# Carla Lockhart > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Carla_Lockhart > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Carla_Lockhart.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carla_Lockhart > Source revision: 1349054074 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|Northern Irish politician (born 1985)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2017}} {{Infobox officeholder | honorific_prefix = | name = Carla Lockhart | honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=UK|size=100%|MP}} | image = Official portrait of Carla Lockhart MP crop 2, 2024.jpg | caption = Official portrait, 2024 | parliament1 = United Kingdom | constituency_MP1 = [Upper Bann](/source/Upper_Bann_(UK_Parliament_constituency)) | term_start1 = 12 December 2019 | term_end1 = | predecessor1 = [David Simpson](/source/David_Simpson_(Northern_Ireland_politician)) | successor1 = | majority1 = 7,406 (15.6%) | office2 = [Member of the Legislative Assembly](/source/Member_of_the_Legislative_Assembly_(Northern_Ireland))
for [Upper Bann](/source/Upper_Bann_(Assembly_constituency)) | assembly2 = Northern Ireland | majority2 = | term_start2 = 5 May 2016 | term_end2 = 13 December 2019 | predecessor2 = [Stephen Moutray](/source/Stephen_Moutray) | successor2 = [Diane Dodds](/source/Diane_Dodds) | office3 = Member of [Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council](/source/Armagh_City%2C_Banbridge_and_Craigavon_Borough_Council) | constituency3 = [Lurgan](/source/Lurgan_(District_Electoral_Area)) | term_start3 = 22 May 2014 | term_end3 = 5 May 2016 | predecessor3 = ''Council established'' | successor3 = Terry McWilliams | office4 = Mayor of [Craigavon](/source/Craigavon_Borough_Council) | deputy4 = | term_start4 = 2012 | term_end4 = 2013 | predecessor4 = Alan Carson | successor4 = Mark Baxter | office5 = Member of
[Craigavon Borough Council](/source/Craigavon_Borough_Council) | constituency5 = [Lurgan](/source/Lurgan_(District_Electoral_Area)) | term_start5 = 2007 | term_end5 = 22 May 2014 | predecessor5 = Fergie Dawson | successor5 = ''Council abolished'' | birth_name = Carla Rebecca Lockhart | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1985|02|28}} | birth_place = [Aughnacloy](/source/Aughnacloy%2C_County_Tyrone), Northern Ireland{{cite news|title=The borough's youngest-ever Mayor going up political ladder|url=http://www.portadowntimes.co.uk/news/the-borough-s-youngest-ever-mayor-going-up-political-ladder-1-4114647|access-date=9 April 2017|work=[Portadown Times](/source/Portadown_Times)|date=1 August 2012}} | death_date = | death_place = | party = [Democratic Unionist Party](/source/Democratic_Unionist_Party) | spouse = Rodney Condell | children = 1 | alma_mater = [Ulster University](/source/Ulster_University) ([BSc](/source/Bachelor_of_Science)) | website = }} '''Carla Rebecca Lockhart''' (born 28 February 1985) is a [Democratic Unionist Party](/source/Democratic_Unionist_Party) (DUP) politician who has been the [Member of Parliament](/source/Member_of_Parliament_(United_Kingdom)) (MP) for [Upper Bann](/source/Upper_Bann_(UK_Parliament_constituency)) since the [2019 general election](/source/2019_United_Kingdom_general_election). She currently serves as the DUP spokesperson for [environment, food and rural affairs](/source/Department_for_Environment%2C_Food_and_Rural_Affairs).{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/politics/constituencies/N06000017|title=Upper Bann parliamentary constituency - Election 2019|access-date=13 December 2019|language=en-GB}}{{Cite web|title=Lockhart, Carla Rebecca, (born 28 Feb. 1985), MP (DemU) Upper Bann, since 2019|url=https://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/10.1093/ww/9780199540884.001.0001/ww-9780199540884-e-287531|access-date=2021-05-01|website=WHO'S WHO & WHO WAS WHO|language=en|doi=10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.u287531|isbn=978-0-19-954088-4}}{{Cite web |title=Carla Lockhart MP |url=https://mydup.com/our-team/carla-lockhart-1 |access-date=2023-11-20 |website=DUP |language=en}} She was previously a [member of the Northern Ireland Assembly](/source/member_of_the_Northern_Ireland_Assembly) for [Upper Bann](/source/Upper_Bann_(Assembly_constituency)) from 2016 to 2019.