DUP support up but still ten points down on 2019 Westminster performance

Support for the DUP has increased marginally, according to fresh polling, but the party is facing a significant challenge to match its performance at the last general election.

Sinn Féin remains the largest party on 24%, despite slipping two points over the past month, the newly-published survey shows.

Meanwhile, support for the SDLP and Alliance has increased with little over a fortnight to go until polling day.

Colum Eastwood's SDLP has increased its support by three points in a month. PICTURE: OLIVER MCVEIGH/PA

Support for Colum Eastwood’s party has risen by three points to 13% in the space of a month, according to the latest LucidTalk poll for the Belfast Telegraph, while Alliance is up two points to 17%.

In 2019, Alliance enjoyed a 16.8% vote share, while the SDLP secured 14.9%.

Support for the DUP shows a one point increase on the previous month to 21%, yet Gavin Robinson’s party is almost ten points down on its showing at the last Westminster election as it battles to retain its eight seats.

The Ulster Unionist Party has seen its support drop by one point in the space of a month and now stands on 13%, according to the poll.

Jim Allister’s TUV, which has seen its partnership with Reform UK undermined by administrative cock-ups and the endorsement of DUP candidates by new leader Nigel Farage, has taken the biggest hit in the polling, dropping three points in a month to 5%.

On 1%, People Before Profit and the Greens are unchanged, while Aontú is also on 1%, down one point from last month.

Others and independents are up one point to 5%.

Some 71% of DUP, UUP and TUV voters ranked commitment to the union as the most pressing matter for them in the poll, followed by the economy (49%), health service (47%), opposing the Northern Ireland Protocol/Windsor Framework (45%), and cost of living (42%).

The cost of living was cited as most important by 66% of Sinn Féin and SDLP voters, followed by the health service (63%), commitment to Irish unity (51%), the economy (48%) and education (42%).

The polling took place between June 8-10 and canvassed the opinions of 3,634 respondents. The margin of error is +/- 2.3%.