UK Government must deliver promise on unfettered trade – Little-Pengelly
The DUP agreed the Safeguarding the Union command paper with the previous government in 2024, which allowed it to return to the Stormont powersharing Executive at Stormont.
However, the unionist party says that all of its concerns over post-Brexit trading arrangements have not been met.
The Windsor Framework, and its predecessor the Northern Ireland Protocol, require checks and customs paperwork on goods moving from Great Britain into Northern Ireland.
Under the arrangements, which were designed to ensure no hardening of the Irish land border post-Brexit, Northern Ireland continues to follow many EU trade and customs rules.
DUP MLA Ms Little-Pengelly told the gathering in Lisburn that unionism faced 'new challenges'.
She said: 'Chief amongst them is the imposition of the sea border within our own country.
'A division between Northern Ireland and the rest of the United Kingdom that no unionist can ever truly accept.
'It is not enough to celebrate our culture if we do not stand to defend it.
'The union is not a distant idea.
'It is our political, economic and emotional home.
'A border in the Irish Sea undermines that home, it divides our people, disrupts our trade and dilutes our identity.'
She added: 'The Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland made a clear and unambiguous promise to fully restore unfettered internal trade across this United Kingdom.
'That was a promise to the people of Northern Ireland.
'They must deliver it.'
The deputy First Minister said it was a time for 'confident and positive strong unionism'.
She described the Orange Order as a 'great unifier across many strands of our unionist conviction'.
Ms Little-Pengelly said: 'Unionism must work together outside of the Order.
'This is a time for vigilance, but it is also a time of opportunity.
'Division brings fracture and weakness, it is unity that brings strength.
'We must recognise that the bonds which pull and bind us together will always mean we have so much more in common than what can ever divide us.'
She added: 'Let us recognise the talents and abilities across all shades of unionism, and by using all such, our case will not only be strengthened, but indeed undeniable and irresistible.
'Let me be very clear, the might of the case for our continued union will always be our biggest strength.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Reuters
an hour ago
- Reuters
EU envoys near agreement on lower Russian oil price cap
BRUSSELS, July 13 (Reuters) - European Union envoys are on the verge of agreeing an 18th package of sanctions against Russia for its full-scale invasion of Ukraine that would include a lower price cap on Russian oil, four EU sources said after a Sunday meeting. The sources said all the elements of the package had been agreed, although one member state still has a technical reservation on the new cap. The sources - speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss confidential talks - said they expect to reach a full agreement on Monday, ahead of a foreign ministers' meeting in Brussels the following day that could formally approve the package. The sources said they had also agreed to a dynamic price mechanism for the price cap. On Friday, the European Commission proposed a floating price cap on Russian oil of 15% below the average market price of crude in the previous three months. One of the sources said the initial price would be around $47 a barrel based on the average price of Russian crude for the last 22 weeks minus 15%. Further, the price would be revised based on the average oil price every six months instead of the proposed three months. Slovakia - which has held up the proposed package - is still seeking reassurances from the European Commission on its concerns about plans to phase out Russian gas supply but it has agreed to the new measures, the sources said. Sanctions require unanimity among the EU's member countries to be adopted. The Group of Seven (G7) price cap, aimed at curbing Russia's ability to finance the war in Ukraine, was originally agreed in December 2022. The European Union and Britain have been pushing the G7 to lower the cap for the last two months after a fall in oil futures made the current $60 a barrel level largely irrelevant. The cap bans trade in Russian crude oil transported by tankers if the price paid was above $60 per barrel and prohibits shipping, insurance and re-insurance companies from handling cargoes of Russian crude around the globe, unless it is sold for less than the price cap. The Commission proposed the package in early June, aimed at further cutting Moscow's energy revenues, including a ban on transactions with Russia's Nord Stream gas pipelines, and financial network that helps it circumvent sanctions. Another one of the sources said the new package will list a Russian-owned refinery in India, two Chinese banks, and a flag registry. Russia has used flags of convenience for its shadow fleet of ships and oil tankers.
The Independent
2 hours ago
- The Independent
Poll reveals what Europe really thinks about the UK rejoining the EU
A new YouGov poll indicates that most citizens in France, Germany, Italy, and Spain would welcome the United Kingdom back into the European Union. However, the survey reveals that these EU nations largely oppose the UK rejoining on the same terms it had previously, with most expecting it to participate in all main EU policy areas. The poll also found that a majority of Britons support rejoining the EU, but this support significantly decreases if it means relinquishing the UK 's former opt-outs, such as remaining outside the Schengen zone. Denmark, a country with its own significant opt-outs, showed greater willingness to allow the UK to retain its previous conditions upon rejoining the bloc. These findings emerge as the Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer, seeks to mend Britain's relationship with the European Union, following the first state visit from an EU leader since Brexit.
Reuters
5 hours ago
- Reuters
France's Macron announces plan to accelerate military spending
PARIS, July 13 (Reuters) - President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday announced a plan to push forward France's defence spending, pledging to double the military budget by 2027 - three years earlier than originally planned - in response to a complex geopolitical moment. France had aimed to double its defence budget from 2017 levels by 2030. However, Macron pledged to reach the target by 2027. A military budget that stood at 32 billion euros ($37.40 billion) in 2017 will rise to 64 billion euros by 2027, with an additional 3.5 billion euros allocated for next year and another 3 billion euros in 2027. He said the accelerated spending, which comes as France is struggling to make 40 billion euros in savings in its 2026 budget, would be paid for by increased economic activity. "Our military independence is inseparable from our financial independence," he said. "This will be financed through more activity and more production." He said Prime Minister Francois Bayrou would provide more details in an address on his plans for the 2026 budget on Tuesday. Bayrou is facing an uphill battle to steer billions of euros worth of savings through a bitterly divided parliament, as France strives to lower its budget deficit to keep EU bean-counters and foreign investors at bay. ($1 = 0.8555 euros)
