Robin Swann has claimed that the DUP has become the "main threat to the Union".

Speaking ahead of the party's annual conference at the Armagh City Hotel this weekend, the Ulster Unionist leader said the actions of the DUP were "not serving unionists well on the national and European stage."

"The DUP are seen as the voice of unionism, but how they act and what they say is not consistent with how we want to be viewed," he Mr Swann added.

"They are seen as bullying and holding the UK to ransom. We don't want unionism to be represented in that way.

"We have to let Europe and the UK know that the DUP do not speak for all unionists."

Mr Swann also admitted it was a major regret that he had not been able to influence local politics in the way he would have liked in his 18 months as party leader.

He said: "Not once have I sat in the chamber at Stormont as the leader of a political party with the chance to debate and influence decisions that affect the day-to-day lives of the people who live in this country.

"As a party we have made it clear we want to push for a single education system and a single health trust.

"Health, education, jobs, infrastructure - these are the things that are important to the community and the things we, as politicians, should be there to support. Brexit is important, but as a country we need to get back to local politics. We've lost that."

But Mr Swann feels there will be no return to Stormont as long as the Brexit debate continues. "Unfortunately, I've come to believe the impasse is now related to Brexit. There will be no return until that is sorted," he said.

"What we have now are options that simply kick the can further down the street with talk of extending transition periods. In the meantime, we need to get on with things in Northern Ireland, but that's not happening.

"It seems to give Sinn Fein and the DUP some sort of comfort to have Brexit issues to focus on rather than dealing with the so many more concerns people have by getting back into the Assembly."

Mr Swann said he does not feel Secretary of State Karen Bradley's decision to legislate on providing extra powers for civil servants will be of any benefit, calling it no more than a "smokescreen for the failure to deliver a political solution that is acceptable to the people of Northern Ireland".

"It's almost as if she had to be seen to be doing something, but what this provides is no more than guidance, not real powers to make crucial decisions," he stressed. "We will still be left in limbo with the threat of judicial reviews."

Stating his party's position on the current Brexit situation, Mr Swann said the EU must give Prime Minister Theresa May the flexibility she requested in negotiations and that undermining the Belfast Agreement to facilitate the backstop proposal is not a sensible way forward.

"The UK Government should not be bounced into doing a bad deal which would threaten the constitutional and economic integrity of the United Kingdom," he said.

"There is now a window of opportunity for everyone to take stock and for the EU to go back to the drawing board.

"Theresa May has asked the EU for flexibility and they should give her that.

"It is in everyone's interests to get a sensible deal that respects the result of the referendum, that doesn't undermine the Belfast Agreement and maintains a frictionless border with the Republic of Ireland.

"However, I continue to be disappointed by the intransigent language coming from Leo Varadkar and the Irish Government.

"If they continue to hold to the position that it's either a border in the Irish Sea or no deal, it is likely to have dire consequences on both sides of the border in terms of both economies and relationships across these islands.

"Breaking the Belfast Agreement to facilitate the backstop proposal is definitely not a sensible way forward."

Responding to Mr Swann's criticisms, Strangford DUP MLA Peter Weir said: "It is ridiculous to attack unionists when the threat is Sinn Fein, Dublin and those in the EU who want to put a border in the Irish Sea.

"While Mr Swann seeks to divide unionism for headlines and relevance, the DUP will continue to work towards uniting unionism and convincing the next generation to protect and preserve the Union."

Belfast Telegraph