To worry about the future of Northern Ireland under the DUP?

[bgxqt]

The frontrunner to be the new leader is Edwin Poots. Who thinks the earth is 6000 years old, who thinks same-sex couples should not be allowed to get married and compared gay people to paedophiles, who thinks women are primarily wives and mother. The next first minister.

You’re not alone! It’s very worrying.

It's sad to say that with Arlene it was better the devil you know. Hopefully the change in leadership will stay people away from the dup, especially with someone with such extreme and outlandish views as the leader.

Awful party.

Yes I’m hoping they’re unwittingly engineering their own demise.

Yes he’d be far worse than Arlene.

Yep- this is the end of the Union as we know it.

How can the DUP expect to stay relevant with the younger generation when they put forward people like Poots as the face of Unionism?

I remember Leo Varadkar saying that even though the views of Dublin and the DUP were miles apart, that he actually got on very well with Arlene on a personal level.

He must be shuddering at the thought of Poots.

He's not the leader yet although it is seeming inevitable, I thought the suggestion of the leader not necessarily being the First Minister was interesting although presumably it would be a difficult balancing act.Gavin Robinson would have been an interesting choice but he seems almost out of the running.
I'd love to see the UUP take advantage of the situation but that's obviously not happening.

There is no future for Northern Ireland, full stop, only the northern part of Ireland.

I'm no fan of Arlene but the idea of Poots is awful. I just wish the UUP were in a position to make this work for them, but that looks very unlikely

I just hope the unionist electorate will see sense. Already the DUP had lost votes to both Alliance and the TUV, two opposite ends of the spectrum. I don't know where there place is any more and I'm scared Poots will just walk them out of Stormont the first time something doesn't go his way.

I never thought that I would mourn the loss of Arlene as a leader - she has by no means been perfect, but the future of NI looks incredibly bleak if Edwin Poots is given control. Politics here will never be straightforward but has been looking positively progressive in recent times. This will take us back into the dark ages. The fact that someone with such insane and outlandish views could even be considered for that role is beyond a joke.

There's a very good chance Sinn Fein finally nudges ahead at next year's election.

It's truly terrifying. I thought Arlene was bad. But what he's said about her and what stands for? VILE.

The DUP are a blemish on the face of NI, imo and the prospect of this loon becoming leader is shocking. Thankfully, the DUP don't have an overall majority in the Assembly so the impact of his leadership will be limited.

I'm fearful for what this means for the fragile peace though, and think it has made reunification more, not less, likely.

The fact that someone with such insane and outlandish views could even be considered for that role is beyond a joke

The fact that he even managed to get elected to the assembly is beyond a joke. He makes Jacob Rees-Mogg seem like a tolerant modernist by comparison.

**"The fact that he even managed to get elected to the assembly is beyond a joke"

Many DUP voters would wholeheartedly agree with his views.This is why Arlene was overthrown.They're a fundamentalist religious party who have history of allowing their leaders to make necessary advancements to achieve power then they dispose of them.This is exactly what they did to Ian Paisley senior.
What should be focused on is the misogyny Arlene Foster faced and the concerted campaign against her run on social media.I really don't know how she's carried on for as long as she has.

NI isn't 'under' the DUP and the first minister has very limited power, particularly as it is joint post with Deputy First Minister (SF) having equal status. Best case scenario the DUP continue to lose votes to Alliance / others, voters from other parties move towards the centre as they no longer need to balance against the extreme views of DUP and we end up with a more moderate / stable government.

DUP need someone who isnt a bloody religious extremists.

The evangelical branch of the party seem to be deserting to go to the TUV as they fear the DUP were too progressive under Arlene. Gavin Robinson would have continued along those lines. I think if Poots tries to steer Northern Ireland along the fundamentalist route they will haemorrhage voters very quickly. It is looking very likely that Sinn Fein will have a majority at the next election. Very depressing

@UhtredRagnarson

Yes I’m hoping they’re unwittingly engineering their own demise.

Same

What a horrible man.

I am interested to know what Poots had done and also what misogyny and social media bartering Arlene faced from her own side if anyone has any links?

The obvious solution is that people need to stop voting for these ridiculous bigots and vote instead for politicians who actually want to drag NI into the 21st century.

NI desperately needs non-sectarian politicians in positions of power who will challenge the vested interests, demolish the so-called ‘peace walls’ and, most importantly of all, integrate the schools.