Statement by TUV deputy leader Councillor Ron McDowell:
“In January 2021 TUV called for Unionists to cease engagement with the North-South Ministerial Council until the Sea Border was removed. A year later, when facing an election, the DUP did indeed cease engagement with North-South institutions of the Belfast Agreement.
“Unionism was united that there could not be business as usual while our place as equal citizens within the UK was not respected.
“Today smiling DUP ministers resumed business as usual with Dublin at the North-South Ministerial Council. Yet the Sea Border remains. Article Six of the Acts of Union remain suspended. Foreign laws which we do not make, cannot change and which are overseen by a foreign court continue to apply uniquely in Northern Ireland.
“The solemn pledges which the DUP made to the electorate in their Seven Tests – tests which the current DUP leader refused to say had been met during his interview today – have been discarded.
“The Unionist unity which there was behind the United Unionist Declaration of Ulster Day 2021 has been forgotten by those who would rather share photo ops with Varadkar who will leave office in the knowledge that the opposition of the lead Unionist party to the Protocol is no more.
“The dividers of Unionism are those who have gone back to business as usual at North-South Ministerial Council meetings while the Sea Border remains.
“Well might Ann Widdecombe say that some have “ratted” on their opposition to EU colonial rule. Shamefully that the interim DUP leader’s wrath was exclusively directed at fellow Unionists like her, Ben Habib and Baroness Hoey while his colleagues chum around with those who are gloating over the demise of the Democratic Unionist Party’s opposition to the Protocol.”