The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) will “not be found wanting” when it comes to co-operating with other unionist parties to maximise the pro-union vote in next year’s elections, Gavin Robinson has said.

The DUP leader was giving his annual conference speech ahead of highly anticipated assembly and council elections next May.

Robinson told his conference that the party “must not gift wrap seats to Sinn Féin, the SDLP or Alliance that we could otherwise win”.

The DUP believes that in constituencies like Lagan Valley and North Antrim a split unionist vote handed seats to its opponents unnecessarily in the 2022 assembly election.

He told delegates at a hotel in greater Belfast on Saturday: “I am committed to constructively work and actively engage again with other unionist parties, as we have before, to get the largest number of pro-union candidates elected to the assembly and to our councils.

“I am not asking anyone to give up what they believe.”

He appealed to the unionist electorate and others: “Staying at home, or voting for parties that spend more time attacking fellow unionists, and who have no plan, will deliver a weakened and divided unionism – and that is exactly what Sinn Féin hope for.

“They know what split votes and lost seats will mean for unionism and the union.

“More power for them to take Northern Ireland in the wrong direction. That is the danger.”

While not ruling out co-operation with other unionist parties the new Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) leader Jon Burrows has often spoken of his ambition to return his party to its former position as the largest unionist party.

Traditonal Unionist Voice (TUV) leader Jim Allister has frequently said he is open to co-operation, but he also accused the DUP of betraying unionism by returning to Stormont and accepting post-Brexit trading arrangements that effectively partition the United Kingdom.

It is not clear what any discussions between the parties could ultimately amount to.

In his speech, Robinson also addressed what he called “appalling” crimes committed by the party’s former leader Jeffrey Donaldson.

The former MP was convicted in June of 18 counts of sex abuse including one count of rape, which he committed against two women when they were children. Donaldson is seeking to appeal.

Robinson said he understood that many delegates felt “deceived and deeply let down by a life of lies”, but he added that the party would “face the past honestly”.

“We will not let the vile actions of one man define our values and our integrity,” he added.

The conference was also told that the DUP would “never” support reform of Stormont that he claimed were “designed to strip unionists of their consent for our governing arrangements”.

Alliance, the SDLP and Sinn Féin have called on the government to engage in a process to amend the current structures, in a bid to remove vetoes and prevent future collapses of the institutions.

Robinson said his party backed reforms that “improve delivery”, but insisted that calls for institutional reform were “not designed to advance the cause of everyday issues”.

“No self-respecting unionist can allow themselves to naively fall into the trap of lining up with those who are determined to weaken the consent mechanisms at Stormont,” he added.

Friday night’s entertainment at this year’s DUP conference dinner was an ABBA tribute act.

And if the winner takes it all – then the DUP knows the high stakes in next year’s assembly and council elections, having lost its lead at Stormont four years ago.

Gavin Robinson issued the SOS to his unionist rivals to set aside their relative divisions and unite next May to maximise their vote.

But such calls have in the recent past amounted to little and with an energised UUP under its new leader, and the TUV posing its own threat in various constituencies, it is hard to predict what this latest plea will amount to.

Robinson also addressed head on, early in his speech, the ongoing shadow cast over the party by Jeffrey Donaldson’s conviction for child sex offences, which could well cost it votes among the unionist electorate.

Two-and-a-half years ago, Robinson was thrust into the leadership position because of the most shocking and sudden news the party had ever faced.

His biggest challenge as leader is approaching, and when all is said and done next year, he desperately needs something to show for it.