And just like that, Donaldson leaves the stage and our live coverage comes to an end as we wait for the political reaction to roll in.

Image source, Pacemaker

Key Points

• Donaldson said he would never apologise for promoting the union
• Criticised Sinn Féin's Michelle O'Neill, saying: "there was always an alternative to violence"
• Said the last election should be a "wake up call" for a "splintered" unionist community
• He called for co-operation between unionists
• Sir Jeffrey said he still believes in devolved government but admits it is damaged
• Said the Northern Ireland Protocol is driving up the cost-of-living
• Said he had "no basis" to re-enter Stormont unless the Protocol Bill was delivered
• He said he did not fear the prospect of a fresh election
• Said the party may be tested "as never before" in the coming weeks

Finishing his speech, Donaldson tells party members:

"Let us not be found wanting but rather rise to the challenges ahead so that when future generations look back on this period, they will be able to say of us that our legacy was not based on short-term fixes but on the long-term solutions we secured for all the people in Northern Ireland."

"For when we do that, this party will succeed, but more importantly Northern Ireland will succeed and the Union will endure," he concluded.

Sir Jeffrey Donaldson closes his speech by saying the party must "secure the solid foundations" for moving forward and to clear "the debris of the Protocol years".

"We need to restore the cross-community consensus that is essential for the political institutions to function and to succeed."

"Colleagues, in the coming weeks we may be tested as never before," he adds.

"The government needs to tread sensitively and act wisely if they wish to see unionist confidence rebuilt and the conditions created for durable power sharing," Sir Jeffrey says..

"The prize is not just for unionism but for all of Northern Ireland and it is not just for the UK but for the EU as well."

The party leader asked the conference to imagine future arrangements, transforming relationships within Northern Ireland, throughout the United Kingdom and with the Republic of Ireland.

"With the 25th Anniversary of the Belfast Agreement fast approaching, surely this is the position all governments and parties will want to be in?"

Sir Jeffrey says that if necessary he will "campaign as never before" to secure a fresh mandate from the people.He says: "If in the absence of his government righting the wrongs visited upon Northern Ireland the secretary of state calls an assembly election... we are ready and we will take our case to the people as the lead party of unionism."

Image source, Getty Images

"If decisive action is taken on the Protocol that restores our place fully within the United Kingdom, this party will take its place once again in a fully functioning Executive," the DUP leader says.

Sir Jeffrey says it is actions that are needed and the issue is larger than goods checks on the Irish sea border.

"Some lay great emphasis on cutting the number of checks on goods entering Northern Ireland from Great Britain.

"If that were to happen they say all our problems would be sorted notwithstanding that the Protocol has not yet been fully implemented.

"The truth of course is that the checks on the Irish Sea border are the symptom of the underlying problem namely that Northern Ireland is subject to a different set of laws imposed upon us by a foreign entity without any say or vote by any elected representative of the people of Northern Ireland."

Image source, Reuters

"Let me be clear," says Donaldson, in a direct message to Liz Truss."Either the Prime Minister delivers the provisions of the Protocol Bill by legislation or by negotiation and ensures that our place in the United Kingdom is restored."Or there will be no basis to re-enter Stormont".

Image source, Getty Images

Sir Jeffrey says he welcomes and supports the introduction of the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill at Westminster."If fully enacted, this legislation has the potential to provide the solution that will free Northern Ireland from the grip of the Protocol and restore our rights as British citizens to trade freely with the rest of our own nation under Article 6 of the Acts of Union," he said.

Sir Jeffrey says the Northern Ireland protocol is contributing to the cost-of-living crisis.

• Brexit: What is the Northern Ireland Protocol?

He speaks of rising haulage costs and steel tariffs, adding that "trade friction" between NI and Great Britain is fuelling the crisis and restricting consumer choice.

"The reality is that the Protocol is driving up the cost of living for every single household in Northern Ireland.

"That is why this party will work relentlessly to have this burden removed."

Sir Jeffrey says he still believes in devolved government but says he is realistic enough to recognise that it has suffered serious reputational damage recently.

"Our system of government is far from perfect, and needs further measured reform, but we believe in the principle of devolution.

I don’t need to tell you that many of the decisions that we have objected to most over the last 10 years have not been taken at Stormont but at Westminster."

Sir Jeffrey says it makes economic sense to be part of "one of the biggest economies in the world", listing what he sees as the benefits of the United Kingdom.

"We are unionists because we cherish the National Health Service," he said.

"And we are unionists because we love the United Kingdom and its diversity.

"We can be Northern Irish and British.

"We can be Scottish or Welsh and British.

"And yes, we can be Irish and British," he added.

The party leader continues on the subject of the need for unionist unity:

"Those of us in this room are mature enough to know that delivering a more cohesive unionism cannot be achieved by attacking fellow unionists. It requires co-operation and effort from all who want to strengthen our place within the Union."

The party leader says the results of May's assembly election "must act as a wake-up call" to unionists across Northern Ireland."It is vital that lessons are learned in its aftermath and before we return to the polls. Unionism won 44% of the seats in the Northern Ireland Assembly," he says.

Sir Jeffrey says unionists must be honest with one another.

"It wasn’t nationalists or others who caused the loss of several pro-Union seats at the election," he says.

• NI election 2022 results: Sir Jeffrey Donaldson's DUP dilemma

"That was the direct result of a splintered unionism where seats were lost in Strangford, North Antrim and East Antrim." he adds.

Sir Jeffrey says: "Just as during the hugely challenging days of the pandemic, the uncomfortable truth for some remains that it is the UK government at Westminster that has the financial firepower and resources to adequately deal with the current cost of living squeeze."He says this is a "key benefit" of the Union and tackling the difficulties created by the cost of living will continue to be an absolute priority for the DUP.

"We understand the challenges that homes and businesses are facing and we will fight day and night to ensure they receive the support that they need," he added.

Sir Jeffrey directly references comments made by Sinn Féin deputy leader Michelle O'Neill on BBC's Red Lines podcast.

He says: "We will not allow their memories to be sullied by the re-writing of history and the attempted justification for violence.

"Let us as a conference send a clear message that murder and mayhem is never justified."

"But most of all I – we – believe in the Union and we will never apologise for working to promote the benefits of the Union and to secure our position within the United Kingdom,"The conference room fills with applause.

Image source, CHRIS LEVINE/ROB MUNDAY © JERSEY HERITAGE TRUST

Next, the DUP leader pays tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth II."In recent weeks we have been deeply saddened and powerfully moved by the loss of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II," he says.

He said her passing was felt "intensely" across Northern Ireland and the nation as a whole.

"We have all been truly blessed to live through her reign and we give thanks to God for her unwaveringservice to our United Kingdom and the Commonwealth.

"As we look forward, we do so confidently, recognising that our new King, Charles III will reign mindful of the example set by Her late Majesty," he added.

Image source, NORTH WEST NEWSPIX

Sir Jeffrey expresses his sympathies to the families bereaved by the ongoing tragic events in Donegal.

Nine people are now confirmed dead after an explosion at a filling station in Creeslough on Friday afternoon.

"We assure the people of Creeslough of our collective prayers and want them to know that they will continue to be in our thoughts in the days ahead," he says.

This is his first conference speech since becoming party leader in 2021.