belfast MP Gavin Robinson – who is also understand to support a return to the devolved structures – will deliver an address ahead of the leader’s speech.
