Sammy Wilson: NI Protocol rallies must continue to keep issue on Westminster agenda

The East Antrim MP said that protests are the only way of ensuring the issues remain high on the agenda at Westminster.

He said they must be co-ordinated to show full unionist opposition in a determined but peaceful manner.

There has been growing concern that the rallies are being hijacked by fringe elements seeking to provoke violent opposition to the protocol, which has led to what unionists claim is a trade border in the Irish Sea.

Last month Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney was targeted in a hoax bomb alert as he was delivering a speech on peace and reconciliation in north Belfast.

That followed last year’s attacks on buses.

The latest incident in Lurgan on Friday night saw an election poster of Doug Beattie vandalised to depict the UUP leader with a noose around his neck after his decision not to attend any future rallies.

That incident was condemned by rally organisers, and there is no suggestion they are linked to the poster.

Despite criticism over Friday night’s events, Mr Wilson said the right for unionists to protest must be recognised and the rallies must continue. “Public protests are always a legitimate way of showing discontentment in any democratic society,” said Mr Wilson, who was the target of heckling himself during a recent rally in Markethill. At that rally, his speech was drowned out by chanting from the crowd despite appeals from TUV leader Jim Allister for calm.

Mr Wilson added: “What we have to make sure of is that we don’t lose sight of what the protests are about. That’s the Protocol and the damaging effect it’s having on Northern Ireland in economic and constitutional terms.

“We’ve seen how protests took place over the sacking of P&O workers. They had legitimate anger at what had happened. In unionism it’s the same. There are issues, there are fears, there is anger and there is a right to make those feelings known.

“I would always support anyone’s right to show their feelings, and it’s important that the rallies continue. If they don’t there will be a general opinion developed that it doesn’t matter any more.

“We can’t allow that to happen. We need to make Westminster aware of what the NI Protocol is doing. It would not be right to simply sit back and allow it to continue.”

Mr Wilson said there would be nothing gained by denying the unionist people the right to protest.

“We have to keep reminding the authorities who govern our country that the issues we have are not being addressed,” he added. ”There is a democratic process to be followed, and it hasn’t been followed.

“Where the protest rallies were failing was in confusing the message. It wasn’t clear. What we have seen in recent weeks is a show of unionist disunity when there should be unity.

“The message has been blurred by some using the protests for political gain rather than a genuine attempt to halt the protocol. That has to change.

“But people are genuinely angry and there is now a growing realisation in Westminster of the threat being posed to the union.

“We can’t allow some who would seek to use these protests for political gain to divert attention from that message.”

Mr Wilson added: “We do need to mobilise the opposition, and we need to do it in a way that shows 100% unionist opposition. If we continue to display a dis-united front, with some parties refusing to attend, the message is diluted and plays into the hands of the opponents of unionism.”

Since the start of protests against the Protocol the Orange Order has been a major influence. Earlier this year Orange Halls facilitated the signing of a petition against the regulations, with over 50,000 registering concern. A spokesperson for the Orange Order said: “The anti-Protocol rallies offer a peaceful and lawful way for people to express their opposition to the Northern Ireland Protocol.

“As long as the Protocol remains there will be a need for people to protest, particularly as they become more aware of the damage it is doing to the Union.

“The Orange Institution unequivocally condemns the recent incident in Lurgan regarding Doug Beattie. We understand that members of the Institution at local level have been in touch with Doug to say they do not support such actions.”

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