Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister:-
“To blow away the chaff of the present UK/EU talks on the Protocol let these defining Questions be asked and honestly answered:
“Does the present EU mandate for these talks allow changes to the text of the Protocol? No.
“Without changes to the text, is all that is possible mere adjustments to how the unaltered Protocol is implemented? Yes.
“Can mere adjustments to its implementation change in any way the legal realities and constitutional impact of the Protocol, for example, remove the imposition of foreign law in NI, or cease to regard GB as a foreign country in its trade with NI, or remove the Irish Sea border, or extract NI from the EU’s Single Market for goods, Customs Code or VAT regime, or restore Art 6 of the Acts of Union? No.
“So, aren’t the present talks/negotiations with the EU a sham and a deceit? Yes.”