22ANDUK

The long-standing, and sole, leader of the anti-EU Democratic Unionist Party Dr Iain Paisley will stand down this weekend and hand the leadership to Peter Robinson.

BBC NEWS | Northern Ireland | DUP farewell to founder Paisley

What future now for the DUP?

There's talk of a possible merger with the Ulster Unionist Party (though this is remote) and the party has looked at revamping its image post-Paisley for a few years now, with possible ideas being expanding into the British mainland - offices have already been opened in Liverpool and also the possibility of expanding into London and Glasgow have been mooted (not too long ago there were even wild and unfounded rumours of a merger between the DUP and UKIP! - (Iain Dale's Diary: More Evidence of UKIP/BNP Co-operation?) Could this herald a meger with UKIP or at least closer co-operation?

Will the movement die down now their charismatic leader has left, or will it instead be able to grow further and expand its reach and support without the stigma many people attached to Paisley?

Harbinger

I am sure some loud mouth bigot will step up to the plate

Hartlepool

What stigma?

You must mean Paisley taking the IRA/Labour party backhanders I expect.

Dissident Congress

There happens to be only 3 winnable constituencies left for the DUP. With changing demographics of Northern Ireland the only way for DUP is down unless something impressive happens - but what? Any ideas on which will be the first DUP constituency to be lost to Sinn Fein?

I don't think a DUP and UKIP merger is feasible due to issues relating to religion. A UUP and Conservative merger may happen in the future.

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Britannist

An increasing Roman catholic population in some constituencies in Northern Ireland does not mean a declining vote for the Unionist parties in those seats. Some Roman Catholics have always voted for Unionist candidates.

Dissident Congress

There's a difference between unionist and rabidly Protestant. Thousands of Catholics in Northern Ireland are unionists, but find it difficult to stomach voting for a unionist party that is in bed with hardline Protestants and Orangemen.

Do I see an opportunity for UKIP?

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British-Conservatism

Best thing the DUP could do is expand into Great Britain as a Unionist Right Wing Populist party.
I have no doubt they would get seats in the Scottish Parliament right away.

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Dissident Congress

They missed their best chance. They should have started to venture into the mainland 9 or 10 years ago when the Tories were wrecked. Now that the Tories are coming back it's damaged prospects for the DUP on the mainland.

I'm far from an expert with Scottish politics, but haven't most of the Protestant unionists in Scotland that would have been inclined to vote DUP vanished down the same plughole of history as the Protestant unionists in Liverpool?

I have been verbally informed that Glasgow is rapidly becoming a dustbin city for the underclass of society that is only interested in their council flats and benefit money.

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22ANDUK

It would only see more and more vote splitting between moderate Unionists.

Instead, a union between UKIP and the DUP would be needed. The "UK Democratic Unionist Party" (or whatever its name would be) would command at the first instance:

* Over 30,000 members

* 9 MPs

* 9 MEPS

* 36 Members of the Nortnern Ireland Assembly

* 5 Lords

* Over 100 Councillors

This ready-made party would have experienced politicans with governmental experience, plus with the situation of nearly 50 full-time figures a sizeable annual income to party funds.

The party would have have two bases in London and Belfast - helping it to become a truly British movement - and the large of amount of catholics that support UKIP and even the DUP, combined with the protestant wing of the DUP (now without Paisley) would hopefully see a healthy, non-sectarian mix. It would attract many of genuine conservtavies within the Tory party who will displaced should Cameron take over after a couple of years, I do not doubt either that people such as the English Democrats would supplement this too. most of all it will probably also attract a sizeable portion of the millions who have an interest in politics but no longer vote.

A few issues would be what to name the party and who should lead it, but the strengths would easily outweight these - with this movement supplying a strong and vibrant movement that has a strong mix of conservative and libertarian values, supports the religious, traditional and cultural bases of the nation whilst also favouring a free-marker economy in an independent Britain.

It can work.

Northumbrian

And to think it was once the European City if Culture