Carla Lockhart says she wants to build a grassroots unionist movement - with female leaders key to wider blueprint
Carla Lockhart has said she is not setting up a new political party after her exit from the DUP – but has set out a blueprint for building a grassroots unionism “rooted in our communities and bringing people together”.
The former DUP MP, who quit the party on Monday to sit as an independent, said in an open letter to unionists that supporting women “to become leaders within our community will be central to this work”.
She has also reiterated her position that the First Minister Michelle O’Neill must be removed from office over her involvement in a protest stopping the Drumcree Orange parade passing along the Garvaghy Road.
Ms O’Neill and other Sinn Féin politicians have attended interviews with police over their attendance at the Garvaghy Rd protest – something they have defended as the right thing to do.
Carla Lockhart says new conditions must be set before unionism nominates to the joint office in future, including changes to exclude law-breaking ministers – and the Irish Sea border.
Carla Lockhart also argues that unionism must “bring matters to a head” over the trade arrangements, which have split the UK into two economic zones for trade.
In a document released after confirmation that she had quit Gavin Robinson’s Democratic Unionist Party, Ms Lockhart set out what she called “a renewed vision for unionism”.
In the paper, which has a foreword by the former Labour MP and UK government minister Baroness Kate Hoey, Ms Lockhart says she was inspired by the principled stance of Drumcree Orangemen – and a “conviction that our community deserves people who are all in”.
She said: “Pan-nationalism is all in for its cause, as its approach to Drumcree made clear. I am all in for ours, with the courage to stand firm and the determination to build a better future”.
Despite very public criticism of the strategy of her former party in recent weeks, the Upper Bann MP says she is not starting up a breakaway party, and has not joined the TUV.
“Let me be clear: I am not establishing a new political party. I want to help build a movement, rooted in our communities and bringing people together around shared principles, practical solutions and confidence in our future. These are the principles that will guide me”, she said.
Carla Lockhart says she wants to build “a movement rooted in our communities”.
“All I have known in politics is a party structure. Taking this next step is scary, but exciting too. I have encouraged teachers, professionals and others to be brave, find their voice and stand up for what they believe is right. I cannot ask that of them without showing the same courage myself”, she said.
The former DUP party officer’s manifesto set out her key principles as: the rule of law; democracy; a grassroots movement; education and opportunity; united unionism; strength and confidence.
Ms Lockhart said would soon publish proposals which would “include disqualification from ministerial office, for a period proportionate to the offence, following conviction for specified categories of criminal offences, including offences relating to parading”.
“I will also propose an amended pledge of office, with meaningful political sanctions for failing to uphold the rule of law or encouraging others to break it. This must expressly include respect for court judgments, even when the outcome is unwelcome”, she said.
The Upper Bann MP also pledged to bring together a cross-party group of MPs to promote “understanding of the Protestant, Unionist and Loyalist community and our cultural traditions”.
She said “our bands, heritage and community work deserve greater recognition across the United Kingdom and globally. There is much to share and much of which we can be proud”.