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Campaign to free NI from Protocol builds momentum

This week the Party set out a 5-point plan highlighting the real economic and societal difficulties caused by the first month of the Northern Ireland Protocol and the need for the Prime Minister to act and put in place long-term solutions.

Read the full statment here

Party Leader Arlene Foster MLA launched the Parliamentary petition, and yesterday it passed the threshold of 100,000 signatures required to trigger considration of a debate in Parliament.

Please sign the petition and encourage others to do so and maintain pressure on the Government to act.

Also this week:

Party Leader Arlene Foster led the Party’s response to the NI Protocol, with interviews throughout the week on Good Morning Ulster, and on the same programme later in the week to reiterate the party’s stance.
Spoke to the Prime Minister to highlight the problems which have arisen since the NI Protocol was introduced.
Led a Party delegation in meeting with the leadership of the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland.
Writing in the Daily Telegraph she made it clear that sticking plaster solutions on the Protocol were not enough.
Appointed Gordon Lyons MLA as DAERA Minister whilst Edwin Poots steps back for health reasons, and Gary Middleton MLA as Junior Minister.
Led the NI Executive media briefing on Thursday.

Deputy Leader & Peer Nigel Dodds, writing in the Newsletter highlighted that the EU continues to reserve the right to use Article 16 and called on the government to act.
Speaking on RTE he said the Government must meet its promise of frictionless trade.
Pressed the Government to extend the VAT cut for the hospitality industry.

East Londonderry MP Gregory Campbell condemned an attack on St Mary’s Roman Catholic church in Limavady.
Said Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney needed to show respect for unionists.


Economy Minister Diane Dodds was joined by DAERA Minister Edwin Poots to discuss the Protocol with Ministers from BEIS and the NIO and press the Government to take whatever action is necessary.
Announced £3m funding to help retail micro-businesses move online.
Called for urgent action from the Government on parcel deliveries to Northern Ireland.
Announced £500 Covid Disruption Payment for almost 40,000 students in NI.

North Antrim MP Ian Paisley responded to the news that Mid & East Antrim Council had withdrawn staff from Larne port as a result of threats.

Education Minister Peter Weir announced that staff in special schools supporting children with the most complex healthcare needs will be offered Covid-19 vaccination.

Newly appointed DAERA Minister Gordon Lyons outlined his priorities within the Department.
Announced £840,000 for farming innovation projects.

Lagan Valley MP Sir Jeffrey Donaldson said the realities of the Protocol were dawning but the need for Government action remained.

North Antrim MLA Mervyn Storey expressed disappointment at the decision by Ulster University to relocate its School of Health Sciences undergraduate programmes to Magee despite previous promises.
Called on the Justice Minister to find solutions to the police workforce crisis.
Received confirmation from the Chief Constable that the PSNI Gold Operating Centre had been stood up in response to growing discontent with the Protocol.

East Belfast MP Gavin Robinson called for a stop to incidents within the constituency and for the police to take action.
Commented after discussions with the Armed Forces Minister.

East Belfast MLA Robin Newton launched a policy consultation on promoting educational achievement.

Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart called for a Cancer catch-up strategy.

South Antrim MLA Trevor Clarke said the PSNI were wrong to ‘bury their heads in the sand’ over the handling of large funerals.