Crowdfunding appeal launched to back legal action against the NI Protocol

A Crowdfunding appeal has been launched to support a legal fight aimed at ending the NI Protocol
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Northern Ireland’s major unionist parties are all part of the legal bid challenging the protocol. The DUP, UUP and TUV have all said they are supporting judicial review proceedings.

Former MEP Ben Habib and former Labour MP Kate Hoey are also backing it.

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The Northern Ireland Protocol is the part of the Brexit deal which prevents a hardening of the land border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. It does that by keeping Northern Ireland in the EU single market for goods.

Legal action has been launched against the NI ProtocolLegal action has been launched against the NI Protocol
Legal action has been launched against the NI Protocol

A statement on behalf of the applicants to the legal action said: “We are a beautiful and proud United Kingdom, our strength rests on our bond together.

“We must not allow a foreign institution to impose and rip apart those bonds that bind us together. We must stand shoulder to shoulder together to oppose these attempts to fracture the very essence of our Union.

“We are asking all of you that care about Northern Ireland, our Union and our United Kingdom to join us and be part of our campaign by adding your voice and contributing what you can to fight to protect our Union in this legal case.

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“We have already had huge support, but we want you to be part of it too. Join with us. Step up and be counted. Protect our Union and join our campaign.”

The Crowdfunding appeal can be found at www.crowdjustice.com/case/defending-the-union-of-the-uk/

Steve Aikenl leader of the UUP said: “The NI Protocol fundamentally undermines the integrity of the United Kingdom, the Belfast Agreement and the principle of consent. As one of the parties that negotiated the Agreement, we believe we have to take every political, diplomatic and legal avenue open to us to see the invidious, unequal NI Protocol annulled because every day we see the very principles on which the Belfast Agreement was created being trampled on by those who claim to put the peace process at the centre of their arguments. We encourage everyone who believes in the Union and in the Belfast Agreement to support this legal case.”

Jim Allister, leader of the TUV said: “The Protocol annexes Northern Ireland into the EU, leaving us subject to laws we did not make and cannot change. For me the challenge and opportunity of this Judicial Review is to end such vassalage and reunify the United Kingdom by removing the constitutional threat of many of our laws not being made in Belfast or London, but in Brussels under foreign aegis and control. It is about “taking back control” in a most fundamental way by restoring the key sovereignty principle of being governed only by our own nation’s laws, legislatures and courts. Home Rule, not Foreign Rule!”

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Arlene Foster, First Minister of Northern Ireland and Leader of the DUP added: “We cannot allow our United Kingdom to be ripped apart and our UK internal market to be divided in order to protect the single market of the EU. When I launched a petition calling for unfettered GB-NI trade, over 100k people joined with us in just over 24hrs, this is another opportunity for everyone who opposes the Protocol to play their part.

“We will work with other Unionists to send a united message to our Government and to free Northern Ireland from the Protocol. Whilst the courts is one front in this fight, the UK Government must use all powers at its disposal to immediately remove any barriers to unfettered trade within the United Kingdom.”

The legal action has been lodged in the High Court of Northern Ireland and the next hearing date is the 13th April with an anticipated full hearing of the matter on 13th May 2021.

The crowdfunding campaign is to facilitate wide participation in the legal action.