Northern Irish politicians have warned that farmers and other key industries are facing growing pressure as fuel and other input costs continue to rise in the wake of the ongoing Middle East conflict.
Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart has called on the UK government to “act now” to support agriculture, haulage and construction industries, describing the situation as fast approaching a “tipping point.”
The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) representative outlined that she is coordinating a joint initiative with cross-party MPs and industry groups, including the Road Haulage Association (RHA), which is aimed at pushing for “practical and meaningful solutions”.
Lockhart stated that fuel costs have risen by 40% in just four weeks, placing significant strain on businesses.
“Higher fuel prices are not only driving up costs for everyday consumers, but are pushing businesses and employers to the brink.”
She hailed agriculture, haulage and construction as the “backbone of the United Kingdom’s prosperity”, and warned that government inaction could have widespread consequences for food supply, infrastructure, and jobs.
The MP is also organising a roundtable meeting and a joint letter to Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Chancellor Rachel Reeves, bringing together industry voices to highlight the scale of the “UK’s fuel crisis”.
“The message is loud and clear; we need decisive leadership – not more statements or delays but action that actually delivers.
“That means targeted fuel support, meaningful relief on input costs, and practical policies built around the real pressures these industries face every single day,” she added.
UUP
Separately, the Ulster Unionist Party’s (UUP) spokesperson for agriculture, Robbie Butler also emphasised that farmers across Northern Ireland are under “acute and immediate pressure.”
He pointed to rising fuel and fertiliser costs, alongside wider supply uncertainty linked to global instability, as key factors impacting the agricultural sector.
The UUP MLA said: “What is required now is a clear focus on the structural issues that continue to place unnecessary strain on the sector.
“Progress on planning reform, support for farm modernisation, and decisive action on bovine TB would go significantly further in easing pressures than reannouncing existing schemes.
“Northern Ireland’s farmers underpin our food security, and they deserve a response that matches the seriousness of the situation,” Butler commented.