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John

It’s the last weekend before the Twelfth of July celebrations. Last minute preparations are being made. The Union Flag is flying, the grass cut and the fence is painted. Traditionally this is also a time when cousins, children, brothers and sisters travel home from wherever they live to join the rest of their family in Twelfth fields across the country.

I will parade in Lisburn and then travel back to the mountains of Mourne and walk with my home lodge. As the eldest child, our family has expanded well beyond the original Donaldson eight. There are now grandchildren and great-grandchildren for my mother to enjoy whilst watching the parade.

Politics will not be far from the lips of many at the parades. The last few weeks have been amongst the most extraordinary in this generation.

Unionism has however shown that by working together and standing together in opposition to the NI Protocol, we can bring matters to a head. Brussels on the other hand has shown that regardless of unionist opposition, it simply does not understand. In recent weeks on 22 May and again on 13 June the EU Vice President Maros Sefcovic emphasised “there can be no renegotiation”. This is a mistaken approach because a balanced and sensible negotiated outcome would always be preferential.

It is a regrettable trait of our political system that voicing our opposition to the Protocol was not sufficient to bring about a change of approach in London.

In January 2020, devolution was restored through the New Decade New Approach agreement. That agreement included a commitment from the Government to restore Northern Ireland’s place in the UK internal market. Two and a half years later, legislation has only just started making its way through the House of Commons. Such delays undoubtedly eroded confidence in Government commitments.

Many ask me how Boris’s departure will impact on the NI Protocol Bill.

No one can predict the future, but we can examine the facts.

Fact one. The Bill is still scheduled for its next stage in the House of Commons on Scarva Day - Wednesday 13 July. I will be there and want to see the Bill proceed unamended so we can be a step closer to Northern Ireland’s place in the United Kingdom being restored. I trust with the Conservative leadership campaign in full flow, some MPs will hold back from playing politics with Northern Ireland.

Speaking during the Second reading of the NI Protocol Bill in Parliament

The second fact is that stable devolved government can only be built on a solid foundation. With zero unionist support in the Assembly, the NI Protocol has been undermining the foundations rather than underpinning them. Fully functioning devolved government in Stormont and the Protocol cannot coexist. Therefore, whoever the victor is in the Conservative Party leadership election, the Protocol will still need to be dealt with.

Back on 12 July 1979 when I joined Orangefield, Ballinran LOL 564 in Mourne District aged 16, our political challenges were different but our resolve to protect and secure Northern Ireland’s future was no different. I was privileged to serve as Assistant Grand Master of the Orange Order back in the 90s. An organisation which draws pro-union voices together.

The last twelve months have encouraged me as I’ve witnessed a growing appetite for closer cooperation between all shades of unionism. Everywhere I travelled during the NI Assembly election campaign, I urged people to transfer to fellow unionists but I also warned that division will cost seats.

I hope May 2022 was the month all shades of unionism learned collectively that standing too many candidates costs seats. PR elections allow voters to maximise their vote but some people choose not to transfer and in many cases too many candidates divide the vote too thinly.

I look at North Antrim, East Antrim and Strangford. There were enough unionist votes to elect four unionist MLAs in each constituency, yet only three unionists were elected. Instead, non-unionist parties benefited from our division.

The DUP has never shied away from unionist cooperation. Since the election, I have engaged with unionists from all parties and all-over Northern Ireland to look strategically at how the pro-union vote is maximised in future elections. Many who have engaged with me are not currently members of any party but they see that Northern Ireland’s future is best served in the United Kingdom and they want to play their part.

As we deal with the manoeuvrings in Westminster, we must maintain focus on the long-term goal of building greater cohesion in the pro-union vote in Northern Ireland.

Too many of the divisions between the pro-union parties are manufactured. Of course, we will have disagreements of approach, but the Union is bigger than any individual or Party.

Just as we will all parade together on Tuesday, I look forward to the day when there will be a similar collective approach at the ballot box.

Every blessing for the Twelfth.

Rt. Hon. Sir Jeffrey Donaldson MP
DUP Leader

Ps. John I have been delighted to sign lots of welcome letters for new members, but we can always have more. Remind your friends and neighbours over the Twelfth that the best way to influence politics is in a Party.