Statement by TUV Comber councillor Stephen Cooper:
“This Service Level Agreement states at the outset that it enhances the Northern Ireland Protocol. No Unionist should have ever supported its passage through council. I am shocked that a council which has a Unionist majority – Causeway Coast and Glens – would have accepted it.
“It is also deeply concerning that in at least one other council, Mid and East Antrim, officials took it upon themselves to sign off on the Service Level Agreement without bringing it before elected representatives. I commend my colleagues on the council for seeking to rectify this.
“For my own part, in Ards and North Down I sought to oppose this at full council after it went through a committee but was incorrectly ruled out of order. I will therefore be tabling a rescinding motion to redress this anomaly at the next meeting of council. I can think of no better opportunity to show Unionist unity to the electorate than supporting this necessary course of action. My personal and consistent opposition to this outworking of the Protocol will continue, and of course TUV have led the way against the union subjugating Protocol.
“The Protocol must go, and as a direct consequence so should this service level agreement.”
A TUV spokesperson added:
“Following the appropriate action by Councillor Cooper in Ards and North Down, the TUV group leader on Mid and East Antrim Councillor Matthew Armstrong challenged council officials about why the service level agreement had not come before councillors. They advise that this is an oversight and that it should have been approved by councillors. Council officials have promised that this will come before council committee at the earliest opportunity and TUV will deploy all measures at our disposal to ensure it is voted down or amended to strip out all checks arising from the Northern Ireland Protocol”.