Unionists have been let down by their political leaders over the Irish Sea border

The letters page of this paper in recent weeks has demonstrated beyond doubt that the unionist people of Ulster feel deeply let down and betrayed by their political leaders (see below links to many of the letters).

Repeatedly both main unionist parties have been challenged as to what they will do to make Westminster act to protect the Union which is being shredded by the Protocol.

The answer has been silence.

Oh yes there have been statements like the one from Gregory Campbell yesterday asking for “direct and meaningful action” from the prime minister but there has been none of the direct and meaningful action from Mr Campbell’s party necessary to make London let alone Brussels take a blind bit of notice.

Truth is that Westminster could reasonably conclude that the Northern Ireland issue is settled.

MLAs — including all but two of the unionists — have voted for legislation necessary for the protocol to operate.

A unionist minister has built the border posts.

A unionist minister provides the staff to man the border.

Who would have thought it would have been so easy?

And yet there is little question that political unionism is badly out of step with the electorate is purports to represent as the letters to this paper show.

From a purely selfish point of view it suits TUV for them to continue in this fashion but it’s bad for the Union.

If the protocol beds in there may be no way back.

The Union demands that unionists take stand.

Samuel Morrison, Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV), Dromore Co Down

• Letter Feb 13: Peter Robinson faces unionist to face truths about implementing sea border

• Letter Feb 15: Arlene Foster should quit as DUP leader if she does not have stomach to lead unionism

• Letter Feb 15: DUP should do what is right and walk from Stormont

• Letter Feb 15: Both the DUP and the Ulster Unionists are aiding the demise of the Union

• Letter Feb 16: A shocking lack of leadership from the DUP and UUP over the Irish Sea border

• Letter Feb 16: Main unionist parties seem unwilling to rock boat even if it means weakening Union

• Letter Feb 18: Unionism sends a signal that it will bleat about the Irish Sea border but lacks guts to do what needs done

• Letter Feb 18: To remove Northern Ireland protocol unionists need to present a viable alternative to London and Brussels

• Letter Feb 12: England has accepted break-up of Union and is forcing NI to united Ireland

• Jim Allister Feb 14: It may well be a choice between Stormont and the Irish Sea border, as Peter Robinson says

• David McNarry Feb 17: Unionists are demanding removal of the disastrous internal UK border

• Dermot Nesbitt Feb 17: Unionists say nothing about how the NI Protocol breaches international law

• Peter Robinson Feb 12: Unionists might face a choice between keeping Stormont or scrapping the Irish Sea border

• Feb 13: DUP and UUP reject Peter Robinson suggestion of collapsing Stormont

• Ben Lowry Feb 13: Peter Robinson has long experience of the what is and isn’t feasible

• Ben Lowry in 2020: Last night unionists celebrated a move towards Irish unity

• Jan 25: These 81 MLAs voted for absurd ban on importing soil into Northern Ireland

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