Northern Ireland Protocol rally: TUV leader Jim Allister says ‘Protocol must go in all its parts’

TUV leader Jim Allister told a public rally in Dromore Co Down tonight that the NI Protocol ‘must go in all its parts’.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

TUV leader Jim Allister told a public rally in Dromore Co Down tonight that the NI Protocol ‘must go in all its parts’.

A panel in Dromore Orange Hall consisted of Brexiteers former MEP Ben Habib and Baroness Kate Hoey as well as DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, TUV leader Jim Allister and UUP MLA Robbie Butler.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The panel took questions from the floor about unionism’s approach to the protocol.

TUV leader, Jim Allister addressed the rally in Dromore tonight.TUV leader, Jim Allister addressed the rally in Dromore tonight.
TUV leader, Jim Allister addressed the rally in Dromore tonight.

Speaking to the rally, Mr Allister said: “There is no escaping or fudging of the constitutional consequences of the Protocol. It not only directly challenges Northern Ireland’s position within the UK, but is incompatible with it.

“By its very fettering of internal UK trade it, as the High Court has found, is in direct contradiction of Art 6 of the Acts of Union. Thereby, it has made constitutional change and that without consent. The resulting subjection to foreign laws and jurisdiction gives practical and objectionable effect to its reality. It is an instrument of subjugation and intended to be so.

“Thus, no unionist worthy of the name can ever accept or implement it.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“Its economic mischief is dire, but its constitutional mischief is terminal to the Union.

“Its clear purpose is to build Irish unity through the stepping stone of an all-island economy, whereby Northern Ireland’s alignment to and affiliation with GB is broken and the Irish unification anticipated in the Belfast Agreement is achieved.

“That is why I have always said Unionists either kill the Protocol or it will kill the Union.

“This Protocol is irredeemable. Any tinkering which leaves us in any way in a foreign single market for goods, under a foreign Customs Code and vat regime, all subject to foreign laws and a foreign court, can never be made acceptable or rendered constitutionally viable.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The News Letter will file further reports on the rally tonight.

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our advertisers - and consequently the revenue we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription.

Subscribe to newsletter.co.uk and enjoy unlimited access to the best Northern Ireland and UK news and information online and on our app. With a digital subscription, you can read more than 5 articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Visit https://www.newsletter.co.uk/subscriptions now to sign up.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Our journalism costs money and we rely on advertising, print and digital revenues to help to support them. By supporting us, we are able to support you in providing trusted, fact-checked content for this website.

Ben Lowry

Editor