NIO’s £600k Agreement Party budget ‘unjustifiable’

Carla Lockhart MP • February 21, 2023

Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart has said the revelation that the Northern Ireland Office has set aside a staggering £575,671 to mark the 25th anniversary of the Belfast Agreement will raise questions concerning the NIO’s use of budget in such a challenging economic climate. The figure was released in an answer to a written question table by the DUP MP for Upper Bann, answered by Minister of State Steve Baker MP.

Carla Lockhart said:


“For some time I have been waiting for the NIO to outline their budget to mark the 25th anniversary of the Belfast Agreement. Having asked for details before and being given an evasive answer, with no figures, I persisted to get proper answers. Having received the details, revealing the staggering budget of almost £600,000, I can understand the Minister of State being so reluctant to providing me with answers.

 

Such an excessive sum is hard to justify in a climate where the Government is continuing to threaten severe budget cuts in Northern Ireland. Demands have been made to cut our schools budget for example, that would have devastating consequences of the education of our children, including those with special educational needs. £600,000 would help cut waiting lists, or help to address the plethora of potholes across our road network.

 

I am conscious there are some in our society for whom celebrating the Agreement will be important. They are entitled to do so. However, making it into the most expensive birthday party this side of Los Angeles and the A-list celebrity circuit in unjustifiable.

 

I would urge the NIO to reconsider their priorities. First amongst those priorities must be to restore the foundation blocks of the Agreement they clearly want to celebrate in style, by restoring the principle of cross community consent that has been trashed by the Protocol. If they fail to do so, they will have contributed to the end of the Belfast Agreement. The clock is ticking.”

Share

By Carla Lockhart MP September 28, 2025
Carla Lockhart MP has expressed her deep sadness following the sudden passing of Ian Milne.
By Carla Lockhart MP September 26, 2025
Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart has criticised the UK government for rubber-stamping and implementing EU red tape which is strangling the trade of used farm machinery between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
By Carla Lockhart MP September 24, 2025
Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart has criticised Prime Minister Keir Starmer for recognising Palestine without securing safeguards for hostages, minorities, or assurances that such recognition would promote peace.
By Carla Lockhart MP September 24, 2025
Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart has congratulated the staff and volunteers at the USPCA Charity Store in Lurgan after it was named Shop of the Year 2025 at the Charity Retail Awards in London. The store has also been shortlisted for the prestigious title of UK’s Favourite Charity Shop 2025. 
By Carla Lockhart MP September 24, 2025
Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart has praised the organisers of the hugely popular Country Comes to Town event in Portadown, which once again brought thousands of people into the town centre for a day of music, entertainment, and family fun. 
By Carla Lockhart MP September 24, 2025
Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart has presented her “Fix Our Roads” petition directly to the Minister for Infrastructure, calling for urgent action to address the poor state of Northern Ireland’s road network. 
By Carla Lockhart MP September 24, 2025
Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart has congratulated Miss Muriel Mehaffey on reaching the wonderful milestone of her 100th birthday.
By Carla Lockhart MP September 17, 2025
Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart has warned that the unrestricted flow of illegal meat and dairy products into the UK is an existential threat to human and animal health.
By Carla Lockhart MP September 17, 2025
Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart has welcomed the suspension of parking charges at Iceland’s Banbridge store, following problems with faulty payment machines that had resulted in shoppers receiving unfair fines.
By Carla Lockhart MP September 17, 2025
Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart has welcomed progress on the Northern Ireland Football Fund, which has seen four local clubs from Upper Bann move forward to the next stage of the process.