About Lagan Valley
The Lagan Valley is an area of Northern Ireland between Belfast and Lisburn. The Lagan is a famous river that flows into Belfast Lough. For a section, the river forms part of the border between the counties of Antrim and Down.
DUP: Sir Jeffrey Donaldson tells conference that 'power-sharing is essential'
... Sir Jeffrey, who is the MP for Lagan Valley, Earlier this year he hit out at some within his own ranks for briefing against the party, He told the conference that: " With leadership comes responsibility, and with that responsibility comes days when the challenges will be greater than others...
Stormont stalemate: Northern Ireland fails to restore power-sharing
... Lagan Valley assembly member Emma Little-Pengelly that she was proud " of the many strong girls and women" she knows...
DUP conference: Donaldson to call for union support in speech
... Sir Jeffrey, who is the MP for Lagan Valley, He is expected to tell the conference that " unionism should have no barriers to entry beyond a belief that Northern Ireland is best served as a part of the UK"...
NI election 2022: Sinn Féin set to win most seats as count continues
... Alliance gained seats in Lagan Valley and East Antrim...
NI election 2022: DUP faces electoral challenge after a torrid year
... But it didn t necessarily look that way when the person he replaced, Mr Poots, had his attempt to jump ship from his Lagan Valley constituency to South Down vetoed by party officers, many of whom haven t forgiven him for the turmoil caused by what happened last year...
NI election 2022: SDLP hoping history repeats itself
... However, in places like Lagan Valley and Upper Bann it expects the seats it holds to be under pressure...
Edwin Poots not selected as DUP South Down candidate
... The agricultural minister had indicated he wanted to leave his Lagan Valley constituency and stand in South Down...
DUP's Nigel Dodds loses seat
... Read more from Jayne: There was better news for the DUP in East Antrim, East Belfast, East Londonderry, Lagan Valley, South Antrim and Strangford where its candidates were all re-elected...
DUP: Sir Jeffrey Donaldson tells conference that 'power-sharing is essential'
By Jayne McCormackBBC News NI political correspondent
Power-sharing is " essential" for securing Northern Ireland 's future within the UK, the DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has said.
Party members gathered in Belfast to hear him address their annual conference.
The DUP walked out of Northern Ireland 's power-sharing government 18 Months ago in protest at post-Brexit trade rules.
However, Sir Jeffrey said he still believes in devolved government.
" Having no say in our future will not be a recipe for success, " he told delegates.
" If we want to make the positive case for The Union , then having local institutions that succeed in delivering for everyone in Northern Ireland is an essential element in building our case. "
The Party withdrew Paul Givan as First Minister in February Last Year in protest over the Northern Ireland Protocol,
Earlier this year, the UK and EU agreed changes to the protocol, as part of a deal known as the Windsor Framework.
It from Great Britain to Northern Ireland .
The DUP has since said the framework is not sufficiently different from the protocol and continues to undermine Northern Ireland 's place in the UK.
It has been involved in talks with Number 10 for several months in a bid to reach an accommodation, with NI Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris recently saying he believes those negotiations are in their " final stages".
Leader opposed to direct ruleSir Jeffrey updated members on his negotiations with the government over changes they want to see to the Windsor Framework.
" Today I can report that We Are making progress, but there remains more work to do.
" I Am hopeful that remaining concerns can be addressed as quickly as possible. "
And he sent a message to those who would argue that direct rule from London is a " better option".
" Time and again, Westminster has imposed laws upon us that are not in tune with the needs or wishes of The People of Northern Ireland , " He Said .
" You cannot on The One hand repeatedly condemn successive governments for letting us down And Then argue with credibility that We Are better off ruled directly by those who do not really understand what makes this place tick. "
Sir Jeffrey also said the DUP's plan had " confronted the realities and exposed the flaws" of the protocol, and that any new arrangements must command the support of unionists and nationalists.
" The rights of unionists cannot be diminished, sidelined or treated in a way that is less important than nationalists, " he added.
The DUP has faced criticism from other Political Parties for blocking the formation of an executive and assembly.
But The Party 's stance has remained unchanged, instead negotiating with the UK government with the aim of securing more legislative changes that it says would protect Northern Ireland 's place within the UK internal market.
Sir Jeffrey, who is the MP for Lagan Valley ,
Earlier this year he hit out at some within his own ranks for briefing against The Party ,
He told the conference that: " With leadership comes responsibility, and with that responsibility comes days when The Challenges will be greater than others.
" We must collectively Step Up our efforts in promoting The Union .
" Those who believe that a united Ireland is around The Corner , that it is inevitable, and that Northern Ireland within The Union will cease to exist are entirely wrong. "
Related TopicsSource of news: bbc.com
