Responding to comments from DUP leader Sir Jeffery Donaldson on the poll published at the weekend TUV East Belfast candidate John Ross said:
“The greatest challenge confronting Unionism at this point in time is the Protocol. This fact has been recognised by grassroots unionists, who are frankly, streets ahead of those in elected office, when it comes to taking effective action, to rid us of the Protocol once and for all.
“It is because TUV has a clear and unambiguous message on the biggest threat to the Union in living memory that the people are rallying to our banner in increasing numbers.
“It was Peter Robinson who perceptively said that when it comes to the Protocol we face a stark choice of either suck it up or resist it. To date, the DUP have adopted a suck it up approach with Minister Poots implementing the Protocol. Far from the DUP having a plan to remove the Protocol they are implementing it.
“TUV has spelt out a clear plan to resist the Protocol. Unionism needs to stop implementing the destruction of our Province. Those Unionists who voted to bring in EU directives to Northern Ireland need to assure us that they will never do so again. Unionists need to call a halt to the North South Ministerial Council. It cannot be business as usual when it comes to North South relations while our East – West relations have been trashed.
“Such a plan of action would unite all of Unionism which remains implacably opposed to the Protocol.
“As for the threat of a Sinn Fein First Minister again TUV has made an offer to the other Unionist parties which should unite us all. Believing there will be more unionists than nationalists in the next Assembly and therefore it would be undemocratic to allow a Sinn Fein First Minister, TUV has suggested a pre-election pan unionist pledge that if faced with such a possibility no unionist will take any office until there is reversion to the First Minister coming from the biggest community. This was the situation under the Belfast Agreement and only changed under the St Andrews Act.”