UUP leader urging loyalists not to create division after Ards rally

The Ulster Unionist Party leader is urging loyalists to 'engage more' after a statement read out by protesters at an anti-NI Protocol rally in County Down.

They urged the DUP not to nominate a new leader until the Brexit mechanism is scrapped.

It comes after Edwin Poots' shock resignation on Thursday after just three weeks in the role.

Paul Givan remains First Minister but could be replaced when a new leader is chosen.

If they refused to nominate a replacement, powersharing would collapse.

But Ulster Unionist Party Leader Doug Beattie urged the Loyalist Communities Council to dial down the rhetoric.

In a statement Mr Beattie said:

"Yet again unionism finds itself on the back foot because a statement from the Loyalist Communities Council (LCC) sets an unwelcoming and menacing tone.

"If the LCC wants to have a positive influence, they should be surrounded by community groups, women’s and young people’s forums, residents groups, sporting clubs and local business representatives - not paramilitaries.

"Their aim should be to represent loyalism in order to bring people out of poverty, attract investment, deal with social housing and isolation. They must be a conduit for the loyalist community, its culture and its identity.

"It should not be a forum to create division or generate negativity.

"Unionism must engage more, not less and it must be confident, progressive and welcoming. It can deal with the serious issues that face us through firm, calm, reasoned engagement and legal protests.”