Carla Lockhart Explained

Carla Lockhart
Parliament1:United Kingdom
Constituency Mp1:Upper Bann
Term Start1:12 December 2019
Predecessor1:David Simpson
Majority1:7,406 (15.6%)
Office2:Member of the Legislative Assembly
for Upper Bann
Assembly2:Northern Ireland
Term Start2:5 May 2016
Term End2:13 December 2019
Predecessor2:Stephen Moutray
Successor2:Diane Dodds
Office3:Member of Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council
Constituency3:Lurgan
Term Start3:22 May 2014
Term End3:5 May 2016
Predecessor3:Council established
Successor3:Terry McWilliams
Office4:Mayor of Craigavon
Term Start4:2012
Term End4:2013
Predecessor4:Alan Carson
Successor4:Mark Baxter
Office5:Member of
Craigavon Borough Council
Constituency5:Lurgan
Term Start5:2007
Term End5:22 May 2014
Predecessor5:Fergie Dawson
Successor5:Council abolished
Birth Name:Carla Rebecca Lockhart
Birth Date:1985 2, df=yes
Birth Place:Aughnacloy, Northern Ireland[1]
Party:Democratic Unionist Party
Spouse:Rodney Condell
Children:1
Alma Mater:Ulster University

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]

Early life and career

Carla Rebecca Lockhart 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

Lockhart 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.

She worked full-time in the Lurgan DUP Advice Centre under Stephen Moutray, whilst working as a councillor. Lockhart was elected as an MLA for Upper Bann in 2016.

On 8 November 2019, Lockhart announced her candidacy for the Upper Bann Westminster constituency at the 2019 general election.[6] 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] [7] [8] [9]

Lockhart is a governor at Lurgan Junior High School and Magheralin Primary School.

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,[10] 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

Lockhart is a member of the Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster.[10] She is married to Rodney Condell, a quantity surveyor.[13]

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: The borough's youngest-ever Mayor going up political ladder. 9 April 2017. Portadown Times. 1 August 2012.
  2. News: Upper Bann parliamentary constituency - Election 2019. 13 December 2019. en-GB.
  3. Web site: Lockhart, Carla Rebecca, (born 28 Feb. 1985), MP (DemU) Upper Bann, since 2019. 2021-05-01. WHO'S WHO & WHO WAS WHO. en. 10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.u287531. 978-0-19-954088-4.
  4. Web site: Carla Lockhart MP . 2023-11-20 . DUP . en.
  5. News: Upper Bann: DUP's Carla Lockhart tops the poll. Belfasttelegraph. 3 March 2017.
  6. Web site: Carla Lockhart selected for Upper Bann. Facebook. 8 November 2019. 15 November 2019.
  7. News: Upper Bann: DUP's Carla Lockhart eases to victory against John O'Dowd. Belfast Telegraph. 13 December 2019. en-GB. 0307-1235.
  8. Web site: Upper Bann: Carla Lockhart will 'lean on' predecessor MP David Simpson. 13 December 2019. The Irish News. en. 13 December 2019.
  9. News: Upper Bann: Carla Lockhart increases DUP lead in her first Westminster win. McClements. Freya. The Irish Times. en. 13 December 2019.
  10. News: 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. Claire. McNeilly. 29 May 2017 . Belfast Telegraph. 29 May 2017.
  11. News: Focus should be on replacing Protocol says Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart. 9 November 2022 . Farming Life.
  12. News: Unionist politicians divided on Scottish gender reform amid independence concerns. Xander. Elliards. 28 December 2022. The National. 28 December 2022.
  13. Web site: Profile . mydup.com . 3 March 2017 . 16 June 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170616063552/http://www.mydup.com/who-we-are/carla-lockhart . dead .