Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister:-
“With leadership changes affecting the other two unionist parties, this, clearly, is an unsettled time within the unionist family.
“I wish both Arlene Foster and Steve Aiken well in their future paths and acknowledge I found both straightforward and honourable to deal with, whatever our differences.
“It is, of course, a matter exclusively for the DUP and the UUP as to who they choose as their respective leaders. My hope is that their choices will be dedicated to the common unionist goal of defeating the Union-dismantling Protocol. There are no grace periods, mitigations or tweaks which can render acceptable the foreign rule and denial of equal citizenship and consent to which the Protocol subjects us.
“Thus, every unionist leader must remain resolute in settling only for the total removal of the Protocol and none should be simultaneously implementing it.
“Just as the Judicial Review challenge, which moves to hearing on Friday, 14th May, has united all shades of unionism, so that resolve must continue, with the next Assembly election being an opportunity to maximise the unionist vote through inter-unionist transfers.”