Lagan Valley DUP

01/09/2026

Orange Victims Day

A short service and wreath laying took place at Dromore Orange Hall for Orange Victims Day. Organised by Lower Iveagh LOL, some members of the Heron family were present, with a good representation from local Orange Lodges. Local DUP Cllr Paul Rankin was in attendance.

Lest we forget 🙏.

01/09/2026

Another court defeat for those who were very quick to claim victory before the full legal process had run its course.

First, the Parades Commission’s unlawful handling of Drumcree was exposed by the High Court.

Now, the Court has ruled that Gordon Lyons did not unlawfully thwart the Irish language strategy, with the previous finding against him rescinded.

Plenty had a lot to say about Gordon at the time.

A few apologies are due today.

01/09/2026

01/09/2026

01/09/2026

Real integration must be about outcomes, not labels – Middleton

DUP Foyle MLA and Education Committee member Julie Middleton MLA has said political attacks on Education Minister Paul Givan’s approach to Integrated Education ignore both the law and the evidence about whether transformation is delivering genuine integration.

Mrs Middleton said:

“Rather than rushing to attack Paul Givan, Sinn Fein and Alliance should engage with the evidence he has presented and, importantly, with what the courts have actually said.

The Court of Appeal has made clear that ‘reasonable numbers’ of Protestant and Roman Catholic children are a mandatory legal requirement for a school seeking to transform. This is not a test invented by Paul Givan or a political obstacle created by the DUP. It is part of the statutory framework which the Minister is legally required to apply.

Indeed, the 2022 Integrated Education Act explicitly defines integrated education as including reasonable numbers of both Protestant and Roman Catholic children. Those attacking the Minister should explain why they now appear uncomfortable with a requirement contained in legislation passed by the Assembly.

The figures should also give politicians pause for thought. Of the 33 schools which have transformed, 31 have a minority community population below 25%. No Integrated school currently meets NICIE’s own aspiration for the minority Protestant or Catholic tradition to comprise 40% of enrolment.

Changing the designation of a school is not, by itself, integration. Surely the real measure of success must be whether more children from different backgrounds are actually being educated together.

There is also an uncomfortable question for Sinn Fein in particular. The overwhelming majority of transformations have taken place in the controlled sector. Very few maintained schools have even entered the transformation process and only one has completed it. If Sinn Fein believes transformation is so important, it should explain why there has been so little progress within the maintained sector.

Paul Givan is not closing the door on Integrated Education. His statement sets out practical measures to help schools broaden their intake before transformation and proposes serious consideration of amalgamations between schools serving different traditions.

Those are proposals capable of bringing children together in reality rather than simply changing the badge above the school door.

The debate should therefore move beyond predictable political attacks on the Minister. The objective must be real integration, measured by children from different traditions actually learning together, rather than integration in name only.”

01/09/2026

Sprucefield Park & Ride Update

Pleased to confirm that those who had been unlawfully encamped at the Sprucefield Park & Ride have now left. Thank you to DFI and the PSNI for the collaborative working on this issue. The car park and surrounding area has also been cleaned this morning, sadly I understand there was a significant amount of rubbish and waste left in the area.

01/09/2026

𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗠𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗕𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗗𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗣𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄

The Secretary of State’s decision to establish an independent judge-led review acknowledges the seriousness of the High Court’s findings. However, his decision to give the current commissioners his ‘full backing’ is indefensible.

The court identified fundamental failures in their decision-making. Those responsible cannot credibly remain in post while the very processes over which they presided are investigated.

The commissioners have lost public confidence and have no credibility to continue. The Secretary of State should stand them down and put interim arrangements in place pending the outcome of the review.

The review cannot become an exercise in institutional protection or a means of shielding individuals from accountability. I will examine its terms of reference and its scope. This organisation needs to change. That is not optional.

The Parades Commission has too often been part of the problem rather than the solution. Confidence will not be restored while commissioners, discredited by the court’s findings, remain in office.

01/09/2026

Today, on Orange Victims Day, we pause to remember the 343 Orange Brethren and one Orange Sister who were murdered during the terrorist campaign in Northern Ireland.

Behind each of those 344 lives was a family, friends, a lodge and a community left to carry the pain of their loss.

Many were murdered while serving in the security forces. Others were targeted simply because of who they were and the community to which they belonged.

Today we remember them all, and we think especially of the families and loved ones for whom that loss remains very real.

Their sacrifice will not be forgotten.

31/08/2026

Farewell August, and farewell summer!🧡💛

It has been such a busy one - from the fields of France at the Somme, to our cultural celebrations of the Twelfth, Scarva and speaking at the Fleadh, from supporting our Northern Ireland athletes at the Commonwealth Games to championing our incredible aerospace and defence companies at the huge global trade show at Farnborough. From the boats in Kilkeel to the community BBQs and fun days of Lagan Valley.

I gave a commitment to represent, champion and to advocate as your deputy First Minister - and what a summer of doing so! For everyone.

Now, onwards to a new term term and to Autumn 🍂 with the same determination and so much to do! These are my favourite two seasons coming up 🧡💛🧡, strengthened and renewed…and a big in-tray!

Wishing all our young people all the best for their new school year, and all parents endurance to get through to Christmas! The most wonderful time of the year…! 🍂🍁❄️⛄️

(Thank you to my good friend Eva for this 💛 summery snap!)