Unionism in Northern Ireland is dying out – just look at the fall of the house of Paisley | Emma DeSouza

The election dealt a blow to the DUP. With so few young people supporting its cause, a referendum on uniting Ireland is unavoidable

After 14 years of Conservative dominance, Britain has ushered in a new era of politics: record-breaking losses for the Conservative party, Keir Starmer’s whooping victory, the wipeout of the Scottish National party (SNP), growth for the Liberal Democrats and the return of Nigel Farage. But across the water lies another electoral earthquake that has utterly rearranged the political landscape of Northern Ireland: the fall of the house of Paisley.

With only 18 Westminster seats, Northern Ireland was low on the political agenda during the snap election – that is, until news began swirling of a shock loss in North Antrim for the Democratic Unionist party (DUP). North Antrim was considered the party’s safest seat. This was not only a unionist heartland but also Paisley-land. The seat has been held by a member of the Paisley family for 54 years – won by DUP founder Rev Ian Paisley in 1970 and held by his son Ian Paisley Jr since 2010. The loss of North Antrim by 450 votes ended the Paisley dynasty and has raised questions about the future not only of the DUP but also of unionism itself.

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