Carla Rebecca Lockhart (born 28 February 1985) is a Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) politician who has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for Upper Bann since the 2019 general election. She currently serves as the DUP spokesperson for environment, food and rural affairs.[2][3][4] She was previously a member of the Northern Ireland Assembly for Upper Bann from 2016 to 2019.[5]
Carla Lockhart | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 2019 | |
| Assumed office 12 December 2019 | |
| Preceded by | David Simpson |
| Constituency | Upper Bann |
| Majority | 7,406 (15.6%) |
| Member of the Legislative Assembly for Upper Bann | |
| In office 5 May 2016 – 13 December 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Stephen Moutray |
| Succeeded by | Diane Dodds |
| Member of Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council | |
| In office 22 May 2014 – 5 May 2016 | |
| Preceded by | Council established |
| Succeeded by | Terry McWilliams |
| Constituency | Lurgan |
| Mayor of Craigavon | |
| In office 2012–2013 | |
| Preceded by | Alan Carson |
| Succeeded by | Mark Baxter |
| Member of Craigavon Borough Council | |
| In office 2007 – 22 May 2014 | |
| Preceded by | Fergie Dawson |
| Succeeded by | Council abolished |
| Constituency | Lurgan |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Carla Rebecca Lockhart 28 February 1985 Aughnacloy, Northern Ireland[1] |
| Political party | Democratic Unionist Party |
| Spouse | Rodney Condell |
| Children | 1 |
| Alma mater | Ulster University |
Early life and career
editLockhart was born to Kenneth and Valerie Lockhart in Aughnacloy, County Tyrone, as part of a working-class family. She attended Aughnacloy High School, before attending Armagh Tech (now part of Southern Regional College) and then obtaining a business degree from the University of Ulster. Interested in politics from a young age, she was a member of the DUP's Young Democrats in her youth.
Political career
editLockhart was elected to Craigavon Borough Council in 2007, representing the Lurgan area. She was Mayor of Craigavon from 2012 to 2013, and stepped down in 2016 to run for the Assembly elections. Lockhart was President of the Local Government Association of Northern Ireland from 2015 to 2016.[3]
She worked full-time in the Lurgan DUP Advice Centre under Stephen Moutray, whilst working as a councillor.[6] Lockhart was elected as an MLA for Upper Bann in 2016.[3]
On 8 November 2019, Lockhart announced her candidacy for the Upper Bann Westminster constituency at the 2019 general election.[7] On 13 December, Lockhart won the seat in Westminster, succeeding the retiring MP David Simpson, and stepped down from her seat as MLA for Upper Bann.[2][8][9][10]
Lockhart is a governor at Lurgan Junior High School and Magheralin Primary School.[3]
Despite previously stating during a 2017 interview that having no functioning Northern Ireland Executive was one of the biggest problems facing the citizens of Northern Ireland,[6] in November 2022 Lockhart defended the DUP's collapse of the same institutions by claiming the party had a democratic mandate to do so.[11]
In December 2022, Lockhart, Miriam Cates and Rosie Duffield signed a cross-party letter asking the British Government to block the Scottish Government's Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill.[12]
Personal life
editLockhart is a member of the Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster.[6] She is married to Rodney Condell, a quantity surveyor.[13]
References
edit- ^ "The borough's youngest-ever Mayor going up political ladder". Portadown Times. 1 August 2012. Retrieved 9 April 2017.
- ^ a b "Upper Bann parliamentary constituency - Election 2019". Retrieved 13 December 2019.
- ^ a b c d "Lockhart, Carla Rebecca, (born 28 Feb. 1985), MP (DemU) Upper Bann, since 2019". WHO'S WHO & WHO WAS WHO. doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.u287531. ISBN 978-0-19-954088-4. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
- ^ "Carla Lockhart MP". DUP. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
- ^ "Upper Bann: DUP's Carla Lockhart tops the poll". Belfasttelegraph. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
- ^ a b c McNeilly, Claire (29 May 2017). "I've miscarried twice, the pain was horrendous and never leaves you... If it's God's plan, I'd still like to have children". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
- ^ "Carla Lockhart selected for Upper Bann". Facebook. 8 November 2019. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
- ^ "Upper Bann: DUP's Carla Lockhart eases to victory against John O'Dowd". Belfast Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
- ^ "Upper Bann: Carla Lockhart will 'lean on' predecessor MP David Simpson". The Irish News. 13 December 2019. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
- ^ McClements, Freya. "Upper Bann: Carla Lockhart increases DUP lead in her first Westminster win". The Irish Times. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
- ^ "Focus should be on replacing Protocol says Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart". Farming Life. 9 November 2022.
- ^ Elliards, Xander (28 December 2022). "Unionist politicians divided on Scottish gender reform amid independence concerns". The National. Retrieved 28 December 2022.
- ^ "Profile". mydup.com. Archived from the original on 16 June 2017. Retrieved 3 March 2017.