In 2003, the DUP was entrusted with the mantle of political leadership.The position that the DUP inherited from the UUP was catastrophic. Unionists were demoralised, effective policing had been destroyed, terrorist killers had been given early release, and their political representatives placed at the heart of government over and over again.

The DUP has given positive and strong leadership and Alderman David Simpson MLA has:

• Negotiated fundamental changes to the failed Belfast Agreement.
• Made it a requirement that no party can get into government without prior full, verifiable, witnessed and transparent decommissioning and an end to all paramilitary and criminal activity.
• Negotiated a testing period in which republican good faith could be proved (this would have caught the Northern Bank robbery and barred SF/IRA from government)
• Ensured proper ministerial accountability.
• Established the principle that policing and justice powers could not be devolved until unionists were satisfied.
• Secured a Victims' Commissioner
• Achieved de-rating of Orange Halls.
• Achieved an efficiency review of all aspects of government to investigate savings for the tax payer.