Member's statement: Fuel Protests

Member's statement by Mr Timothy Gaston on 20 April 2026.

MLA

Mr Timothy Gaston

Party at the time

Traditional Unionist Voice

Date

20 April 2026

Type

Member's statement

Business

Members' Statements

Heading

Fuel Protests

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 5493217

Read the official Assembly record

Text

Thank you very much, Principal Deputy Speaker. The fuel protests that we have witnessed over the past week did not appear overnight. Tension has been building for many months as a reaction to government overreach. For many ordinary working people — the alarm clock workers who keep our economy moving — enough is enough. The rising cost of fuel is the final straw, adding to the already significant pressures on businesses, with the UK's having the highest industrial energy price and endless red tape. Today, working men and women are watching closely to see whether the Labour Government and the Executive are prepared to take action to ease those burdens. There is a growing belief that the Government want to save the planet for future generations but fail to realise that they are killing this generation in the process. That is why we saw such strong public support for last week's protests. Anyone who spent a few minutes on social media would have seen the level of appreciation and support for those taking part. Farmers are the backbone of our rural and wider economy. Time and time again, they go above and beyond, responding to the needs of their economy. They clear trees after storms, they clear roads after heavy snowfall, and they help during flooding. They work long hours, often for below minimum wage, to produce high-quality produce that feeds our nation. The police response last week to the Sydenham bypass protest was heavy-handed and excessive. Think of it: driving on a dual carriageway with no minimum speed limit merited the police visiting the homes of the drivers that evening to impose £100 fines and three penalty points. That over-the-top response from the police was what created the two nights of protest seen at Ballygawley roundabout. I have no doubt that, unless action is taken by those in Westminster and here in Stormont, those protests will grow —

— in number in the weeks and months ahead.

328 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Assessment

Not flagged

Jev’s structured answers

Assessed 21 October 2026 at 15:21 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

Disagree with this assessment?

Classifications can be challenged. A person reads every challenge, and any change is recorded publicly above with its reason.

Challenge this classification