Jim Allister: My key concern is not the personalities of the DUP, but that it has unionist policies

A statement from Jim Allister QC:
By Jim Allister
Published 15th May 2021, 08:01 BST
Updated 15th May 2021, 08:13 BST
If anyone in doubt as to the constitutional impact of the Protocol will have that doubt removed by the UK government’s argument in the legal challenge, that the principle of unfettered trade within the UK, established by the Acts of Union, has been impliedly repealedIf anyone in doubt as to the constitutional impact of the Protocol will have that doubt removed by the UK government’s argument in the legal challenge, that the principle of unfettered trade within the UK, established by the Acts of Union, has been impliedly repealed
If anyone in doubt as to the constitutional impact of the Protocol will have that doubt removed by the UK government’s argument in the legal challenge, that the principle of unfettered trade within the UK, established by the Acts of Union, has been impliedly repealed

With regard to the outcome of the DUP leadership election, my key concern is that unionism, whatever the personalities, gets and remains wholly focussed on the defeat of the Union-dismantling NI Protocol

Neither spin nor bluster will do it. Rather, determined political actions whereby the Protocol is no longer implemented but rendered unworkable is the only hope.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Anyone in any doubt as to the adverse constitutional impact of the Protocol will have that doubt removed by the content of the government’s submitted argument in the Judicial Review legal challenge.

Letter to the editorLetter to the editor
Letter to the editor

In the course of their skeleton argument they contend the foundational principle of unfettered trade within and between all parts of the UK, as established by Art 6 of the Acts of Union, has been impliedly repealed by the Withdrawal Agreement.

While it is confirmatory of what unionists have said, namely that Article 6 has been shredded, it is beyond shocking that the prime minister and government of the United Kingdom are driven to argue that by their hand, through their Withdrawal Act, a key aspect of the Acts of Union has been repealed.

What sort of Conservative and Unionist Party embraces the ignominy of such a claim, and even boasts of it in legal proceedings?

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The constitutional import of such flippant destruction of a cornerstone of the Union, and its defence, is immense.

Jim Allister QC MLA, TUV leader

——— ———

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.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

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

Related topics:ProtocolDUPJim Allister