TUV leader Jim Alistair distanced himself from a party member at an anti-protocol rally that praised Ulster leader Doug Petty for ousting a “landy”.
Roy Ferguson, a former TUV candidate, also called Beatty a “traitor” when he delivered a protest in Lorgan against post-Brexit trade deals.
On Friday, a demonstration in Co Armagh drew criticism after a poster of Mr Petty was shown around his neck.
Mr Alistair and DUP leader Sir Geoffrey Donaldson removed the poster and condemned the demonstration that took place after Mr Petty left the rallies as it was used to heighten tensions.
Mr. Ferguson ran for TUV in the 2016 and 2017 General Assembly elections.
He also signed nomination papers for Darren Foster, the party’s candidate in the May election.
Asked about Ferguson’s comments at the rally about the union leader, Alistair said he “does not endorse and applaud those comments”.
He told the BBC’s Nolan Shaw: “I think it was completely wrong. Lund is of particularly devastating importance in loyal circles and there is no justification to call Doug Betty Landy or a traitor.”
Mr. Alistair also beat up “unconscious fools” who showed a “funny” poster of Mr. Petty with a lanyard around his neck.
“She acted on the very clear message of this demonstration and the great success,” he said.
The TUV leader also said he did not know he would share the scene with the controversial US pastor, who has since criticized him for his earlier comments.
“I knew nothing of this man until he appeared on the stage,” said Mr. Alistair.
Mr. Ferguson did not respond to a request for comment from Belfast Live.
A series of demonstrations are taking place across Northern Ireland, reflecting union resistance and loyalists to the Northern Ireland Protocol, which provides for additional control over goods entering the UK from Northern Ireland.
It is categorically opposed by unionists, who see it as a border in the Irish Sea with the rest of the United Kingdom.
There is no indication that the organizers of Friday’s protest were connected to Mr Petty’s poster.
Source: Belfastlive
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