The DUP leader Gavin Robinson has said it is “time to reflect” as he pledged a “new approach” to how the party does business. He made the remarks at his first conference as leader, and the first since Sir Jeffrey Donaldson resigned as leader in March.

Gavin Robinson has pledged to drive change within the DUP in an attempt to arrest the party’s flagging fortunes. Making his first conference speech since becoming party leader in May, the East Belfast MP also signalled that he will explore the potential for unionist unity in a manner that “will prove more productive than what went before”.

Party leader did not directly refer to historical sex offence charges that Jeffrey Donaldson’s faces and denies

Mr Robinson said that after a difficult six months, he was pledging to rebuild the party for future elections.