Economy Minister Gordon Lyons has told party colleagues they are "election ready" if Secretary of State, Chris Heaton-Harris, decides to move forward with a further Assembly poll.

"We will take our message to the people and campaign for their support on this most vital of issues," he said.

"Conference, our message is clear; without decisive action on the Protocol, and Northern Ireland’s place within the UK fully restored there is no basis to re-enter the Executive.

"We do not fear an election should the Government so decide. If the government believe that an election, or a threat of an election, will influence how we judge the issue of the Protocol they are badly advised and they underestimate our resolve," he added.

Jayne McCormack
BBC News NI political correspondent

Gone are the DUP conferences when Conservative Party heavyweights were the star turn.

Expect a low-key event that looks and feels very different than other years.

The backdrop to today, of course, is the recent shift in tone between the UK and EU when it comes to doing a deal on the protocol - a deal that may not match what the DUP has been calling for.

Then there is the looming spectre of another assembly election if the DUP refuses to reform an executive within the next three weeks.

Sir Jeffrey spelled out the DUP's plan for exiting Stormont earlier this year, a shift that has curried favour with hard-line unionists.

His speech today therefore is unlikely to include anything resembling a plan for returning to Stormont soon.

Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of today's Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) conference in Belfast.

This will be Sir Jeffrey Donaldson's first conference as party leader.

The party has not held its annual gathering since 2019 because of the pandemic.

Last year saw DUP infighting that led to Arlene Foster and Edwin Poots being ousted as party leader within months of each other.

Sir Jeffrey, who is the MP for Lagan Valley, became leader in June 2021.

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Image source, PA Media