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UNIONISTS NEED TO unite in opposition to the Northern Ireland Protocol, Jeffrey Donaldson has said.
The DUP leader addressed a rally against the protocol, in Castlederg in Co Tyrone this evening, where he stressed the importance of unionists working together.
Speaking before the demonstration he said: “Across Northern Ireland I am hearing a loud and consistent message that unionist voters want to see unionist parties standing and working together.
“When it comes to the benefits of the union and Northern Ireland’s position within the United Kingdom there is far more which unites unionist parties than divides us.
“There is a clear understanding of how important this election will be and how it will shape the future direction of Northern Ireland.
“When Sinn Féin place their focus on using the election to advance constitutional change we know exactly what that means.
“Should Sinn Féin win the election, then on May 6 the focus will be on advancing plans for a divisive border poll rather than fixing our NHS, helping working families or growing the economy.”
Donaldson continued: “No unionist elected representative supports the Northern Ireland Protocol. The progress made in bringing the EU back to the negotiating table was achieved through a united stance.
“It is only those who want to weaken unionism or who still want the ‘rigorous implementation’ of the Protocol that have anything to gain from divisions within unionism.”
TUV leader Jim Allister told the rally that the Northern Ireland Protocol was “furthering the objective” of a united Ireland.
He said: “How could it be otherwise when, under the protocol, Great Britain is regarded as a third or foreign country in trade terms?
“The stark reality, as spelled out in the Court of Appeal judgment on the protocol, is that the protocol “subjugates” Article Six of the Acts of Union, which guarantees freedom of trade within and between the constituent parts of this United Kingdom.”
He said that checks on goods at Northern Ireland ports meant that freedom of trade had been “fettered”.
Allister added: “All of this is with the political intent that once you create an all-Ireland economically, it is but a short step to a political all-Ireland. That is why all unionists must unite and resolutely oppose the iniquitous protocol.”
The Castlederg rally is the latest in a series which have been taking place across Northern Ireland outlining unionist and loyalist opposition to the post-Brexit protocol, which sees additional checks on goods arriving into Northern Ireland from Britain.
It is strongly opposed by unionists as a border in the Irish Sea.
Protesters met at the Orange hall in the town before parading to the Diamond and then returning to the hall for speeches.
The rally was also addressed by loyalist activist Jamie Bryson.
Bryson used his speech to call on Ulster Unionist Party leader Doug Beattie to rejoin the demonstrations.
Beattie has said he will not attend the rallies, which he said are raising tensions.
Since then the window of his constituency office in Portadown was smashed, and one of his election posters was left with a noose around the neck outside an anti-protocol protest in Lurgan.
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The protocol is one of the lowest causes of concern for people in Northern Ireland. Political unionism act like its everything when the most important thing to people polled is the cost of living crisis.
@FiannaFáilness FineGaelness: Don’t know about your name but the protocol is actually beneficial with regards to the cost of living because economically out of the four nations of the UK NI is the one least affected by Brexit and strongest growing economy out of the lot.
@Diarmuid Hunt: Okay? Like I said the protocol is not a cause for concern for the vast majority of the electorate.
@FiannaFáilness FineGaelness: I was agreeing with you.
@FiannaFáilness FineGaelness: he lost me at ‘unionists must unite….’
I know we all like to make jokes at the expense of the DUP but it’s actually quite chilling how easily and comfortably they completely reject democratic principle.
@Rochelle: you said it
@Liam MacSuibhne: Donaldson playing a long game here. SF will be the largest party after the election, DUP will refuse to go back and a complete re negotiation of the Belfast Agreement will follow eventually.
Probably no bad thing because the present arrangements have outlived their usefulness and a proper system of government/opposition should be put in place.
The hardcore unionists like Donaldson haven’t been paying attention over the last couple of decades. A couple of generations have grown up in a very different Northern Ireland since the good Friday agreement. They are open to a lot of social changes in pursuit of a more modern peaceful society. The likes of Donaldson and the other dinosaurs in the DUP have done more damage to their own party than any political rival could have, simply because of their inability to see and accept that times are changing and trying to move with them.
@Gordon Larney: A generation is 25 years so only one has passed since the agreement.
