PM should take time to get the right deal

Carla Lockhart MP • February 21, 2023

As speculation around an agreement between the Government and the European Union on the Northern Ireland Protocol continues, Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart has said that the Prime Minister and EU should be in no doubt that unless the seven tests set out by the DUP are met in any new agreement, then Stormont will not return.

Carla Lockhart said:

 

“The Prime Minister may be in a rush to seal a deal with the EU, but only the right agreement will be supported by the Democratic Unionist Party.

 

We have always been clear and consistent in our position. We set our the requirements of any new agreement in our seven tests. It is against these tests that we will study any text that emerges between the Government and EU. We have a mandate based on this position and we have no intention of betraying the trust of the electorate.

 

It is worth the Prime Minister and the EU taking the time to get the agreement right. At stake is the very foundation of our political process, the principle of cross community consent. Only by reaching an agreement that commands the agreement of all communities in Northern Ireland will the basis of power sharing be restored, and the devolved institutions restored.

 

We want to see such an agreement emerge. We want to restore the devolved institutions. But we will only do so if our seven tests are met.”

Share

By Carla Lockhart MP June 26, 2025
Upper Bann MP and DUP Westminster Agriculture Spokesperson Carla Lockhart has tabled an Early Day Motion in the House of Commons opposing the enforcement of burdensome EU regulations on the movement of used agricultural and forestry machinery from Great Britain to Northern Ireland.
By Carla Lockhart MP June 25, 2025
Upper Bann MP and DUP Agriculture Spokesperson Carla Lockhart has strongly condemned the Government’s decision to impose “unnecessary, disruptive, and costly” EU requirements on the movement of used agricultural and forestry machinery from Great Britain to Northern Ireland. 
By Carla Lockhart MP June 25, 2025
Industry issues including NAP, bovine TB, inheritance tax and climate change were top of the agenda for MP Carla Lockhart, when she addressed this week’s ‘Defend Our Farms’ meeting in Fivemiletown. 
By Carla Lockhart MP June 25, 2025
Following the recent court ruling on the A5 road upgrade, Carla Lockhart MP has expressed serious concerns about the growing influence of radical green ideology on infrastructure development in Northern Ireland.
By Carla Lockhart MP June 24, 2025
Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart has described last week in Westminster as a “dark and devastating week” for the protection of life in the United Kingdom, following the passage of two deeply controversial legislative measure the decriminalisation of abortion to birth and the advancement of the Assisted Dying Bill.
By Carla Lockhart MP June 24, 2025
Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart has praised the outstanding Northern Ireland businesses who reached the UK finals of the Countryside Alliance Awards, held at the House of Lords, a celebration of excellence in rural enterprise known as the “Rural Oscars”.
By Carla Lockhart MP June 24, 2025
Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart has written to the Minister for Infrastructure seeking urgent clarification on whether the recent High Court ruling relating to the A5 scheme could impact progress on the long-awaited A1 upgrade project.
By Carla Lockhart MP June 24, 2025
Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart has praised students from Banbridge Academy’s Politics class after a lively and engaging visit to Westminster this week, where they met with both Carla and Lord Dodds to quiz them on life in politics.
By Carla Lockhart MP June 24, 2025
Upper Bann MP and DUP Agriculture and Rural Affairs Spokesperson, Carla Lockhart has extended warm congratulations to Ballylisk of Armagh, a family-run artisan cheesemaker based in Portadown, after they scooped two Gold awards and a Bronze at the prestigious British Virtual Cheese Awards.
By Carla Lockhart MP June 24, 2025
Upper Bann MP, Carla Lockhart, has welcomed the launch of this year’s Musical Instruments Programme by Communities Minister Gordon Lyons MLA a vital funding opportunity for local bands, music groups and individual musicians.
More Posts