Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister MP:
“Today’s decision by the Government to plough ahead and add a new EU rule to the Windsor Framework, in spite of Unionists unanimously opposing it, is yet more evidence that the much vaunted Safeguarding the Union deal was a farce.
“This is the second occasion when the Government has dismissed Unionist concerns and ridden roughshod over their objections.
“It is yet further evidence of the lies on which the so-called Safeguarding the Union deal was sold to the public. Far from safeguarding the Union, the deal was one which amounted to surrendering the Union as Unionists meekly accepted a return to Stormont as Protocol implementors.
“It is obvious that the Government has calculated that it can afford to treat Unionist objections with contempt. That attitude is understandable when Unionists meekly returned to Stormont on the basis of a deal which did nothing to reverse the constitutional damage of the Protocol.
“Unless or until Unionists show some backbone decisions like that made today will continue to be made and bit by bit our position within the United Kingdom will continue to be eroded.”