East Belfast DUP

02/09/2026

⚠️ 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗮𝗿𝗯𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗘𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲

A scrap metal recycling facility is currently on fire in the Harbour Estate. Belfast Harbour Police are currently assisting NIFRS and PSNI.

A large plume of smoke is affecting parts of Inner East Belfast, including Victoria Park.

Two fire appliances are currently at the scene of another fire at Clearway.

Belfast Harbour Police are supporting the response and tugs have also been deployed.

Residents in the surrounding area should keep windows and doors closed as a precaution if affected by smoke.

Please avoid the immediate area and allow the emergency services to carry out their work safely.

I’ll share any further confirmed updates when available.

30/08/2026

26/08/2026

Earlier this year, Gordon Lyons committed to providing additional support with home heating oil costs.

Today, he has delivered — with £100 support available to around 340,000 households across Northern Ireland.

Applications open on 9 September.

Practical support for households as we head towards the colder months.

𝐇𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐎𝐢𝐥 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐞

💳 The £100 oil voucher scheme will open for applications on 𝙒𝒆𝙙𝒏𝙚𝒔𝙙𝒂𝙮 9𝒕𝙝 𝙎𝒆𝙥𝒕𝙚𝒎𝙗𝒆𝙧.

✅ This is a £36.4M investment that will benefit around 340,000 households.

📲 Eligible applicants will apply online and receive a pre-paid virtual voucher which can be spent at oil suppliers in Northern Ireland.

👨🏻‍💻 Applications can be made online on behalf of others (if they are unable or have no access to internet). A phone option will also be available.

Vouchers will be valid for 3 months once activated. Applications open until 31 March 2027.

Full details at the link in the comments 👇

25/08/2026

𝗗𝗿𝘂𝗺𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗿𝘂𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗳𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵

𝗗𝗿𝘂𝗺𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗿𝘂𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗳𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵

The outcome of the Drumcree legal challenge is a totemic victory which has laid bare why confidence in the Parades Commission has collapsed within the unionist community.

I commend Portadown District and all those involved, including my Upper Bann party colleague Carla Lockhart MP, in pursuing this legal action. Their determination to subject the Commission’s decisions to proper legal scrutiny has exposed serious failings which cannot be ignored.

The Commission has conceded that its decision-making was unlawful. That raises profound questions about how Commissioners have discharged the significant statutory responsibilities entrusted with them, and highlights the disdain and disrespect they have shown toward parade applicants.

The Secretary of State must now act. Those who have presided over unlawful decision-making cannot credibly continue in office. They have been entrusted with and paid for a significant role of public importance and they summarily failed.

There must also be an independent review of how parading is governed in Northern Ireland, including the structure, operation and accountability of the Parades Commission.

For too long, the process surrounding contentious parades has handed disproportionate influence to those unwilling to reach accommodation with their neighbours.

This must mark the beginning of fundamental reform and a new approach based on fairness, accountability and respect for the rights of everyone.

19/08/2026

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝘃𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿:

🤝 Start cooperating.
💪 Start winning.

Seats have been lost because of division. The next Assembly election is there to be won – if unionism chooses to work together. That's what we want to see.

17/08/2026

14/08/2026

𝗗𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗱 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘁 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗧𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁

𝗗𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗱 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘁 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗧𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁

As Dundonald RBP are hosting the Last Saturday in August this year, the Belfast RBDC No. 1 District Parade will take place this evening.

The parade will leave Dundonald Orange Hall at 7.30pm, travelling along Comber Road, Upper Newtownards Road and through the surrounding residential streets before returning to Comber Road, including a stop at Limetree Nursing Home.

There may be some temporary traffic disruption while the parade passes, so please allow a little extra time if you are travelling through Dundonald this evening.

I hope everyone taking part and attending has a very enjoyable evening.

12/08/2026

⚠️ 𝗥𝗢𝗔𝗗𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗞𝗦 𝗔𝗥𝗘 𝗕𝗔𝗖𝗞 𝗢𝗡 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗠𝟯 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗦 𝗪𝗘𝗘𝗞𝗘𝗡𝗗

From 9pm Friday until 6am Monday, the M3 westbound access from Middlepath Street will be closed.

If you normally come in via Dee Street to get onto the bridge, you’ll be redirected back down towards Middlepath Street and through the town instead.

So if you’re travelling through Inner East this weekend, leave yourself a bit of extra time, delays are likely.

⚠️ 𝗜𝗡𝗡𝗘𝗥 𝗘𝗔𝗦𝗧 𝗕𝗘𝗟𝗙𝗔𝗦𝗧 𝗥𝗢𝗔𝗗𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗞𝗦 𝗨𝗣𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘

➡️ 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘁𝗼𝘄𝗻𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝗥𝗼𝗮𝗱 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗣𝗢𝗦𝗧𝗣𝗢𝗡𝗘𝗗
You may have seen signs at Middlepath Street and near Connswater McDonald’s warning of a Newtownards Road closure.

𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘱𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘥, with the work now due to take place in the autumn.

➡️ 𝗠𝟯 𝘄𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗯𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲

The postponement avoids clashing with major M3 bridge works this weekend.

From 9pm Friday 14 August until 6am Monday 17 August, the Middlepath Street on-slip to the M3 westbound will be closed.

You can still travel along Middlepath Street towards the city centre, but you will not be able to join the M3 westbound there. A diversion will be in place.

➡️ 𝗧𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗔𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘂𝗲

There is also a one-way closure on Templemore Avenue at the junction beside Keens Furniture, towards the Newtownards Road.

I’ve asked DfI to confirm how long that restriction will remain in place.

05/08/2026

Just days after I issued a statement condemning the disgraceful sectarian attack on the McCurrie & Neill Memorial, it has once again been targeted.

This repeated attack is utterly sickening. It demonstrates a deliberate and sustained campaign of hatred against a memorial dedicated to innocent victims of terrorism. Such behaviour has absolutely no place in a civilised society.

For the second time in just one week, Mr McCurrie's widow, now well into her 90s, has been forced to witness this appalling sectarian attack on the memorial to her late husband. It is difficult to imagine the hurt and distress this repeated targeting will cause her and the wider families of the innocent victims remembered there.

I again call on those responsible to be identified and brought before the courts. This cannot simply be dismissed as mindless vandalism; it is a sectarian attack on the memory of innocent people who lost their lives.

I will continue to press the relevant authorities to ensure the memorial is restored without delay and that every possible step is taken to prevent these shameful attacks from happening again. Those who believe they can intimidate or erase the memory of innocent victims will not succeed.

Democratic Unionist Party
East Belfast DUP

05/08/2026

Writing for Politics.co.uk, Gavin Robinson explains why continued defence investment is important for Harland & Wolff, for skilled jobs and apprenticeships in East Belfast, and for the UK’s ability to build and maintain its own defence equipment.

Harland & Wolff represents more than East Belfast’s proud industrial past. It can be a vital part of the United Kingdom’s defence future.

𝗪𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘀.𝗰𝗼.𝘂𝗸, I have set out the case for sustained defence investment that supports the shipyard, strengthens our sovereign capability and delivers long-term skilled jobs and apprenticeships.

Northern Ireland is home to a world-class defence industrial base, including Harland & Wolff, Thales, Boeing, Airbus and many more.

Northern Ireland must be fully included in the Government’s defence and industrial strategy, with our businesses given every opportunity to compete, contribute and grow.

Link to article in the comments below.