Responding to Peter Robinson’s article published in this morning’s News Letter Jim Allister said:
“Unionism needs to heed the perceptive and timely article from Peter Robinson. When it comes to the Protocol we do indeed face a stark choice of either suck it up or resist it. Statements, speeches, petitions and debates all have their place but, as Mr Robinson observes, nothing will be achieved unless the government is made to feel so uncomfortable as to force change. Mere tinkering with the Protocol undoes none of its dire constitutional consequences. It still remains a direct assault on our position in the U.K.
Those with position of governmental power in Unionism have, sadly, been administrating the Protocol while claiming to oppose it at the same time. That is an untenable position which cannot be taken remotely seriously. Edwin Poots’ department built the Irish Sea Border. In December 45 EU directives and regulations were meekly voted through the Assembly with only Jim Wells and I in opposition. Today inspections are being carried out at the border checkpoints in our ports by officials under the control of a DUP Department. That must cease if Unionist opposition to the Protocol is to be taken seriously. As Peter Robinson said you cannot credibly urge the ditching of the Protocol while administering it at the same time. A choice must be made.
“This week we had the ineffectiveness of DUP MLAs boycotting a section of a committee meeting, which members of the Irish Parliament attended, which went ahead in spite of them not being there. But the week before DUP junior Minister Gary Middleton facilitated a North South Ministerial Council meeting on inland waterways by his attendance. It couldn’t have happened if he hadn’t been there.
“Our East/West relations have been trashed by a calculated assault on our constitutional position as part of the United Kingdom. 60% of the laws governing our economy are made not in London or Belfast but in Brussels. This transfer of sovereignty is a constitutional issue of immense significance.
“This is an intolerable situation but Unionist concerns will only ever be taken seriously if there is a threat to something which matters more to London than the Protocol. What is that, if it is not Stormont? So destabilising Stormont and its north/south institutions is a necessary and legitimate tactic.
“Yes, it may well be a choice between Stormont and the Protocol, as Peter Robison has put it. We must make the PM face that choice. I believe many grassroots Unionists have recognised the threat which the creation of an all-Ireland economy and the sea border between us and the rest of the nation is to our position in the United Kingdom. Preserving our Britishness and the integrity of the U.K. should matter more to Unionist politicians than Stormont, if operating the Protocol is its price. Now, is the time to act in defence of the Union.”