Mrs Lockhart said the warning signs are already clear, with growing frustration and the potential for widespread protests if meaningful support is not delivered.

Speaking on the issue, she said:

“The warning signs are already here, if the UK Government doesn’t act now, it is heading straight into a crisis of its own making. The momentum for widespread protests is mounting. Across Northern Ireland, pressure is building. In Great Britain, the same forces are gathering pace. This is not background noise, it is a clear signal that the people who keep this country running are being pushed to the brink.

Agriculture, construction, and haulage are being hit from every direction. Diesel costs are crippling. Fertiliser prices remain sky high. Margins are gone. The support is non-existent.

These sectors are not optional. They are the foundation of food, infrastructure, and supply chains across the UK.

Look at what is happening in the Republic of Ireland. When these three sectors move together, they do not just make a point, they force a response. They have the power to bring a country to a standstill.

The question is simple. Why is the UK Government waiting for the same here?

This is where leadership is tested. Not with statements, not with delays, but with action that actually lands.

Targeted fuel support. Meaningful relief on input costs. Policies built around the real pressures these industries face every single day.

Because if these sectors are allowed to fail, the consequences will not be isolated. They will hit food supply, infrastructure, jobs, and every household in the country.

Step up now, back the industries that hold this country together, and prevent escalation. Ignore it, and what is coming next will be far harder to control.”