The DUP is implementing the Irish Sea border while giving the illusion of opposing it

A letter from Councillor Tom Smith:
By Tom Smith
Published 25th Mar 2021, 12:30 BST
Arlene Foster said in September on Sky TV that others wanted to fight the protocol but she would implement it. Then this week, when the DUP was saying it might not support Irish language legislation, Michelle O’Neill demanded the DUP implement in full the deal to restore StormontArlene Foster said in September on Sky TV that others wanted to fight the protocol but she would implement it. Then this week, when the DUP was saying it might not support Irish language legislation, Michelle O’Neill demanded the DUP implement in full the deal to restore Stormont
Arlene Foster said in September on Sky TV that others wanted to fight the protocol but she would implement it. Then this week, when the DUP was saying it might not support Irish language legislation, Michelle O’Neill demanded the DUP implement in full the deal to restore Stormont

This week the DUP has been caught out again in its misleading approach to the Irish Sea border.

We already knew they were not even going to consider withdrawing from North/South Bodies in protest at the NI Protocol (they could easily have allowed meetings related to Covid to continue).

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But it was claimed during the week that after telling others they were prepared to walk away from Stormont if the NI Protocol remains , they turned quickly on their heels to deny it.

Letter to the editorLetter to the editor
Letter to the editor

On Monday morning a senior DUP member told Stephen Nolan that they party was going to stop the Irish Language Act until the protocol was removed.

Within a few hours of that, Michelle O’Neill and SF/IRA were demanding the DUP comply with what they had previously agreed in the New Decade, New Approach document last year to restore Stormont.

The DUP appeared to give in to these demands dutifully and meekly acknowledged they would indeed proceed with the Irish Language Act.

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So, every day the DUP implements the protocol but it tries to give the unionist people the illusion that it is somehow opposed to it.

Their hand has been called and it is clear to me that the DUP has no interest in standing up against the protocol.

This is a reminder of what Arlene Foster said back in September on Sky TV, when she said that others wanted to fight the protocol but she would implement it.

The DUP are not fighting the Protocol , they are implementing it!

Tom Smith, Ex DUP, Ards and North Down Borough Council

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Related topics:DUPTom SmithIrish SeaArlene Foster