The DUP - what do they actually want?

[FlyingFlamingo]

I’m in Wales and I’d be interested to hear from someone from NI who may be able to answer (or may not ).

What is the DUP’s ideal scenario? I know what they don’t want - they didn’t like the backstop, they don’t want to remain, they want out of the CU and SM, they don’t want a border in the Irish Sea (which I get) but what other options are there? I’m genuinely confused! Would they be happy (secretly or openly) with a hard border in Ireland?

Thank you to anyone able to explain?

To me the DUP are like the Amish people in America. Everyone else in Ireland and the UK have moved with the times but they are stuck centuries back.

Alliance voters.

From what I'm aware this is exactly what's happening in respect of abortion in NI. I think there's a lot of incorrect information going about though.

When talking about the two sides of the divide are the terms Loyalist/Unionist and Nationalist/Republican interchangeable?

We tend to use Loyalist and Republican for people who are involved in paramilitary organisations. Unionist and nationalist for your bog standard person with those views

Not necessarily. Many refer to themselve interchangeable. The unionist/nationalist is how you identify.
Loyalist's/republican's is the views they hold.

The term 'loyalist' is now usually used to describe working class unionists who are willing to use, or tacitly support, paramilitary violence to defend the Union with Britain
^Loyalists are also described as being loyal primarily to the Protestant British monarchy rather than to the British government and institutions*
Republican.
The political movement is dedicated to Irish republicanism, the belief that all of Ireland should be an independent republic free from British rule

Thank you everyone. I feel a bit better informed now, or at least less worried of causing offence.

You do hear the terms PUL/CNR used in some circles (community reconciliaiton mutual understanding etc)

Being shorthand for
Protestant Unionist Loyalist
Catholic Nationalist Republican

So although the terms aren't strictly interchangeable, they are related.