@Gordon Larney: not as simple as that. Some Communities in NI are still breeding grounds for hatred. A segregated education system doesn’t help
The main reason for the success of the Good Friday Agreement was that it took place with both the UK and Ireland both as part of the wider EU and even though the border on the island of Ireland still existed on the map, it really didn’t in our minds, as it was all within EU and it appeared that a Single Europe had inadvertently made a United Ireland a moot point.
But glorious Brexit which was joyfully supported by the DUP, not because the majority in NI wanted it, but because it was presented as a quintessentially British endeavour complete with lots of Union jacks, which is like catnip to the DUP.
Now that Brexit has resulted in the protocol, the DUP are no longer joyful, they still are fully supportive of Brexit, just not the consequences that are caused by Brexit.
If the shinners would stay quiet the DUP will deliver a United Ireland on their own
@James Gorman: Yep agree and Jeffrey is in competition now with Jim Alister to be the biggest Dinosaur in the six counties.
So they met in the orange hall..marched about and returned to the hall again
..The grand old duke of York was an orange man as well it seems…….
@David cotter: Proud Orange Boys on the March spreading hatred to good Christians. Oh but No Catholics need apply.
“loyalist activist”. Jesus wept.
Donaldson and his DUP ilk and the other TUV lads, should be trying to unite society in Northern Ireland not create further division. If they where wise people they could be using their platform as a case of convincing people of the benefits if they union, but they really don’t, they don’t sell it well at all, their vision is nothing but fascism, division and hatred.
SF, Alliance and the more moderate and actually realistic UUP are playing a far more intelligent game these days.
Sooner unionists in the north throw the likes of DUP and TUV and other facist dinosaurs onto the scrapheap where they belong the better for everyone in the 6 counties.
This all sounds very much like kicking the cat because they are afraid of the dog that bit them. Donaldson is burning any goodwill the wider community would have for his cause. He acts more We Ourselves than Sinn Féin.
They already took it to court and the court ruled that the new treaty took primacy because it had been debated in the Parliament and ratified by both the commons and the lords and signed off by the the queen and privy council. It should also be remembered that in the UK Parliament is sovereign not the people who are Subjects not citizens. While they have more rights they are still only subjects. If their monarch and her Parliament have made a ruling who are they to contest it?
When I saw the headline, I thought it was an old news item.
@Philip Duffy: It is, to be fair.
I saw a cat on my neighbours wall 2 days ago
Why is just simply being a unionist or nationalist the be all and end all whether or not there should be a Northern Ireland protocol some on either side might oppose or object but at least with the protocol they have the best of both worlds for feee access to both markets even though there is some friction at the border with Britain it makes up for it with still free access to the EU market. Donaldson and the dup are backwards and shooting themselves in the foot constantly.
Ya ya whatever
I hope the media remind this pompous little man loudly and often that he was the first unionist leader to oversee the emergence of a nationalist majority in Stormont. I detestable dishonorable, mealy mouthed coward.
Why are these Mainstream Politicians giving Jamie Bryson who’s a non Elected Activist (of what association) a chance to raise his Profile. What hold does he have over them, and surely they must know he will use them at a later stage to advance other objectives. Is he the Public Face of the Back Room Boys (similar to those that the DUP/TUV claim control SF) Like a Conductor, he will call the Tune they will Play, in the years ahead.
Give it a rest ffs……
Come back Doug Beattie…..alls forgiven.
Yes the wonderful political genius Doug will save everything
Just waiting for one of ‘em to go full Jerry Collins, bottom lip trembling going don’t leave the party Dougie……Hillare
Surely he should be extinct by now?
sad c unts
Wasn’t the whole of Ireland subject to the act of union,times move on things change
The DUP voted for Brexit, the majority voted against it. If SF are serious about an inclusive N.Irl, they would hold off, until at least the next elections, on calling a vote for a United Ireland and show the Unionists that they are serious in implementing policies that are beneficial to all communities in the North. Railroading through a vote on a United Ireland will only bring civil unrest whereas working on policies that unite instead of divide will have a greater long term impact.
Sorry!…..but did those pr
The NI Protocol is the only part of Brexit that IS working.
Yawnnnnnnnn ZZZzzzzzzz
The man from Del Monte say yes and he’s an orange B….
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