Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister:
“Proposals from a so-called group of “civic nationalists” for a Citizens’ Assembly to be established to look at the case for Irish unity should be robustly rejected by all Unionists. A few days ago Leo Varadkar questioned the value of setting up such a body if Unionists were not involved saying:
“Would British citizens living in Northern Ireland participate in the Citizens’ Assembly? And if they would not, that would fundamentally change the nature of that Citizens’ Assembly, because it would seek to discuss the constitutional future of this island”.
“In such circumstances Varadkar rightly identified that the forum would become a “pan-nationalist” assembly.
“I note that Varadkar went on to suggest that Unionist attitudes might change after the election and that it might have a better chance of progressing in two or three months’ time as part of a deal to restore Stormont.
“I have news for Mr Varadkar.
“No true Unionist will be prepared to engage in talks on Irish unification. It is an oxymoron to even suggest the like. How could any Unionist, or party, buy into a process designed to break and supersede the Union, the retention of which is what makes them unionists? Unionists have nothing left to give and certainly not on the fundamental of what it is to be a unionist.
“If the new price tag of a restoration of Stormont is talks on Irish unity, however tentative and however dressed up, then, even the most liberal of Unionists will realise that Belfast Agreement devolution has reached the end of the road”.