Speaking during a Westminster Hall debate she secured on UK-Ireland cooperation on border security, Ms Lockhart said that while the people of Northern Ireland had been promised that their place within the United Kingdom would be protected following Brexit, the reality had been very different.

Carla Lockhart MP said:

“Northern Ireland has been left uniquely exposed as the only part of the United Kingdom with a soft land border with the European Union. We have been left with a border system so broken that only one asylum seeker has been returned to the Republic of Ireland since 2020, even as illegal entrants continue to exploit that border day after day.

The recent attempted beheading in Belfast was a brutal reminder of what can happen when Northern Ireland’s security is treated as an afterthought. The Government has taken strenuous efforts to check goods moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland, including plants, agricultural machinery and seeds. Yet when it comes to illegal migrants, they can simply hop on a bus from the Republic of Ireland and cross the border. No questions asked and no vetting required.

The Common Travel Area works well when it operates as intended and I support its continuation. However, it was never intended to become a back door for illegal migration. The Republic of Ireland already carries out targeted immigration checks without damaging the Common Travel Area and there is no reason why similar measures cannot be considered in Northern Ireland.

We must also be honest about the root causes of growing public frustration. Tensions do not appear out of thin air. When people see weak border controls, a system that appears open to abuse and politicians unwilling to grip the issue, frustration inevitably grows.

I draw a clear distinction between legal immigration and illegal immigration. Upper Bann benefits enormously from people who come here legally and contribute to our communities, businesses and public services. My concerns are about illegal immigration and a system that is too often exploited by those seeking to bypass proper processes.

It is not racist to be concerned about illegal immigration. It is not racist to expect secure borders. It is not racist to ask who is entering our country, how they arrived here and whether the system is operating fairly. The overwhelming majority of people raising these concerns are decent, law-abiding citizens who care deeply about their communities and their country.

Too often, legitimate questions have been dismissed, smeared or ignored. Rather than engaging with genuine public concerns, some have chosen to caricature and label people. That approach does not solve problems. It deepens frustration and further erodes trust in our institutions.

Violence is never acceptable and I have repeatedly called for calm, respect for the rule of law and support for our police officers. There can never be any justification for attacking innocent people or damaging property. However, politicians cannot continue to ignore legitimate concerns or refuse to address the root causes of public frustration.

The British people are generous and compassionate and will always support those genuinely fleeing persecution. However, every Government has a first duty to look after its own citizens. The public are entitled to expect secure borders, fair rules and a Government that puts their interests first. That is how confidence in the immigration system can be restored and how community cohesion can be protected.”