Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister:
“Edwin Poots leaves Unionism in a weaker position than where he found it. Conversely, he leaves Sinn Fein in a strong position as he reopened the door to ransom politics and then slavishly paid the Sinn Fein ransom. Whatever way you look at it, his short time as leader was disastrous.
“The challenge for all of Unionism now is to get the focus back where it should always have been – on the Union dismantling Protocol and its defeat. Unless or until Unionism gets serious about the Protocol we will not defeat the living and tangible threat which it is to the very survival of the Union.”