{{cite news|url=http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland-assembly-election/upper-bann-dups-carla-lockhart-tops-the-poll-34692435.html|title=Upper Bann: DUP's Carla Lockhart tops the poll|newspaper=Belfasttelegraph|accessdate=3 March 2017}} ==Early life and career== Carla Rebecca Lockhart{{Belfast Gazette |date=22 July 2024 |issue=8702 |page=62}} was born to Kenneth and Valerie Lockhart in [Aughnacloy](/source/Aughnacloy%2C_County_Tyrone), [County Tyrone](/source/County_Tyrone), as part of a working-class family. She attended [Aughnacloy High School](/source/Aughnacloy_High_School), before attending Armagh Tech (now part of Southern Regional College) and then obtaining a business degree from the [University of Ulster](/source/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](/source/Craigavon_Borough_Council) in 2007, representing the [Lurgan](/source/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](/source/Stephen_Moutray), whilst working as a councillor. Lockhart was elected as an MLA for [Upper Bann](/source/Upper_Bann_(Assembly_constituency)) in [2016](/source/2016_Northern_Ireland_Assembly_election). On 8 November 2019, Lockhart announced her candidacy for the [Upper Bann Westminster constituency](/source/Upper_Bann_(UK_Parliament_constituency)) at the 2019 general election.{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/1285254353/posts/10220464842032828|title=Carla Lockhart selected for Upper Bann|publisher=Facebook|date=8 November 2019|accessdate=15 November 2019}} On 13 December, Lockhart won the seat in Westminster, succeeding the retiring MP [David Simpson](/source/David_Simpson_(Northern_Ireland_politician)), and stepped down from her seat as MLA for Upper Bann.{{Cite news|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/politics/general-election-2019/upper-bann-dups-carla-lockhart-eases-to-victory-against-john-odowd-38781603.html|title=Upper Bann: DUP's Carla Lockhart eases to victory against John O'Dowd|work=Belfast Telegraph|access-date=13 December 2019|language=en-GB|issn=0307-1235}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.irishnews.com/news/generalelection/2019/12/13/news/upper-bann-carla-lockhart-will-lean-on-predecessor-mp-david-simpson-1789970/|title=Upper Bann: Carla Lockhart will 'lean on' predecessor MP David Simpson|date=13 December 2019|website=The Irish News|language=en|access-date=13 December 2019}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/upper-bann-carla-lockhart-increases-dup-lead-in-her-first-westminster-win-1.4112295|title=Upper Bann: Carla Lockhart increases DUP lead in her first Westminster win|last=McClements|first=Freya|newspaper=The Irish Times|language=en|access-date=13 December 2019}} Lockhart is a governor at [Lurgan Junior High School](/source/Lurgan_Junior_High_School) and Magheralin Primary School. Despite previously stating during a 2017 interview that having no functioning [Northern Ireland Executive](/source/Northern_Ireland_Executive) was one of the biggest problems facing the citizens of Northern Ireland,{{cite news |url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/ive-miscarried-twice-the-pain-was-horrendous-and-never-leaves-you-if-its-gods-plan-id-still-like-to-have-children-35760333.html|title=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|first=Claire|last=McNeilly|date=29 May 2017 |newspaper=Belfast Telegraph|accessdate=29 May 2017}} in November 2022 Lockhart defended the DUP's collapse of the same institutions by claiming the party had a [democratic mandate](/source/Mandate_(politics)) to do so.{{cite news |url=https://www.farminglife.com/country-and-farming/focus-should-be-on-replacing-protocol-says-upper-bann-mp-carla-lockhart-3911491|title=Focus should be on replacing Protocol says Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart|date=9 November 2022 |newspaper=Farming Life}} In December 2022, Lockhart, [Miriam Cates](/source/Miriam_Cates) and [Rosie Duffield](/source/Rosie_Duffield) signed a cross-party letter asking the British Government to block the Scottish Government's [Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill](/source/Gender_Recognition_Reform_(Scotland)_Bill).{{cite news|url=https://www.thenational.scot/news/23216144.unionists-divided-scottish-gender-reform-amid-independence-concerns/|title=Unionist politicians divided on Scottish gender reform amid independence concerns|first=Xander|last=Elliards|date=28 December 2022|work=The National|accessdate=28 December 2022}} Lockhart retained her seat, with a decreased majority of 7,406 votes, at the [2024 general election](/source/2024_United_Kingdom_general_election).{{cite news|title = General election results 2024 - BBC News - Upper Bann|url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election/2024/uk/constituencies/N05000017|work = BBC News|access-date = 24 February 2025}}{{cite web|title = Election result for Upper Bann (Constituency)|url = https://members.parliament.uk/constituency/4437/election/422|website = UK Parliament|access-date = 24 February 2025}} Despite a reduced majority, she increased her share of the vote to 45.7%, being the only DUP MP to do so.