Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister:
“Today’s letter has exposed some who claim to be above the politics of Unionism and Nationalism in Northern Ireland as part of a pan-nationalist front, embracing the Sinn Fein ambition of moving the border to the Irish Sea.
“Make no mistake about it, the Backstop is an EU/nationalist ploy to break up the U.K. Once more the anti-Unionist Alliance Party is emerging in its true colours.
“Not only is the backstop bad for the Union it is bad for business as it will have a huge impact on the Northern Ireland economy, given our annual “imports” from Great Britain.
“ In 2016 for example the total purchases from Great Britain in goods was £10,989 million while the purchases of services from Great Britain was £2,432 million.
“By way of contrast, the total imports from the Republic of Ireland in goods was £1,995 million while the purchases of services from the Republic was £293 million.
“In fact, the total purchases in goods from Great Britain (£10,989 million) dwarfed the total purchases in goods from the Republic and the rest of the EU combined (£3,959 million) (see Table 2 here https://www.nisra.gov.uk/
“The silence from the parties behind this letter on this crippling threat is most telling.”