An anti-protocol rally in Co Down due to take place this week has been postponed as a mark of respect after Christopher Stalford's death.
The DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson was due to address the rally at Crossgar Orange Hall on Friday night, along with TUV leader Jim Allister, Ulster Unionist councillor Jill Macauley, and former Brexit Party MEP Ben Habib.
South Belfast MLA Christopher Stalford died suddenly on Sunday aged 39.
The father-of-four was elected to Stormont in 2016 and appointed principal deputy speaker of the assembly in 2020.
A former Belfast deputy lord mayor and the city's high sheriff, Mr Stalford served as a councillor for more than a decade and previously worked in a number of backroom roles for the DUP.
Police said that his death is not being treated as suspicious.
In a statement announcing the postponement of this Friday’s anti-protocol rally, Lecale District No 2 said they “extend their sincere Christian sympathies to the entire Stalford family and his party at this time of grief”.
“The rally will now go ahead on Friday 11th March at 7:30. All the previously announced speakers - TUV leader Jim Allister, DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, UUP councillor Jill McCauley and former Brexit party MEP Ben Habib - have agreed to to join us on the new date,” they added.
“We are delighted that they will also now be joined by Baroness Kate Hoey.”
The anti-protocol rally would have been just a week after the DUP's Sammy Wilson was booed and called a "traitor" at last Friday's anti-protocol rally in Markethill, Co Armagh.
Mr Donaldson said yesterday he wanted to see all unionists united against the Northern Ireland Protocol, which has effectively created a border in the Irish Sea.
"I am clear that we desire to build unionist cooperation on the basis of that which unites us - opposition to the protocol and a desire to protect and promote the union," he said.
"If others want to use these platforms for blatant electioneering and manufactured disunity, that will harm our cause."
During Friday's rally, Mr Wilson's comments were frequently drowned out by hecklers, some of whom were heard shouting "stand down your candidates" - thought to be a plea for single unionist candidates.
Although single unionist candidates have previously stood in Westminster elections, there is little advantage to doing so in the assembly elections, which are run under the single transferable vote system.
A TUV spokesman said his party "has never, nor would it ever" ask for a single candidate in May's elections.
"We will be standing in all 18 constituencies and I expect the other unionist parties to do the same," he said.
"All unionist voters should vote TUV number one but select other anti-protocol candidates in the order in which they see fit."
The next anti-protocol meeting will be held at Carlton Street Orange Hall in Portadown, Co Armagh, at 8pm tomorrow.
However, Mr Allister and TUV Upper Bann election candidate Darrin Foster are the only politicians expected to speak.
Loyalists Jamie Bryson and Moore Holmes will also address the meeting.
An anti-protocol rally is also planned for Lurgan on Friday April 8.
Meanwhile, a new DUP MLA will have to be co-opted into Christopher Stalford's seat by Monday of next week.
The party only has seven days until it has to confirm its choice for the vacant South Belfast seat, following Mr Stalford's sudden death at the weekend.
DUP councillor Tracy Kelly, who managed Mr Stalford's constituency office, is tipped as among the front-runners.
