‘Protocol needs to be replaced to tackle crisis’

While congratulating Ms Truss in winning the Tory leadership election, the DUP leader said energy and food security in the Province was linked to the Protocol and the restrictions it imposes.

Sir Jeffrey said the DUP has already requested an early meeting with the Prime Minister to address these challenges.

Speaking at Stormont shortly after Ms Truss was announced as the next Conservative Party leader and Prime Minister, Sir Jeffrey said: “The energy and food security of the United Kingdom will require an immediate and robust response from the new Prime Minister. Yet both areas are heavily restricted under the Protocol.

“Whilst this week marks the election of a new Prime Minister, it also marks one year since I publicly warned the Government and Brussels that operating devolved government was incompatible with the Northern Ireland Protocol.

“Following that speech, we gave 21 weeks for negotiations between London and Brussels to find a way forward which unionists could support. Brussels was unyielding and both in May and June this year, the EU stated that there could be “no renegotiation” of the Protocol.”

The DUP leader continued: “The then Foreign Secretary Liz Truss was right to press ahead with the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill last June. This action was welcomed across the unionist family in Northern Ireland.

“Whilst in essence it is only enabling legislation, the Bill will give Ministers the power to set aside the harmful aspects of the Protocol.”

On the Bill entering its final stage of scrutiny in the House of Lords, Sir Jeffrey added: “It would help Northern Ireland, and the entire United Kingdom, if the NI Protocol Bill can be moved forward as expeditiously as possible so as Ministers in the Treasury can use their substantial firepower to help all parts of the United Kingdom in this cost-of-living crisis.”

Ulster Unionist leader Doug Beattie said that in the wake of Liz Truss’ victory what the country needed more than ever was “stability and strong government.”

Mr Beattie said a Truss-led government would have to act swiftly “in the best interests of all of its people in all parts of the United Kingdom”.

He called on Prime Minister Truss to bring forward tangible plans to address the cost-of-living crisis and move quickly to deal with the Northern Ireland Protocol.

“The new Prime Minister will have a bulging in-try, but first and foremost the country needs stability. Rocketing household bills are going to see more and more families falling into fuel poverty and real hardship. People will

be getting cold and hungry this winter and being forced to make unpalatable decisions.

“That’s why we need every level of Government functioning at full capacity to deal with these unprecedented challenges. We need the Executive restored in order to deal with all of the pressing issues affecting the people of

Northern Ireland. Resolute plans to deal with the Protocol must be brought forward by Government as it is contributing to a toxic atmosphere in Northern Ireland politics. We cannot afford to wait.”

“There is a tidal wave of bad news coming over the horizon and strong political leadership will be required to steer Northern Ireland and the rest of the United Kingdom through what are generational challenges.”

TUV leader Jim Allister said Liz Truss faces a key question as she enters 10 Downing Street: “Any sensible Unionist will judge Ms Truss not by her words buy by her actions. The challenge to the Prime Minister is this - is she the Prime Minister of the UK, a sovereign, independent state who makes its own laws in all its parts and governs its own people. or is she prepared to tolerate and come to terms with the appalling situation whereby many of our laws are not made in London or in Belfast but in a foreign jurisdiction over which we have no control?”

He added: “The challenge for the incoming government is to take back sovereignty. If Ms Truss leaves us subject to a Protocol which means we are cut off from the rest of the nation she will rightly earn the opprobrium of those who love the United Kingdom.”