Letter: ​A unionist speech hailed by nationalists is never good or beneficial for the Union

​A unionist speech hailed by nationalists is never good

A unionist leader attacking fellow unionists is never a smart move.

The speech by Sir Jeffrey Donaldson MP, leader of the DUP, in the House of Commons attacking fellow unionists was not a wise move, as the last thing we need now is any criticism of other fellow unionists who are still of the firm belief that the protocol and its Windsor Framework must go before a return to Stormont is considered.

A unionist speech which receives ringing endorsements from nationalists is never good or beneficial for unionism and the Union.

Any unionist speech so lavishly praised by current secretary of state for Northern Ireland Chris Heaton-Harris, the worst incumbent in the role we have ever had, is not much of an endorsement.

Further praise by fellow Conservative MP, Julian Smith, the former secretary of state for Northern Ireland who did so much to antagonise unionists in the past, is a clear indicator of the path Sir Jeffrey is now taking the DUP on.

Julian Smith, by praising Sir Jeffrey’s speech and stating it was a “powerful future for unionism”, could not be further from the truth as a divided unionist stance on the sea border does not help unionism in any shape or form to obtain the object of removing the internal UK trade border.

Stevan Patterson

Castlederg

Resettlement grant could be solution

The parliamentarians in Westminster want to remove the rights of the Anglo-Irish people living in Northern Ireland from their lawful position within the UK.

The government body in Westminster could succeed more easily if they pay everyone who wants to remain within the UK a resettlement grant, say £250,000, to leave Northern Ireland and make a home elsewhere. Perhaps to an island in Scotland.

This approach would be less costly as they would no longer have to grant billions of pounds to Stormont annually. Those who choose to remain will happily accept the new arrangements.

Frederick Wallace

Newtownards

Passportcontrol next?

The red and green lanes plus all the associated small print are only the beginning.

How long before there is passport control on the Irish Sea border. Many of our unionist leaders must have their heads buried in the sand.

The Irish Sea border cannot be accepted and must not be .The EU sees it as the border for their single market but more importantly it is in fact the external border for entry to the EU’s governed territory (EU laws and spec’s apply here) and because of the free movement on the island of Ireland being in NI is just like being in the EU. Just show an ID card in Dublin airport and you can fly any where in the EU.

We all know that the UK has never said no to the EU so I am sure if we accept the border now some time maybe sooner than you think the EU will want to control people movement

George Johnston,

Greyabbey

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