The video contains an extract from Sir Jeffrey Donaldson’s speech to the 2022 DUP conference which received rapturous applause from delegates. When this statement was issued, the full speech could be read on the DUP website here.
The relevant section of Sir Jeffrey’s speech reads:
“Let me be clear – either the Prime Minister delivers the provisions of the Protocol Bill by legislation or by negotiation and ensures that our place in the United Kingdom is restored… or there will be no basis to re-enter Stormont.
“On this issue it is not words but actions we need to see and we will judge any outcome on the basis of actions not words.
Some lay great emphasis on cutting the number of checks on goods entering
Northern Ireland from Great Britain.
If that were to happen they say all our problems would be sorted notwithstanding that the Protocol has not yet been fully implemented.
“The truth of course is that the checks on the Irish Sea border are the symptom of the underlying problem namely that Northern Ireland is subject to a different set of laws imposed upon us by a foreign entity without any say or vote by any elected representative of the people of Northern Ireland.”
A second clip on the video is from a speech at an anti-Protocol rally in Castlederg on 21st April 2022 on the verge of the Assembly election.
Referring to the Protocol, Sir Jeffery said:
“It undermines the Union. It reduces us to second class citizens because we cannot trade freely within our own country. It debases democracy. It gives us a form of government without proper accountability. It imposes laws and regulations over which we have no say.”
The video can be viewed here and will be available on TUV social media platforms.