Windsor Framework: Jamie Bryson and Kate Hoey both warn against political 'fudge' in DUP returning to government at Stormont

"Because fundamentally, the only way this can be sorted is for our government to start standing up to the European Union, and supporting Northern Ireland's place in the United Kingdom.

"We did not get a full, proper Brexit. We did not leave the European Union in Northern Ireland even though our ballot paper was the same."

Lady Hoey believes that the true impact of the Protocol will only be felt by many people in October when grace periods from imposing the full rigour of EU customs regulations on goods coming from GB finally expire.

And she hit out at what she said were "fudged" answers government ministers are giving her on why passengers going through NI airports are no longer able to make duty free purchases if flying to the EU, or why there are now "extra costs to the Post Office and carriers which are bound to fall on the consumer" for goods coming from GB.

She said the government also refuses to publish the membership or minutes of EU-UK sub-groups established under the Joint Consultative Working Group of the Windsor Framework.

Loyalist campaigner Jamie Bryson called on the DUP to hold fast to its 'Seven Tests' for whether improvements to the NI Protocol are acceptable to the union.

"The DUP need to hold firm to their clear commitments," he said. "No ambiguity, no fudge and no compromise on the Union, which is, as a matter of law, the Acts of Union."

He added that the passing of "symbolic legislation" by the Westminster government to affirm the security of the union would not be enough.

"It is about substantive primary legislation to restore the Acts of Union and that requires an end to the jurisdiction of EU law in the UK internal market, and a removal of all fetters on internal EU trade."