It is galling to see DUP who played a key role against the Belfast Agreement now implementing internal UK border checks

At this perilous time for The Union it is worth re-visiting the United Unionist Declaration and Pledge which was drawn up in opposition to the 1998 Belfast Agreement and signed by many thousands of grassroots unionists.

Those of us who signed this declaration and pledge were described by fellow unionists, church leaders, business leaders, the great and the good etc as dinosaurs, anti peace and peace wreckers.

It is worth re-stating this declaration:

“We, the United Pro-Union people of Northern Ireland, declare our resolute and determined opposition to the Belfast Agreement.

“We reject the abandonment of the United Kingdom’s sovereignty over Northern Ireland in exchange for an amendment of the Irish Constitution that renders Unionists a mere tradition in the Irish nation.

“We repudiate all-Ireland bodies with executive powers and expanding authority designed to develop into a factually United Ireland.

“We demand, as British citizens, equality of treatment, the protection of our lives, persons and property, and the return of a democratic and accountable government, free from the domination of violent political terrorism, and in which all citizens have equal rights.

“We solemnly pledge ourselves and urge our fellow citizens to ensure, by every lawful means, the rejection of an Agreement designed to destroy the Union.”

It should now be clear to every unionist that the Belfast Agreement is designed to destroy the Union and create the institutions of an all Ireland state. Regrettably some unionists are still sleep walking in to this trap despite warning after warning.

It is galling that the DUP who played a key role in the United Unionist campaign are the very party who are implementing the Belfast Agreement for their own political expediency.

This is the same party whose MLAs meekly followed one by one in to the voting lobbies to endorse Sinn Fein’s Alex Maskey as the Assembly Speaker when they had the alternative of voting a unionist Roy Beggs Jr.

It is particularly shocking to see a DUP minister’s officials implementing customs checks between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

The Belfast Agreement has delivered nothing for unionism whilst nationalism continues to bank concession after concession as a direct result of its outworkings assisted by naive or career unionists.

The only option left now for unionism is to defend the Union by bringing the nefarious Belfast Agreement and its structures to an end.

Norman Boyd, Former Anti Agreement Unionist MLA

——— ———

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our advertisers — and consequently the revenue we receive — we are more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription.

Subscribe to newsletter.co.uk and enjoy unlimited access to the best Northern Ireland and UK news and information online and on our app. With a digital subscription, you can read more than 5 articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Visit https://www.newsletter.co.uk/subscriptions now to sign up.

Our journalism costs money and we rely on advertising, print and digital revenues to help to support them. By supporting us, we are able to support you in providing trusted, fact-checked content for this website.

Alistair Bushe

Editor