So Edwin Poots the leader of the DUP is once again on the warpath about the Northern Ireland Protocol; ahead of UK/EU talks which he won’t be part of. His argument is that the NIP is unnecessary and damaging to the UK. That is one thing, but his solution to the problems, including that there is not enough infrastructure to deal with the flow of traffic, is to tear down the existing infrastructure.
He is probably encouraged by the fact that Lord Frost, who negotiated the “triumphant deal” just 6 months ago, has admitted that the government underestimated the level of checks that would be necessary between GB and Northern Ireland. Since the PM, no less, was filmed saying there would be no checks whatsoever, it is easy to see you might underestimated the number.
Now the DUP and the government are blaming the EU for its mess and “demanding” it cleans it up. The EU is apparently already fed up to the back teeth with this rubbish, if the DUP starts tearing down check points things will get very serious very quickly and the EU holds all the cards.
https://jonty.substack.com/
".... and the EU holds all the cards!" Really that will be interesting then. They made the land grab let's see them sort the mess out they created. Combat troops ready to put EU boots on the ground to tackle any unrest or all talk?
The DUP are religious extremists who would have very little support if the UK parties cared enough about this outpost of the Kingdom to stand candidates here. Brexit was a minority position in Northern Ireland, and when Teresa May had negotiated a deal that would have solved most if not all of the difficulties of border control they spat it back in her face.
They only supported Brexit because it was financially lucrative to do so, and probably assumed it would fail. They are taking orders from proscribed terrorist organisations (when a deal to bring Irish language legislation was agreed, Arlene Foster reneged immediately following meetings she had with leading UDA / UVF figures). They are corrupt to the eyeballs... search NAMA, RHI, Ian Paisley in Sri Lanka
They chose their leader from an electoral college of 36 members, and it was 19 votes that got Poots the top job. They hold less than a third of seats in the Assembly.
Their concerns should not be considered reflective of Northern Irish views.