Jim Allister: Edwin Poots is building the stepping stone to an economic all-Ireland

This extract from a speech last night at an anti-Protocol rally in Enniskillen says that implementing the Northern Ireland Protocol is the greatest act of destruction of the Union that any unionist minister could take:
By Jim Allister
Published 26th Aug 2021, 09:06 GMT
Updated 26th Aug 2021, 09:55 GMT
Edwin Poots says he must construct the border because the law requires him as a minister to do so. That means the price of Stormont is implementing the protocolEdwin Poots says he must construct the border because the law requires him as a minister to do so. That means the price of Stormont is implementing the protocol
Edwin Poots says he must construct the border because the law requires him as a minister to do so. That means the price of Stormont is implementing the protocol

The iniquitous Northern Ireland Protocol is dismantling the Union before our eyes.

The High Court has ruled that it has already repealed a key part of the Acts of Union, Article 6 — the article which created an economic United Kingdom.

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Its purpose and result of its implementation is to not only separate us economically from Great Britain but equally to build the stepping stone of an economic all-Ireland.

Border Force officers talk to a lorry driver at a checking facility near Belfast Port. The Irish Sea border is dismantling the Union before our eyesBorder Force officers talk to a lorry driver at a checking facility near Belfast Port. The Irish Sea border is dismantling the Union before our eyes
Border Force officers talk to a lorry driver at a checking facility near Belfast Port. The Irish Sea border is dismantling the Union before our eyes

It is a vehicle of indisputable constitutional change.

Hence, the enthusiasm for it among the pan-nationalist front.

It is, therefore, beyond logic as to why any unionist would not only aid and abet its implementation, but preside over it.

Yet, tragically, that is precisely what the DUP through Edwin Poots is doing.

Jim Allister QC MLA is TUV leaderJim Allister QC MLA is TUV leader
Jim Allister QC MLA is TUV leader

I call him out again for his dangerous folly.

Without implementation, the protocol becomes a dead letter.

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But in Edwin Poots’ pitiful justification lies a searching question for unionism.

Poots, the border builder, says he must do so because the law requires him as a minister to do so.

Deconstruct that claim and you discover that according to this DUP minister the price of Stormont is implementing the protocol!

So, if the price of Stormont is now not only IRA/Sinn Fein in government, but also the self-destruction of the protocol, then, why is any unionist prioritising retention of institutions which now necessitate active implementation of that which is dismantling the Union?

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Only the dimmest, or those who see no danger in the protocol, could see sense in such folly.

• Jim Allister QC MLA is leader of Traditional Unionist Voice

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Related topics:Edwin PootsHigh CourtProtocolNorthern Ireland ProtocolNorthern Ireland