Debate contribution: Election of Speaker and Deputy Speakers

Debate contribution by Mr Jim Allister KC on 13 May 2022.

MLA: Mr Jim Allister KC
Party at the time: Traditional Unionist Voice
Date: 13 May 2022
Type: Debate contribution
Business: Speaker's Business
Heading: Election of Speaker and Deputy Speakers
Assembly identifier: Official Report component 4139979

Text

There is no reason in the characteristics or personalities of Mike Nesbitt or Patsy McGlone why either of them would not make a perfectly adequate and good Speaker. However, the circumstances are such that it is not appropriate to proceed to the election of a Speaker, for one simple reason. In politics, when a community is downtrodden and ignored and its legitimate protests are trampled underfoot, that community is entitled to — nay, must — use whatever legitimate leverage it has to extricate itself from that situation. We are in a situation, as unionists in Northern Ireland, where we are being expected to live under the unbearable: a protocol that decrees and operates on the basis that Great Britain is a foreign country. That is something that no unionist can ever come to terms with. Therefore, all unionists should be on the side of exercising the leverage that is available to seek to force change to that situation. That is why, since the leverage is in respect of the Assembly —.
In a moment. That is why the mendacious Prime Minister whom we have has to be brought to the point of choice. Does he want to save the protocol, or does he want to save these institutions? It is as simple as that. If there is — I trust that there is — unrelenting unionist resolve that that choice must be made, we are in a situation where, until the protocol becomes moribund, the Assembly must be moribund.
That is abundantly clear. I appreciate that the protocol fanatics cannot come to terms with the fact that they have embraced a system that is supposed to have consent at its heart but do not wish to live by that system. They seem to think that unionist concerns are there to be trampled on and that everyone else's concerns are there to be adhered to. Well, I am sorry: with the 65,000 unionist votes that I have, I will not allow anyone to trample unionist concerns, and I will make sure that unionist concerns are heard and listened to in the House.
The Member speaks in an irrational way. The protocol itself is causing pain. It adds excessive costs to the cost of living through transport costs. It is causing businesses that hitherto supplied trade to our supermarket shelves and elsewhere to cease to trade. The Member is very selective in her approach. The fundamental point is this: we have a Prime Minister and parties in the House who will have to choose whether they want these institutions or the protocol. It is a choice for you all. As far as I am concerned — I trust that it is the continuing resolve of everyone else — you cannot and will not have both. Make up your mind.

467 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

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