DUP Antrim and Newtownabbey councillors approved council scheme and then seconded the motion in the chamber meaning full approval of the NI Protocol scheme but are now trying to overturn the decision that they approved.

It is the latest example to emerge of the DUP at council level having previously backed the protocol-related initiative

     Undemocratic Unionist Party leader                     Jeffrey Donaldson MP 

                  10th October, 2022. 

DUP councillors proposed and seconded a council's adoption of a NI Protocol scheme which the party is now seeking to overturn.

It has emerged an Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council committee approved the £55,000 initiative to improve market surveillance on non-food consumer products.

Councillors were told the UK government-funded scheme would be used to enhance product safety and help meet the provisions of the European Union Withdrawal Agreement and the protocol.

Read more:

NI secretary wants to 'deliver enough pressure' to restore Stormont and fix Brexit Protocol

It was proposed by DUP councillor Alison Bennington and seconded by party colleague Jeannie Archibald-Brown that the report would be noted, according to the minutes from December 2020.

The DUP was asked about this but the party did not respond to requests for a comment.

It is the latest example to emerge of the DUP at council level having previously backed the protocol-related initiative which has sparked debate in recent days.

In Ards and North Down, DUP councillor Nigel Edmund seconded a motion to support the scheme. He later attempted to change his mind but then abstained when a full vote was carried out.

The DUP is to bring forward a motion to councils to adopt a "policy of non-implementation" of the protocol after details of the scheme were reported last week by the BBC's Nolan Show. 

It emerged that Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council had signed off a "service level agreement" for local authorities to build capacity for "product safety market surveillance".

The DUP motion states: "That this council adopts a policy of non-implementation of the Northern Ireland Protocol; instructs officers to carry out a review of all policies and agreements to which the council is a party which relate to the said protocol and provides a report to council on foot of this review to show how implementation is no longer taking place."

Part (1)▪️Follow this link to listen to DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson MP explain his relationship with UVF mouthpiece Jamie Bryson #VoteJeffreyGetJamie

It comes after loyalist activist Jamie Bryson said he had spoken to DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson "numerous times" and received assurances that the DUP would oppose the scheme.

Part (2)▪️'The only advisers I have are within the Democratic Unionist Party... I think I have had two meetings with Jamie Bryson in the last year.'

He argued the service level agreement was "inconsistent with resisting the protocol".

The DUP has been blocking the restoration of Stormont power-sharing in protest over the protocol, which came into effect in January 2021 and has angered unionists for creating new barriers to trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Talks have resumed between the UK and European Union in the latest attempt to resolve the impasse.

At the DUP's conference at the weekend, Jeffrey Donaldson MP warned his party will not re-establish the Executive or Assembly unless "decisive action" is taken on the protocol.

The UK government has vowed to secure changes to the protocol, either by way of a negotiated compromise with the EU or through Westminster legislation to override the Irish Sea trade deal.

There are concerns the latter approach, the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill, could spark a trade war with the EU.

Alliance Upper Bann MLA Eóin Tennyson branded the latest DUP move a "stunt".

He said his party would seek oppose the motions and use the council "call-in" procedure, which involves seeking legal advice.

"It is ill-considered and incoherent for a number of reasons, not least the UK government's own command paper and Protocol Bill hinges on the fact that there would need to be increased market surveillance," he said.

In a message to councillors, Antrim and Newtownabbey council said the scheme was used to support businesses with advice on product safety, labelling, sampling and testing.

With many thanks to: Belfast Live and Brendan Hughes Political reporter for the original publication. 

Follow these links to find out more on this story: NI Protocol Bill: Peers set to scrutinise it line-by-line

More DUP lies and hypocrisy by Jeffrey Donaldson MP on Good Morning Ulster 25th October, 2022

DUP Antrim and Newtownabbey councillors endorsed council scheme on NI Protocol