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.
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.
