DUP Timeline
September, 1971 - The DUP is co-founded by Rev Ian Paisley
October, 1971 - Four MPs join the DUP at Stormont - Rev Paisley, William Beattie, Desmond Boal and Johnny McQuade
June 1973 - Eight DUP members are elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly
May 1979 - Rev Paisley, Peter Robinson and Johnny McQuade are elected as MPs
June 1979 - Rev Paisley is elected as an MEP
November 1985 - Hundreds of thousands of people gather at Belfast City Hall in a mass 'Ulster Says No' rally, backed by the DUP, UUP and other unionists, in opposition to the Anglo-Irish Agreement
November 1986 - Rev Paisley, Mr Robinson and Ivan Foster announce the formation of the Ulster Resistance Movement (URM). The following year, the DUP says it has cut ties with the URM
1998 - The Good Friday Agreement is signed. The DUP is strongly opposed to the peace deal
October 2002 - Power-sharing at Stormont collapses after Sinn Féin's offices at Stormont are raided by the police
November 2003 - The DUP becomes the largest party in the assembly
January 2004 - Ulster Unionists Jeffrey Donaldson, Arlene Foster and Norah Beare defect to the DUP. Mr Donaldson joins the DUP team at Westminster
May 2005 - Nine DUP MPs elected to Westminster
October 2006 - Talks lead to the St Andrews Agreement
March 2007 - Thirty DUP MLAs elected to the new Northern Ireland Assembly following the restoration of power-sharing
May 2007 - Rev Paisley becomes First Minister. His friendship with Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness leads to them being branded as the 'Chuckle Brothers'
June 2008 - Peter Robinson succeeds Rev Paisley as DUP leader and becomes First Minister
May 2011 - DUP increases its number of MLAs to 38
December 2015 - Mrs Foster becomes DUP leader following resignation of Peter Robinson
January 2016 - Mrs Foster becomes First Minister
January 2017 - Stormont collapses due to the 'cash for ash' scandal
June 2017 - Following the General Election, the DUP signs a confidence and supply agreement with the Conservative government
January 2020 - Stormont returns after parties sign the New Decade, New Approach Deal
May 2021 - Mrs Foster resigns following an internal DUP coup. Edwin Poots becomes leader
June 2021 - Mr Poots resigns following controversy over his decision to nominate Paul Givan as First Minister
June 2021 - Sir Jeffrey Donaldson is appointed as new DUP leader
Read more:
- Arlene Foster prepares to vacate assembly seat
- DUP turns 50 but its future is far from certain
