Windsor Framework and Northern Ireland Protocol: LCC chairman David Campbell says deal resolves trade but not sovereignty and consent concerns

By Philip Bradfield
Published 2nd Mar 2023, 11:56 BST
Updated 2nd Mar 2023, 17:22 BST
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The chairman of the Loyalist Communities Council says the Windsor Framework helps resolve trade issues “but does not appear to deal with the sovereignty and consent issues” which are critical to unionists.

David Campbell is chairman of the Loyalist Communities Council (LCC) which includes representatives of terror groups, the UVF, UDA and Red Hand Commando.

The former UUP chairman was speaking in relation to the Windsor Framework, a EU-UK deal published this week which is proposed as the solution to unionist and commercial objections to the Northern Ireland Protocol.

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Speaking to the News Letter today, Mr Campbell said: “I think there is a growing consensus within unionism that the Framework significantly helps trade flows between GB and NI but does not appear to deal with the sovereignty and consent issues which go to the heart of unionist rejection of the Protocol.

Loyalist Communities Council Chairman David Campbell said the Windsor Framework appeared to resolve trade issues but not issues sovereignty and unionist consent.Loyalist Communities Council Chairman David Campbell said the Windsor Framework appeared to resolve trade issues but not issues sovereignty and unionist consent.
Loyalist Communities Council Chairman David Campbell said the Windsor Framework appeared to resolve trade issues but not issues sovereignty and unionist consent.

“The LCC will be receiving legal and political advice and will then issue its definitive view. I would say however that we repeatedly warned the Prime Minister against trying to sell an imperfect deal and not consulting widely within unionism and loyalism. Sadly his consultation has been limited and audiences cherry-picked and this is the result. Spin and exaggeration will not deliver buy in from unionism.”

Over the weekend, the Sunday Life reported that senior UVF figures had warned that loyalists would “wreck the place” and “the streets will be in flames” if any Brexit deal between the UK and EU did not meet their demands.

However, Mr Campbell responded that no such statement had been issued by the UVF leadership and that any response to the deal should be “peaceful and democratic”.

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“I have made inquiries and no statements were authorised by the leadership,” he said of the media reports. “The LCC maintains its position that opposition to the protocol should be peaceful and democratic.”

In January the LCC issued a broadside against the UUP, accusing it of undermining the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement in its comments on the Protocol situation.

"One of the big problems facing unionism is that despite the Ulster Unionist Party being the prime architect of the Belfast Agreement, its current leadership appears to have no interest in defending the integrity of the Agreement,” it said.