“Our opposition to the Protocol is not dependent on salaries. The sooner the Government deals with the Protocol, the sooner Stormont can be restored.
The Protocol is not acceptable to unionists and until it is replaced with arrangements that unionists can support, there will be no basis for progress.
It is a matter for the Secretary of State if he wishes to call an election and what legislation he wishes to introduce. We are ready to renew and strengthen our mandate. Elections are the bedrock of democracy and unlike others we will readily take our case to the electorate.”
