Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister:-
“My profound differences with the DUP are well known but on the seminal issue of Brexit it is imperative, both in the national interest and Northern Ireland’s interest, that the flagitious EU backstop – and the Government’s flirtation with it – is thwarted.
“The EU’s distortion and exaggeration of “the border issue” for the malevolent purpose of breaking up the UK and effectively annexing Northern Ireland into its single market and customs union, is no great surprise. But, to think that a British Government would play along to keep the whole UK in the EU customs union, till Brussels agrees we can go, and retain Northern Ireland within its single market, with resulting regulatory checks establishing an Irish Sea border, is preposterous. The inevitable consequence would be progressive economic divergence of NI from the rest of the UK and denial to us of the benefits of any eventual trade deals with the rest of the world.
“The EU’s disingenuous stance is exposed by the fact that it tries to sugarcoat our annexation by talking of technological solutions applying to an Irish Sea border but repudiating such on the Irish border. Patently, Brussels’ agenda is political and economic annexation.
“In these circumstances it is imperative that the DUP stands firm. To do otherwise is to betray not just Brexit but our position as an integral part of the UK. Whereas I will be vigilant towards any weakening of its stance, I encourage the DUP to stand its ground.”