{"id":25441,"date":"2022-03-11T17:41:00","date_gmt":"2022-03-11T22:41:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=25441"},"modified":"2022-03-12T10:43:58","modified_gmt":"2022-03-12T15:43:58","slug":"unionists-urged-to-maximize-vote-to-send-message-to-westminster","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=25441","title":{"rendered":"Unionists Urged To Maximize Vote To Send Message To Westminster"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson, TUV leader Jim Allister, UUP councilor Jill Macauley, Baroness Hoey and Ben Habib addressed a crowd gathered at Crossgar Orange Hall on Friday night (PA Images)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Unionists were urged to maximize the unionist vote in the Northern Ireland Assembly elections to send a strong message to Westminster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The call came at the latest rally organized in protest against the Northern Ireland Brexit Protocol.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson, TUV leader Jim Allister, UUP councilor Jill Macauley, Baroness Hoey and Ben Habib addressed the crowd gathered at Crossgar Orange Hall on Friday night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Baroness Hoey said it is time for unionism to \u201cwake up\u201d, claiming it had compromised too much over the years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI believe we must do our utmost to get anti-protocol candidates elected,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMake sure all your family are registered to vote. Make sure every single person you know understands the importance of the protocol.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr Habib urged unionists to \u201cstand up and be counted\u201d, warning that a weak vote for unionists will send a pro-nationalist and pro-protocol message to Westminster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He said the next step would be a border poll, claiming British prime minister Boris Johnson \u201ccannot be relied on\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou have to stand up and be counted,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ms Macauley also called for a strong unionist vote at the forthcoming Assembly elections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She described a \u201cpivotal moment for unionism\u201d and branded the protocol a threat to the constitutional position of Northern Ireland, adding that it needs to be replaced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr Allister urged the UK to not \u201csit back, hiding behind endless jaw-jaw with Brussels\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s time Boris Johnston regained full control over this UK territory and, until he does, there will be no stability or end to protest,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speaking ahead of the event, Mr Donaldson said it was an opportunity for unionists to come together and express their continuing opposition to the protocol.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He went on to say the protocol harms Northern Ireland\u2019s place in the UK and is a threat to the Union itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s always been the case that the most effective way for unionism to win and to achieve its objectives is to do so together, to have closer unionist co-operation, to have greater unionist unity,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSo when I share a platform this evening with other unionists who are also opposed to the protocol, I believe this is the most effective way for unionism to unite and stand together, and I hope that at the forthcoming election we will see that greater unionist co-operation to maximize the number of unionist representatives returned to the Assembly.\u201d<\/p>\n

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