Kite-flying, wishful thinking by commentators and background briefing will not make the substantive changes needed to satisfy our seven tests and restore devolution.
Over eighteen months ago we outlined the parameters for the way forward.
We set our tests and those continue to be our yardstick for measuring any deal between the EU and UK.
The message has landed in Brussels and London that there will be no restoration of the Northern Ireland Executive until the Protocol is replaced with arrangements that unionists can support.
It was a mistake to press ahead and ignore the opposition of unionists in 2020. That has been recognised in London, Dublin, Brussels and Washington, they should not make the same mistake twice.
So let’s focus on the prize of a solution instead of the speculation.
The Protocol must be replaced by arrangements that restore Northern Ireland’s place in the UK internal market and our constitutional position must be respected.
1/2/23
Ian Paisley jnr MP, now states: "The Protocol must be replaced by arrangements that restore Northern Ireland’s place in the UK internal market and our constitutional position must be respected."
My reply: Some days ago on this Centre For Unionism site, Ms Carla Lockhart MP stated this, apparent, DUP shibboleth concerning the DUP stance on the rejected Protocol - My reply is copied below.
Ian Paisley jnr MP makes the same mistake in his latest DUP stance on the Protocol - he and Ms Lockhart are still putting the cart before the horse in their Protocol statement: "restoring Northern Ireland’s place in the UK internal market" is a matter of trading between two Sovereign States, and cannot have equa…