Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister:
“The Broad Economy Sales and Exports Statistics (BESES) published today underscore the reality that the single market which matters most to Northern Ireland is the U.K. market.
“Sales to Great Britain increased by £281 million to £14.0 billion, up 2.0% over the year. Exports to the Republic of Ireland increased by £73 million (2.2%) over the year, to £3.4 billion.
“All of that of course is good news but with sales to Great Britain outstripping those to the Republic by a ratio of more than 4 to 1 there can be no doubt about what market matters most to Northern Ireland – the internal U.K. market. These facts expose the bluster of “special status” for what it is. We shouldn’t endanger our trade with our biggest market in order to appease the political demands of nationalism.”