Commenting, Carla Lockhart said:

“For weeks now we have had the Secretary of State claim that he will announce the date of an election, with much speculation over 15th December as a potential polling day.

Many commentators have said this was a tactic to ramp up pressure on the DUP to re-enter the Northern Ireland Executive. If this was the goal, the Secretary of State has missed it. We are quite clear – the DUP received a mandate on the basis of the Protocol being replaced prior to a return to Stormont. We will not renege on our commitments to our electorate.

Threats of elections are not something we fear. We are election ready, prepared to go to the people to reinforce our mandate. An election will not change a thing, so if the Secretary of State persists with this it is for him to explain the merit of bringing people to the polls ten days before Christmas.

It was good to have Sir Jeffrey in the constituency today to engage with local community representatives. Jeffrey has shown strong leadership in ensuring the Government recognise the need for action on the Protocol, and despite the pressure being placed on him he has shown the resolve needed to face down threats. I know that, should the Secretary of State continue with an election, Jeffrey’s stance will receive a resounding endorsement not least here in Upper Bann.”