Statement by TUV party officer councillor Matthew Warwick:
“Speculation this morning that the DUP leader will “pivot” in relation to the Donaldson Deal is an exercise in navel gazing unless it results in a change of policy.
“Gavin Robinson is a man whose finger prints are all over the Donaldson Deal. He stood side by side with the former leader, selling it both his party and to the Unionist people.
“Are we now to believe that the salesman – who just weeks ago said the question of whether the Sea Border remains depends on how one defines it – is about to become an opponent of the Protocol?
“Remember that the Donaldson Deal resulted in the DUP returning to Stormont and binning its promises to the Unionist people that their Seven Tests would have to be met before they returned to the Executive.
“If the DUP position changes it cannot merely come down to words and empty rhetoric.
“If the DUP are really concerned about the Protocol then they will quit the Protocol implementing executive. Short of that, anything said will amount to nothing more than the predictable DUP tough talk weeks before an election.”