There is only so long that unionism can deny the scale of the concessions that are being made

Both Arlene Foster and Sammy Wilson made clear their opposition to the new internal frontier.

But otherwise their respective commentaries on the coming trade barrier sound utterly different.

Mrs Foster, who is first minister of Northern Ireland, said that she does not like the new arrangement but has to “recognise the reality” of it.

Mr Wilson issued a statement in which he said the DUP “will not accept the Withdrawal Agreement”. The party was still arguing that it must be scrapped or significantly changed.

This is not the first time that Mr Wilson has issued a statement that, in tone, is markedly different to Mrs Foster, even if in no specific line can be proven to be directly contradictory.

It is possible for them both to say that they agree, in different language, but hard to believe from their chosen wording that they fundamentally do agree.

Both approaches have some merit: accepting something that will not change, and trying to make the best of it, or rejecting on principle something that is entirely unacceptable, regardless of the fact that it cannot be stopped.

But which is it to be? There is only so long unionism can go along with the notion that it is standing up to things or that very little is being conceded when, in truth, major concessions are being granted to nationalism.

The internal Irish Sea border is a disaster for the Union. It is also a specific betrayal of the prime minister’s repeated pledges on not accepting a UK frontier, made before he took office and after it.

Yet plans for it have forged ahead with barely a squeak of protest. It seems that, when it comes to the crunch, only Jim Allister will not co-operate with these concessions.

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