Assess the view that the Democratic Unionist party supports very different
policies from those it held in 1998 (25 marks)
I believe that the DUP has had significant changes in it’s policies since
1998, but still holds some of it’s views and beliefs from then.
However, the party’s policies have changed in many ways:
Firstly, the DUP are now working in a power-sharing coalition with Sinn
Féin. Back in 2007, Peter Robinson and Ian Paisley they reached a point
when they decided to work a renegotiation on their view of the Good
Friday Agreement. This was a massive change as previously Northern
Ireland was under direct rule and dominanted by Unionists. Sinn Féin and
the DUP have been in a mandatory power-sharing coalition since St
Andrews Agreement around 2007, this was an agreement between the
British and Irish governments and Northern Ireland’s political parties in
relation to the devolution of power in the region.
Furthermore, since the renegotiation of the Good Friday Agreement, the
DUP have started to communicate with the Republic of Ireland
government and would have meetings through the North-South ministerial
council along with Sinn Féin. This shows how the DUP have come a long
way since 1998 and continue to share power with the Nationalists, this is a
major change. The DUP changed from being anti- Good Friday agreement
to working a renegotiation around 2007, this meant that they wanted to
work with the devolved institutions in Northern Ireland and work together
with the Nationalists.
Finally, since the DUP have changed since 1998, it shows their willingness
to work with Sinn Féin in a power-sharing coalition. With the DUP as the
second largest party in Northern Ireland and the largest party of Unionism
in Northern Ireland, it shows since their policies have changed they have
gained more and more votes.
The DUP have kept their stance on a few main key issues in society:
Firstly, in 1998 the DUP disagreed with same sex marriage and continue to
disagree. Back in 2016, the same sex marriage legislation was going
through it’s final stages, when the DUP decided to use petition of concern
which has resulted in no legislation relating to this. This shows in modern
day society, the DUP still hold traditional views on such issues.
policies from those it held in 1998 (25 marks)
I believe that the DUP has had significant changes in it’s policies since
1998, but still holds some of it’s views and beliefs from then.
However, the party’s policies have changed in many ways:
Firstly, the DUP are now working in a power-sharing coalition with Sinn
Féin. Back in 2007, Peter Robinson and Ian Paisley they reached a point
when they decided to work a renegotiation on their view of the Good
Friday Agreement. This was a massive change as previously Northern
Ireland was under direct rule and dominanted by Unionists. Sinn Féin and
the DUP have been in a mandatory power-sharing coalition since St
Andrews Agreement around 2007, this was an agreement between the
British and Irish governments and Northern Ireland’s political parties in
relation to the devolution of power in the region.
Furthermore, since the renegotiation of the Good Friday Agreement, the
DUP have started to communicate with the Republic of Ireland
government and would have meetings through the North-South ministerial
council along with Sinn Féin. This shows how the DUP have come a long
way since 1998 and continue to share power with the Nationalists, this is a
major change. The DUP changed from being anti- Good Friday agreement
to working a renegotiation around 2007, this meant that they wanted to
work with the devolved institutions in Northern Ireland and work together
with the Nationalists.
Finally, since the DUP have changed since 1998, it shows their willingness
to work with Sinn Féin in a power-sharing coalition. With the DUP as the
second largest party in Northern Ireland and the largest party of Unionism
in Northern Ireland, it shows since their policies have changed they have
gained more and more votes.
The DUP have kept their stance on a few main key issues in society:
Firstly, in 1998 the DUP disagreed with same sex marriage and continue to
disagree. Back in 2016, the same sex marriage legislation was going
through it’s final stages, when the DUP decided to use petition of concern
which has resulted in no legislation relating to this. This shows in modern
day society, the DUP still hold traditional views on such issues.
