Allister asks: Why didn’t DUP realise existence of Protocol strategy a year ago?

The logo of Mr Bryson's group

The DUP have said relatively little on the subject of Ulster Voice Policy Studies report, which maps out a strategy for defeating the NI Protocol.

Writing on Twitter, DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson said: “This is a welcome contribution from Unionist Voice and Kate Hoey [who wrote the foreword] on opposition to the protocol and the harm that it does to our relationship with the rest of the UK.”

The arguments in the report are detailed at this link.

The DUP came in for criticism in the report, for being “too slow to deliver promised consequences”.

But the report goes on to welcome what it sees as a change of tack by the party – taking Edwin Poots’ promise to raise the Protocol at the Executive as a welcome development.

The PUP’s “depth of intellectual and legal analysis” was praised by Mr Bryson and the other (largely anonymous) authors of the report, whilst the UUP’s stance was condemned as lacking “any coherence, or genuine strong foundational opposition to the Protocol”.

The TUV meanwhile was praised: “It is unsurprising to see the TUV surge in the polls, given that their uncompromising stand on the fundamental principles of the Union is reflective of the thinking of many within the pro-Union community in Northern Ireland.”

Jim Allister himself issued a statement today, in which he said that “the first and obvious question” arising from the report is that – given that it purports to offer a clear legal solution to the Protocol – “why didn’t he [Poots] realise this a year ago?”

“But, better late than never,” he added.

There must be no more “further prevarication and dither”.

“There now is no excuse for inaction,” he said.

“The opportunity to derail the Protocol must be taken and taken swiftly.”

The UUP, for their part, said simply this: “We will wait until we see the paper from the Minister to the Executive.

“It would be unreasonable for us to comment on a paper we haven’t seen.”

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