{{cite news|title = DUP's Carla Lockhart increases vote despite Upper Bann boundary changes|url = https://www.irishtimes.com/politics/2024/07/05/upper-bann-constituency-report-dups-carla-lockhart-increases-vote-despite-boundary-changes/|work = Irish Times|date = 5 July 2024|access-date = 24 February 2025}}{{cite news|title = Upper Bann General Election 2024 results in full as Carla Lockhart holds her seat|url = https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/upper-bann-election-results-breaking-29478290|work = Belfast Live|date = 5 July 2024|access-date = 24 February 2025}} In April 2025, Lockhart called for [Kneecap](/source/Kneecap_(band)) to be denied entry to the US and Canada ahead of their US-Canada tour after allegations of the rap trio calling for the death of British MPs and shouting "up [Hamas](/source/Hamas), up [Hezbollah](/source/Hezbollah)" in previous gigs.{{Cite web |date=2025-04-28 |title=Belfast band apologises to families of Sir David Amess and Jo Cox |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/czrvx04e1e6o |access-date=2025-05-01 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}} In April 2025, Lockhart called for Marks & Spencer to reintroduce Union Flag branded bags to their Northern Ireland stores. This move came under scrutiny as out of touch with the electorate after recent rising cost of fuel protests took place in Northern Ireland. ==Personal life== Lockhart is a member of the [Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster](/source/Free_Presbyterian_Church_of_Ulster). She is married to Rodney Condell, a [quantity surveyor](/source/quantity_surveyor).{{cite web |url=http://www.mydup.com/who-we-are/carla-lockhart |title=Profile |website=mydup.com |accessdate=3 March 2017 |archive-date=16 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170616063552/http://www.mydup.com/who-we-are/carla-lockhart |url-status=dead }} In 2019, she gave birth to her first child.{{Cite web |date=2019-05-05 |title=Carla Lockhart gives birth to baby Charlie after dash from election count |url=https://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/politics/carla-lockhart-gives-birth-to-baby-charlie-after-dash-from-election-count-640640 |access-date=2025-07-31 |website=Belfast News Letter |language=en}} ==References== {{Reflist|35em}} == External links == {{commons category}} * {{UK MP links |parliament=4857 |publicwhip=Carla_Lockhart |theywork=carla_lockhart}} * [http://aims.niassembly.gov.uk/mlas/details.aspx?&aff=11887&per=3328&sel=1&ind=0&prv=0 Northern Ireland Assembly biography] *[https://www.c-span.org/person/?129456/CarlaLockhart Appearances] on [C-SPAN](/source/C-SPAN) * [https://www.facebook.com/CarlaLockhartMLA/ Facebook] * [https://twitter.com/carlalockhart Twitter] {{s-start}} {{s-civ}} {{succession box|title=[Mayor of Craigavon](/source/Mayor_of_Craigavon)|years=2012–2013|before=Alan Carson|after=Mark Baxter}} {{s-par|ni/ass}} {{s-bef|before=[Stephen Moutray](/source/Stephen_Moutray)}} {{s-ttl|title=[Member of the Legislative Assembly](/source/Member_of_the_Legislative_Assembly_(Northern_Ireland))
for [Upper Bann](/source/Upper_Bann_(Assembly_constituency))|years=[2016](/source/2016_Northern_Ireland_Assembly_election)–2019}} {{s-aft|after=[Diane Dodds](/source/Diane_Dodds)}} {{s-par|uk}} {{s-bef|before=[David Simpson](/source/David_Simpson_(Northern_Ireland_politician)) }} {{s-ttl|title=Member of Parliament for [Upper Bann](/source/Upper_Bann_(UK_Parliament_constituency))|years=[2019](/source/2019_United_Kingdom_general_election)–present}} {{s-inc}} {{s-end}} {{MPs in Northern Ireland}} {{Democratic Unionist Party}} {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Lockhart, Carla}} Category:Living people Category:UK MPs 2019–2024 Category:UK MPs 2024–present Category:Politicians from County Tyrone Category:Alumni of Ulster University Category:Democratic Unionist Party MLAs Category:Democratic Unionist Party MPs Category:Northern Ireland MLAs 2016–2017 Category:Northern Ireland MLAs 2017–2022 Category:Female members of the Northern Ireland Assembly Category:Female members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for Northern Irish constituencies Category:Mayors of Craigavon Category:Members of Craigavon Borough Council Category:Members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for Upper Bann Category:People from Craigavon, County Armagh Category:Presbyterians from Northern Ireland Category:Women mayors of places in Northern Ireland Category:21st-century women politicians from Northern Ireland Category:1985 births Category:Women councillors in Northern Ireland Category:Democratic Unionist Party councillors Category:People from Aughnacloy, County Tyrone --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Carla Lockhart](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carla_Lockhart) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carla_Lockhart?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.