NEWSLETTER JANUARY 2020

MP CARLAMember of Parliament LOCKHART for Upper Bann

Thank you! It’s now been just over a month since I was elected to serve as your Member of Parliament for Upper Bann. I want to once again place on record my thanks to the 20,501 people who voted for me. It is without doubt one of the biggest privileges of my life and I go forward knowing that I need to continue to represent you as never before. The DUP have LIFE AT the largest and strongest team in this constituency and will represent you at all levels. As your MP I will continue to be as accessible as I ever WESTMINSTER was. You can contact me via my social media channels or email address Many people ask me what do you do over there and what has at the end of this leaflet. Thank you for your continued support. the first month been like. The first few days were naturally a bit of a whirlwind getting to ALL PARTY PARLIAMENTARY GROUPS know the Westminster site. I As a public representative there are lots of groups who was given a buddy, who was lobby you for support. As you will know I have a passion with me for most of the first for the right to life and to ensure that both lives matter. couple of days and who was a I have joined the All Party Parliamentary Groups for Pro great help. From collecting my Life, Against the Loan Charge and on Baby Loss. These are pass, to IT and getting a tour of Westminster itself I was in groups where I believe we can make a real difference and no total awe of the place. doubt in time this list will grow. Sitting in the chamber for the first time was surreal having seen it so many times on television. It SPEAKING oozes history and I cast my mind UP FOR back to some of the footage of people who had graced NORTHERN the building from Churchill to IRELAND Thatcher as Prime Ministers and my own party Dr Paisley and I very much welcome the Rt Hon Peter Robinson. comments by the Prime The new year has come and Minister in answer to a question gone and it is time to knuckle ROYAL VISITOR by Rt Hon Sir It was a huge honour as MP to down to making an impact and MP that NI businesses will ensuring the voice of Upper welcome HRH The Princess continue to have unfettered Bann is heard. A month in I have Royal as she visited Slurrykat, to access to the UK single market now found my way around and see first hand the success of a and that also applies to goods had the honour of making my local business. It really was a big moving from GB to NI. As your maiden speech in a Northern moment for Gareth and Jenny MP I will continue to stand up Ireland debate on 8th January and the whole Cairns family along for our businesses, farmers and 2020. I have included some of the text from it across the page. with the 70 workers they employ. fishermen on every occasion. The work is only just beginning.

07833 198008 [email protected] Carla Condell Lockhart or Carla Lockhart MP @CarlaLockhart NEWSLETTER JANUARY 2020

MP CARLAMember of Parliament LOCKHART for Upper Bann

MAIDEN SPEECH 8TH JANUARY 2020

“I count it an honour and a privilege to stand in this place today - the this to attempt again to highlight mother of all Parliaments - to make my maiden speech as the first ever the anger, disappointment and female MP to represent the good people of the Upper Bann constituency. frustration concerning the change in abortion laws that have been I want to begin by thanking all those Ireland and knowing many families foisted upon the people of Northern constituents who voted for me on 12 who had loved ones murdered, I was Ireland. These changes came in December. They have placed their always very aware of the troubles the most roughshod way, with trust in me, and I want to say thank in and why we had complete contempt for the devolved you to them. I will be a champion such a love for the Union and our Administration and the views of the for them, and I will not let them British way of life. people of Northern Ireland. down. I promise to be a strong and It is no secret that Northern Ireland The Secretary of State has not articulate voice for all within my has had its difficulties in the past, but intervened to assist our crumbling constituency. I am an unapologetic I am proud of our wee country. It is healthcare system, to reward our Unionist, but I commit to working the best place on earth, with Upper healthcare workers fairly or to avert hard and delivering for all the people Bann being at its very heart. , the mental health crisis we are facing. in Upper Bann. Portadown, Banbridge, Craigavon He has not done that because he has I want to pay tribute to my and the surrounding villages have said that these, in his own words, predecessor, Mr David Simpson. their own unique offering, be it are “devolved issues”. Abortion was David was a strong advocate for tourism, commerce or hospitality. and should be a devolved matter, yet Upper Bann and, indeed, Northern The people are what make it a special this House has imposed on Northern Ireland. He served with distinction place, and if any hon. Members have Ireland the most extreme measures in this House for over 14 years. I not visited my constituency they are of abortion anywhere across Europe. wish David and his family well in his more than welcome to come and see The DUP is a pro-life party, but retirement from this place. that it is a great place in which to live, this actually crosses traditional I started my political career at work and do business. boundaries and there is widespread the age of 21 as a local councillor To that end, I will endeavour to use cross-community support across representing Lurgan and progressed this position to achieve just that. I Northern Ireland. We have an to the Northern Ireland Assembly want to see changes to our special evolving political landscape, and I say in 2016. My passion for politics educational needs provision, and I let the people of Northern Ireland and the Union started when I was want to tackle the escalating mental have their say on this matter. much younger. I had the privilege of health crisis that exists within our growing up right in the very heart society. Our suicide figures are still of Ulster in a working-class family, among the highest within the United and I am proud of the roots and the Kingdom. This needs to be tackled grounding that I have. Growing up urgently, and I along with colleagues near the border with the Republic of will work with the Secretary of State. I feel it is imperative that I speak on

07833 198008 [email protected] Carla Condell Lockhart or Carla Lockhart MP @CarlaLockhart