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Good morning John

Its one week to Christmas. I write this whilst sitting in the airport after a meeting with Lord Frost and the Secretary of State Brandon Lewis.

Whilst in Stormont on Monday to meet with our NI Assembly team, I’ve spent most of the week in London. We had important discussions with the Government about putting in place supports for businesses hit hard by Omicron and on removing the Irish Sea border.

When the Alliance Party, SDLP and Sinn Fein were wanting the Protocol to be left untouched and “rigorously implemented”, it was the DUP who said “no” and stood up to get a better deal. Not because we want to be awkward with the EU but because we want the best deal for the people who vote for us.

The EU made an announcement yesterday on medicines. It represents some progress but not enough. Whilst we’re still checking the detail, the fact the EU has moved on medicines is confirmation that we were right and vindicates our view that the Protocol was and is deeply flawed.

When one broadcaster criticised my focus on the Protocol in the midst of a pandemic, I reminded them that one of the most important factors in fighting Covid was medicine yet the Protocol places our medicine supply at risk. Brussels should have no role in determining what medicines are available in NI.

Having brought the EU back to the table, we have been patient whilst the negotiations have continued. However, time is now of the essence and in the absence of the EU’s willingness to agree the removal of the entirely unnecessary barriers to trade on the Irish Sea, it is essential that the Government takes decisive action at the beginning of the new year to restore Northern Ireland’s place in the U.K. Internal Market in line with the commitments made in New Decade, New Approach and in their Command Paper back in July. If the Government fails to act, then we will in line with our strategy set out in my September speech.

I was devastated on Monday evening when MLAs voted against reasonable legislation we had tabled to make it illegal to abort a baby at full term due to a disability. Whilst sad, it is not the end of road. We are the only pro-life party in the NI Executive. We will seek a fresh mandate at the coming election and we will continue to advance life affirming policies.

Well done to our team who worked hard in the NI Assembly to challenge the abortion legislation which was foisted on Northern Ireland from Westminster.

One unionist MLA who failed to support our legislation, tried to deflect their critics by saying the DUP could have blocked the abortion legislation in Westminster. This is a lie. Abortion is a free vote in Westminster. In any case it was a Labour Party amendment that brought abortion to Northern Ireland not a Government one.

Another matter which I was asked about this week was the past. Gerry Adams reminded us that “he hasn’t gone away”. Whilst most people felt Gerry should have apologised for making light of the Troubles, Mary Lou McDonald and Michelle O’Neill told us that Gerry ‘never set out to hurt anyone’. Amazing. Sinn Féin’s attempts to rewrite the past and sanitise the IRA are spectacular. They call for truth from everyone except the PIRA. They seem to forget that 60% of Troubles deaths were at the hands of republican terrorists. I will always campaign for justice and I will never shy from challenging those who seek to trivialise the IRA’s murder campaign.

These are tough and uncertain times in Northern Ireland, we must ensure that our voice is heard at the heart of a Government that is badly distracted by internal strife. We can’t get knocked off course by the headlines, our team must retain a laser-like focus on getting delivery for NI. Whether that is on support for jobs and the economy or for removing the Irish Sea border.

Finally, next week will bring big decisions on how Northern Ireland deals with Covid and protects our hospitals. I will be meeting with colleagues and working to ensure we plot a way forward which can protect lives and livelihoods. The best way we can all help to play our part in this wave, is to be fully vaccinated and take our booster jab.

Thank you,

Sir Jeffrey Donaldson MP

Leader
Democratic Unionist Party

Ps. Thank you to all of you who have been supporting our campaign by joining the party and donating. Keeping Northern Ireland moving forward is a team effort and I want you on my team.