DUP ends boycott of NMD Council Good Relations group

The DUP has ended a seven-month boycott and rejoined Newry, Mourne and Down District Council's Equality and Good Relations Reference Group after a full council meeting on Jan 12; the council agreed a revised membership that includes two DUP seats.

The DUP has formally ended a seven-month boycott and returned to Newry, Mourne and Down District Council's Equality and Good Relations Reference Group following a full council meeting on Jan 12. Five DUP councillors had withdrawn from the group in June 2025 citing concerns over an Irish language policy and perceived treatment of unionist views. The council agreed changes to the group's membership at the meeting, and an Ulster-Scots and Ulster British Working Group was created in November 2025 as part of earlier discussions. Key details: - The DUP's five representatives named in the report are Alan Lewis, Henry Reilly, Jonathan Jackson, Glyn Hanna and Callum Bowsie. - The five DUP councillors stepped away from the Equality and Good Relations Reference Group in June 2025 over issues including an Irish language policy and community consultation procedures. - At the Jan 12 full council meeting the agreed representation for the EGRRG was listed as: 2 Sinn Féin, 2 SDLP, 2 DUP, 2 Alliance, 1 UUP and 1 Independent. - An Ulster-Scots and Ulster British Working Group was established in November 2025, and councillors said the British element makes it the first of its kind in Northern Ireland. - A public consultation reported nearly 445 responses with about 80% agreeing the council had a role in visibly developing the Ulster Scots language. Summary: The change restores DUP participation in the council's equality and good relations group and adjusts representation to include two DUP members. What happens next for the group's operation was not specified beyond the revised membership and the earlier creation of the Ulster-Scots and Ulster British Working Group; Undetermined at this time.