Monday 20 February 2023

THREAD🧵👇🏼 I interviewed LCC chair David Campbell earlier this month. I asked him what an EU/UK agreement has to look like to win LCC backing.

He said: "The LCC has been pretty clear that we are supporting the DUP’s seven tests. 

TWITTER THREAD:
Loyalist Communities Council (LCC) represents loyalist paramilitaries the UDA, UVF and Red Hand Commando 

(1) What happens if Rishi Sunak agrees to a deal that unionism in NI can’t accept?
Then "he is clearly choosing the protocol over the agreement and the devolution settlement. My sense is that unionist grassroots are firmly behind Donaldson".

(2) David Campbell: 'People who have tried to be restraining influence on orgs would be ignored/replaced. You say this & it’s perceived as threats. They've kept the line against violence resuming because Donaldson is maintaining the position given at #AE22 & violence would undermine'

(3) LCC chair David Campbell added: 'This isn’t anything we want to see but we have to let governments know how precarious the situation is in areas in Northern Ireland. The priority is to get this resolved. Let's hope common sense prevails'.

(4) Another election be seen as distortion of democracy? There is that potential, yes. Another election could well place DUP back on top. It would present a real presentational problem for unionism. I am absolutey sure JD would enter an Exec as dFM but not if protocol isn’t resolved'

(5) Is Stormont in the last chance saloon? "If things aren’t resolved in the next few months we could be looking at years without devolution. That doesn’t help NI because direct rule annoys nationlists & republicans. Any move toward any sort of joint authority destabilises unionism'

(6) LCC David C: ‘The answer is found in the agreement. It provides guarantees 4 both communities. It is iniquitous the protocol has disrupted that. The constitutional position of NI was firmly settled. I wld b concerned progress developed over 20yrs could disappear overnight' ENDS

With many thanks to: Amanda Ferguson for the EXCLUSIVE original story with the LCC Chairman. 

Follow this link to to read the original Twitter Thread



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