Responding to the court judgement on the NI Protocol challenge, Steve Aiken OBE MLA said:
“We acknowledge the findings of the Court. However, this is an issue of such magnitude that it needs to be appealed to a higher court. This ruling impacts on every single part of the United Kingdom. The judgement has the potential to set a wide reaching precedent across all of our nation.
“The fact that the Judge found that the Withdrawal Agreement Act, which includes the protocol, does conflict with the 1800 Act of Union in respect of free trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, should be a matter of grave concern for everyone.
“It has implications for all of us whether we are English, Scottish, Welsh or Northern Irish, who put the links of culture, family, business and trade first.
“No one can say that the Protocol has the majority support of the people of Northern Ireland anymore.”