His comments follow the latest call from Sinn Fein to set a date for a border poll in Northern Ireland following Nicola Sturgeon’s attempt to secure a second Scottish referendum next October.
The East Antrim MLA said,
“Only a few weeks ago Mary Lou McDonald told us the “big priority” for Sinn Fein was a border poll. Her first call was made even before the election counts had finished in May. Now again we see Francie Molloy making the demand for a date to be set.
These all conveniently ignore the comments made during the election campaign where Sinn Fein attempted to gaslight the people of Northern Ireland into believing that a border poll was not their primary and sole political ambition.
A cycle of border polls whether in Scotland or Northern Ireland are divisive and a distraction from the issues that really matter to people. Here in Northern Ireland we need to get the Protocol dealt with, devolution restored and then get on with implementing the kind of policies we put forward in our Five Point Plan like fixing the NHS and delivering 30 hours of free childcare for working families.”