Jamie Bryson
This election provides unionism and loyalism with the opportunity to pass their verdict at the ballot box on the Donaldson Deal – Surrendering the Union.
It is obvious that for every unionist, unity of purpose and policy in relation to the key constitutional issues must always be the objective. That constitutional unity was found in the Ulster Day 2021 united unionist declaration.
It was not Protocol opponents who broke that pledge, but rather those who turned away from those solemn commitments, and instead adopted the role of Protocol and thus Irish Sea border implementers.
Those who endorsed the Donaldson Deal on Surrendering the Union did so by attacking, mocking and deriding those unionists who dared to point out that the deal was a fable of falsehoods. The Donaldson Dealers made common cause with Baker, Heaton-Harris and Julian Smith, joining with them and turning their back on their friends and allies.
This conspiracy to force upon the unionist people acceptance of the Irish Sea border was underpinned with lies, deceptions and false promises. Those who joined in that ought to carry the shame and face the electoral consequences of their actions.
In equal terms, many- including a majority of the DUP Parliamentary party- refused to endorse the Surrendering the Union deal, and stood steadfast against it. They could have done more, but nevertheless such persons- in my view- must be viewed in a different category to those who shamelessly perpetuated the demonstrable lies.
The Irish Sea border remains; EU law remains; NI remains EU territory; there hasn’t been a single check reduced or piece of customs paperwork removed and the Conservatives are riding off into the sunset. The Donaldson Dealers cannot say they were not warned. We told you so.
At this election, those who continue to oppose the Irish Sea Border, implementation of the Protocol and acceptance of EU rule over NI are entitled to have someone to vote for. That may be in the form of a united anti-Protocol candidate, or even in some constituencies there may be more than one anti-Protocol candidate.
Those who endorsed the Donaldson Deal on Surrendering the Union have a limited window within which to expressly disavow their actions, accept they lied and set out their strategy for undoing the constitutional damage they are now complicit in administering. Do that, and they may find themselves in a better position, do it not and they only have themselves to blame.
The question for all unionists is simple: do you support the Surrendering the Union Donaldson Deal and thus Protocol implementation, or do you reject it and thus demand equal citizenship within the United Kingdom?