Protocol is still the main priority, says DUP leader
DUP LEADER Jeffrey Donaldson has insisted he is looking forward to leading his party into a new Stormont Executive, but said the Northern Protocol must be dealt with first.
Mr Donaldson said he is hopeful that after the Assembly elections this week, the British government will take ‘decisive action to deal with the issues around the protocol’. He said this ‘will enable us then to get the Executive properly functioning again’.
In an interview ahead of Thursday’s vote, Mr Donaldson said his party will be there on day one after the election to agree a programme for government with other parties.
He said: ‘I want to lead the DUP into an Executive but we need to address the issues around the protocol. This needs to be resolved now and that’s my focus immediately after the election, alongside talking to other parties about a programme for government.’
A recent opinion poll suggested Sinn Féin may make history when votes are counted by becoming the first Irish nationalist party to become the biggest party at Stormont. However, Mr Donaldson emphasised he believes the DUP will win the election, and is targeting gains in West Belfast and Fermanagh & South Tyrone.