Don't be swayed by NI Protocol ‘mood music’ into giving up only leverage we have, TUV leader Jim Allister tells unionists

TUV leader Jim Allister has urged unionists not to be swayed by media hype about a change in ‘mood music’ around the Northern Ireland Protocol.
By Graeme Cousins
Published 7th Oct 2022, 19:41 BST
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He said that no unionist should be “cajoled or coerced” into giving up the leverage gained by refusing to reinstate Stormont institutions.

Mr Allister said: “Regardless of the media hype about the ‘mood music’ at meetings between UK government and Irish officials at events such as the intergovernmental conference, unionists must not waver from key issues and be resolute in restoring our place as a full and equal part of the UK.”

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He added: “No unionist can afford to be hoodwinked about the inadequacy of the present talks and their ability to produce an acceptable outcome.

Jim Allister has urged unionists to remain resoluteJim Allister has urged unionists to remain resolute
Jim Allister has urged unionists to remain resolute

"And, certainly, no unionist should be cajoled or coerced into giving up the only leverage we have, namely, the rightful refusal to operate the Stormont and Belfast Agreement institutions.

“If that means another election, so be it! If so, once more, TUV will be front and centre of holding the line against the Union-dismantling Protocol.”

Loyalist Communities Council chairman David Campbell warned the Secretary of State to be wary of any “warm language” emanating from Simon Coveney.

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He said: “We have yet to see any contrition from this minister who has largely destroyed relationships between Dublin and Unionism through his misrepresentation of the Belfast Agreement during the Brexit negotiations.”

(left to right) Minister of State for Northern Ireland Steve Baker, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Chris Heaton Harris and Irish Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney during the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference at Lancaster House in London. Picture date: Friday October 7, 2022. Photo: Jonathan Brady/PA Wire(left to right) Minister of State for Northern Ireland Steve Baker, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Chris Heaton Harris and Irish Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney during the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference at Lancaster House in London. Picture date: Friday October 7, 2022. Photo: Jonathan Brady/PA Wire
(left to right) Minister of State for Northern Ireland Steve Baker, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Chris Heaton Harris and Irish Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney during the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference at Lancaster House in London. Picture date: Friday October 7, 2022. Photo: Jonathan Brady/PA Wire

He added: “It is encouraging to see a resumption of negotiations between our government and the European Union, but unless the EU removes its pre-conditions that there must be permanent border infrastructure between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and that EU law must prevail over Northern Ireland it is difficult to see how any real progress can be made.”

He said that the LCC “will continue to withhold its support for the Belfast Agreement until its primacy is re-established and the breaches caused by the protocol are repaired”.

"There is a growing sense of impatience within loyalism and unionism which government needs to be aware of,” he added.

Related topics:Jim AllisterProtocolDavid CampbellNI ProtocolNorthern Ireland