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Belfast Live
Belfast Live
National
Brendan Hughes

Anti-Protocol rally in Portadown to hold silence for DUP MLA Christopher Stalford

A moment of silence is to be held at an anti-Protocol rally in Portadown tonight in memory of DUP MLA Christopher Stalford.

The meeting in protest against the post-Brexit Irish Sea trade border will take place at 8pm at Carlton Street Orange Hall.

TUV leader Jim Allister, the party's Upper Bann Assembly candidate Darrin Foster and loyalist activists Jamie Bryson and Moore Holmes are to due speak at the event, chaired by councillor Paul Berry.

Attendees are expected to pay their respects to South Belfast MLA Mr Stalford, who died suddenly at the weekend and whose funeral will be held on Saturday.

Media have been told they will be permitted to access to the hall for the initial speeches, but then could be asked to leave.

A separate anti-Protocol rally in Crossgar planned for Friday has been postponed following Mr Stalford's sudden death.

The event at an Orange hall in the village in Co Down will instead go ahead a fortnight later on March 11.

It is due to be attended by Mr Allister, DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, UUP councillor Jill McCauley, former Brexit party MEP Ben Habib and Baroness Kate Hoey.

Last week DUP MP Sammy Wilson was booed with some people shouting "traitor" as he addressed an large crowd at an anti-Protocol rally in Markethill, Co Armagh.

Mr Bryson on Monday said that "unionist in-fighting must stop".

In a tweet he said anti-Protocol rallies "must be a welcoming place for all unionists", adding: "It is only with broad support they will remain a success."

Sir Jeffrey responded saying he wants to build cooperation among unionists and warned that disunity would "harm our cause".

He tweeted: "I am clear that we desire to build unionist cooperation on the basis of that which unites us - opposition to the Protocol and a desire to protect and promote the Union.

"If others want to use these platforms for blatant electioneering and manufactured disunity, that will harm our cause."

Mr Allister also replied: "The basis for unity is provided for in the Ulster Day joint declaration of unalterable rejection of the Protocol.

"That is ground on which I will gladly stand with all like-minded unionists."

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