Dear Jamie,
Thank you for your correspondence and its timely reminder of what, just two years ago, all unionist leaders committed to. I have not and will not retreat from that pledge, nor seek to reconfigure the necessary stand away from resolute determination to settle only for that which recovers Art 6 from suspension.
Art 6 is the touchstone.
Also critical is the reversal of EU colonial rule whereby our economy, trade and border are governed by foreign laws, overseen by a foreign court. Multiple and multiplying EU laws now govern us. Take, by way of example, REGULATION (EU) 2023/1231. The shocking and audacious thing about this Regulation is that it is the EU which is legislating for both “
the entry into Northern Ireland from other parts of the United Kingdom” of British goods and the operation of our retail market in NI. These are internal U.K. market matters, but it is not the U.K. Parliament which is legislating, but the European Parliament and Council. What a humiliating debasement of U.K. sovereignty and confirmation of EU colonial rule.
It is in this context that proponents of a return to Stormont would have us operate. Such is not possible, unless unionism wants to roll over and become implementers of the very thing designed to provide the path to Irish unity, as identified by Varadkar.
Certainly, I and TUV will not be pursuing that course, but rather will seek to make it as difficult as possible for any unionist minded to join in the betrayal of the Union.
Regards.
Jim Allister