Northern Ireland

Arlene Foster says anti-protocol protests likely to be 'ratcheted up' ahead of election

Former first minister Arlene Foster. Picture by Kelvin Boyes/Press Eye/PA
Former first minister Arlene Foster. Picture by Kelvin Boyes/Press Eye/PA Former first minister Arlene Foster. Picture by Kelvin Boyes/Press Eye/PA

ARLENE Foster has said anti-protocol protests will be "ratcheted up" ahead of May's assembly election, as she said Westminster, Dublin or Brussels were failing to acknowledge unionist concerns.

The former DUP leader turned GB News presenter, who little more than a year ago described the post-Brexit trade arrangements as "a gateway of opportunity for the whole of the UK and for Northern Ireland", was speaking in the wake of Friday night's protest in Markethill, Co Armagh.

Speaking yesterday on GB News’s Political Correction programme, Mrs Foster claimed “upwards of 10,000 people” attended the rally.

The former first minister said frustration over the Irish Sea border “was very tangible” because unionists felt they were not being listened to.

“Neither Westminster, Dublin or indeed Europe seems to be taking any notice and that’s why you see these protests becoming larger,” she said. “I have to say quite aggressive as well.

“Sammy Wilson, who is the Brexit spokesperson for the Democratic Unionist Party, attended and he has said the way Northern Ireland has been treated by the European Union is similar to the way in which Russia treats the Crimea. So in other words, annexation.

“Some people won't agree with that but I think what they do agree with is the fact there is no respect for the internal market of the United Kingdom, there’s no respect for the fact that we are part of the United Kingdom and should therefore be treated as such."

She said the checks on goods arriving from Britain were "completely unnecessary because we have exactly the same rules in GB as we do in the rest of the European Union at present".

"But they continue to press ahead and I think you will see more protests at this time and indeed coming up to the assembly election in May, things will be ratcheted up," she said

Mrs Foster said the political atmosphere is “not all good here in Northern Ireland at present” and said Boris Johnson needed to trigger Article 16.

However, she said a repeat of the rioting on the Shankill in April was unlikely.

“What we seen on Friday night was a very peaceful protest and I think that’s the way in which these protests will continue and that’s absolutely the right thing to do as well,” she said.