Statement by TUV West Tyrone candidate Stevan Patterson:
“Eight years after the Brexit referendum, make the 4th of July a referendum to restore the Union
“In a few days’ time, it will be exactly 8 years since the people of the United Kingdom made a clear democratic decision to leave the European Union. Sadly all these years later the UK as a whole is still shackled to the EU and Northern Ireland in particular has remained in the EU in all but name. The referendum result to leave the EU on the 23rdJune, 2016 was not a vote to allow England, Scotland and Wales to leave and Northern Ireland to stay, it was a clear and unequitable decision that the whole of the UK would leave the EU as one nation, in the same way as we joined.
“As a Unionist I believe Northern Ireland’s rightful place must be restored in the Union because the abominable situation we now find ourselves in all these years later is untenable. Instead of Brexit we had the NI Protocol and its framework forced upon us, resulting in a sea border between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK. Making the people of Northern Ireland second class citizens in our own country by having to follow EU laws which we do not make or cannot change.
“You may ask what’s the solution? For one thing it’s not trying to deceive the people by claiming the border had gone, when it clearly had not, but to tell the truth so that the electorate can have trust in those they vote for in the solemn covenant of the ballot box. Or is it by implementing or voting for EU law that drives a wedge between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK forcing us that bit closer each and every second of the day into the orbit of the Republic of Ireland. The solution is achievable – mutual enforcement. Companies who wish to trade with the EU, follow EU laws and meet their standards and those who don’t, don’t ending the supremacy of EU law over UK law here, removing the sea border and restoring UK sovereignty. After all the Republic of Ireland government can enforce the border in their jurisdiction when it suits them as recently demonstrated by immigration checks.
“Eight years after Brexit, Unionism will have a not to be missed opportunity at the General Election on the 4th July to reject these undemocratic structures and demonstrate how important the Union is to us above all else. By asserting our hard win democratic right and placing your solemn trust in Unionist parties who have honoured their previous mandate in the fight to remove the sea border you will be taking a stand for our country in an unofficial referendum by the simple act of placing an X on the ballot paper.”