Leader: Peter Robinson
The Democratic Unionist party founded in 1971 turned the larger of the two main unionist parties in Northern Ireland. The DUP has historically strong links to Protestant churches, particularly the Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster. Initially, the DUP was a party of protest for unionists but since 2007 when it agreed to share power at Stormont with Sinn Féin, became a party of government. The DUP currently has eight MPs and is the fourth largest party at Westminster.
Election promises:
• Fiercely opposed to any moves towards involving the Republic of Ireland in Northern Ireland affairs