Northern Ireland MPs call on Prime Minister to act amid fuel protests

By Abbie Llewelyn and George Thompson (Press Association)

Northern Ireland MPs have called on the Prime Minister to act amid protests driven by rising energy bills.

Slow-moving convoys of tractors and other vehicles brought disruption to a number of major roads in Northern Ireland on Tuesday.

It came after larger-scale fuel protests in the Republic of Ireland, where motorways were brought to a standstill and fuel depots blockaded.

Speaking at Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday, DUP MP Gregory Campbell warned that more protests are being organised for next week, and that action is needed “to ensure these protests don’t escalate out of control”.

The East Londonderry MP said: “Prime Minister, there is severe hardship being experienced by businesses, consumers and families right across the United Kingdom.

“Not just normal cost-of-living costs, but fuel costs are exceptionally high and getting higher.

“There are protests being organised as we speak for next week.

“Prime Minister, we need action delivered as quickly as possible in order to ensure that these protests don’t escalate out of control and people see that politics matters, governments listen and take action, rather than just offer words.”

Responding, Sir Keir Starmer said: “I know that his constituents and all of those in Northern Ireland are concerned about the impact that the war in Iran is having on them.

“I was in Northern Ireland just a few weeks ago, where I spoke directly to party leaders and we announced what we doing in that regard on heating oil.

“Obviously, fuel duty is frozen until September. Energy bills have been reduced, and we have also made it clear that we wouldn’t tolerate profiteering or unfair practices, which was a particular concern raised with me when I was over in Northern Ireland.

“The most important thing we can do is to de-escalate the conflict and get the Strait of Hormuz open, and that’s why I’m co-hosting the summit on Friday, in order to make progress on both those fronts.”

Alliance MP Sorcha Eastwood said her constituents feel “let down” by the Government, and urged ministers to “change economic and fiscal course”.

The Lagan Valley MP told the Prime Minister: “Two years ago, people voted for change, but what have they got? More of the same.

“But it hasn’t been them that have let down their end of the bargain.

“My constituents are working themselves to the bone, and let’s be absolutely clear, they are working and still having to claim benefits.

“There’s not a single section of society, whether it’s farmers, care workers, students, who haven’t been let down. And I don’t want that to be the case.

“We need to show that this House works for them, because actors will step into that space.

“People would love nothing more than for our democracy to be toppled because we cannot show our people a better way of life.

“We used to say to people: if you work hard, you get on in life. That hasn’t been the case for years.

“Will this Government now change economic and fiscal course and deliver for people in the worst cost of living crisis?”

Sir Keir responded: “Wages are going up higher in the first year of this Labour Government than they did in the 10 years of the party opposite being in power.

“We’ve taken the decision in the budget to cut energy bills across the country.

“I was in Northern Ireland, as she knows, just a few weeks ago, making the announcement about heating oil, which is obviously a huge concern in Northern Ireland, hearing what people had to say, putting in place £53 million.

“The authorities in Northern Ireland will administer that, but we’re looking more widely at what we can do.”

Traffic disruption as tractors go slow on the Sydenham Bypass causing delays on Tuesday PICTURE: MAL MCCANN