Ards and North Down Council fails to call for necessary action on Sea Border
Statement by TUV Comber councillor Stephen Cooper:
”Last night I witnessed the most shameful and sorry episode for Unionism in my seven years in council.
“I tabled an amendment which set out the next step for Unionism to take in order to oppose the Protocol. This would involve the DUP Agriculture Minister withdrawing all staff from the Sea Border, not as a result of threats but as an act of political will. This was supported by two independent Unionist members and Colin Kennedy of the DUP but met with a flurry of excuses from the other DUP councillors and the UUP. Is it any wonder that we got the weak as water stand from Minister Gove yesterday evening when Unionists refuse to take the robust action necessary to make him take our concerns seriously?
“On Ards and North Down Council at least it is evident that both the old Unionist parties are unwilling to stand with TUV in demanding the necessary measures to thwart the all-Ireland agenda being advanced through the Protocol.
“The irony of Unionists claiming to be totally opposed to the Sea Border whilst they are involved in implementing the Protocol is not lost on the electorate.
“Unionists cannot claim to be opposed to something whilst implementing that very same thing they claim to oppose!
“It is time for all shades of Unionism to stand together and take all pragmatic and practical steps possible to stymie the partition of the UK.
“I will continue to strive to represent those Unionists who are not prepared to “suck it up” as Peter Robinson put it and stand against this undemocratic imposition on all the people of Northern Ireland.
“TUV is clear – No Sea Border!”
Note to editors
Councillor Cooper’s amendment – which was rejected – is in square brackets.
That this Council abhors the Northern Ireland Protocol, which has resulted in an economic border in the Irish Sea, causing an impediment on trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland [and therefore calls upon Minister Lyons to withdraw all staff from implementing the Protocol and the Irish Sea Border] and will write to all Unionist Ministers to demand that they all desist from any further implementation of the Irish Sea Border forthwith and also write to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and the Prime Minister setting out our opposition to the Northern Ireland Protocol and our concern at the adverse impact it has on consumers, retailers and manufacturers in Northern Ireland and urging them to recognise the problems caused by this agreement and to take action, including under Article 16 of the said Protocol, to bring an end to this unfair economic and unconstitutional imposition on all of the people of Northern Ireland.