Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister
“The essence of our legal challenge was to the lawfulness of the Protocol.
“The fact the Supreme Court is satisfied it was lawfully made does not in the least affect its political unacceptability, nor its dire constitutional consequences.
“Indeed, findings of the Supreme Court greatly strengthen our case against the Protocol. The declaration that the Protocol has suspended Art 6 of the Acts of Union confirms everything we have said about it dismantling the Union. Art 6 is the bedrock of the economic union that is the United Kingdom. Now, the Supreme Court says it has been disapplied under the Protocol vis-a-vis Northern Ireland. This has huge constitutional ramifications.
“Likewise, our subjection to the laws of a foreign legislature, the European Parliament, and a foreign court, are a constitutional affront which no unionist can accept. In fact, surely, no democrat can accept such colonialism.
“The ruling also confirms the uselessness of the supposed ‘consent principle’ in the Belfast Agreement. The effect of the Court finding is that it applies only to what would be the final handover of NI to ROI and the Union can be slammed sliced away up to that point. Little wonder the Belfast Agreement has lost Unionist support.
“If anything, the Supreme Court ruling must embolden the political campaign against the Protocol, because that is now the critical arena of challenge. There can be no let up or discharge in the political war against the Protocol, else our place in the United Kingdom will never be restored.
“It is hard to see how Stormont ever returns in circumstances where Art 6 of the Acts of Union is in suspension.”