Responding to an attack by Paul Givan in today’s Belfast Telegraph a TUV spokesperson said:
“Having destroyed the unity enjoyed by Unionism around the united Unionist Declaration of Ulster Day 2021, in which all Unionist leaders pledged that it was their “unalterable position that the Protocol must be rejected and replaced by arrangements which fully respect Northern Ireland’s position as a constituent and integral part of the United Kingdom”, it is the height of arrogance for Paul Givan to accuse others of dividing Unionism.
“It is worth reminding Mr Givan that he has no mandate to be in a Protocol implementing executive. His seat in the Assembly was obtained on the basis of a manifesto which pledged that there could be no return to government unless the DUP’s Seven Tests were met. With the recent ruling of the High Court making clear that UK measures to deter migrants will not apply to Northern Ireland – something which flies in the face of explicit assurances in the DUP’s deal – there can be no dispute about the continuing partitioning of our nation.
“Having trashed Unionist unity, seen his party falling in the polls and being led by someone who dismissed out of hand the offer of a deal for the upcoming Westminster election, Mr Givan needs to reflect on where the problem really lies.”