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Good morning John

As we begin a new year, I hope you and your family had an enjoyable and refreshing Christmas break.

The start of January always brings a sense of renewal, and a chance to take stock, to refocus, and to approach the challenges ahead with fresh determination and vigour.

For those of us privileged to represent Northern Ireland, that sense of purpose is especially important as we continue to press for fairness for those who have served our country. This week I returned to Westminster, where at Prime Minister’s Questions I raised a matter of profound importance, the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill. I challenged the Prime Minister on the need to ensure that any legislation must properly protect our veterans. Those who served here did so in extraordinarily difficult circumstances, putting their lives on the line to protect others and uphold the rule of law. They deserve gratitude and respect, not the prospect of legal jeopardy decades later.

It is vital that any legal framework clearly distinguishes between those who upheld the law and those who sought to undermine it through terrorism and violence. To blur that line is morally wrong and unjust. The Prime Minister indicated that the Government would bring forward amendments to address these concerns. That is welcome, but it must be meaningful. Nonetheless, it reflects that through sustained engagement and pressure, the Government is beginning to listen to the concerns we have consistently raised on behalf of veterans and victims alike.

Of course, within minutes, the Foreign Minister of the Irish Republic responded to say any change required their support. That’s a clear challenge to the Prime Minister - will he side with sovereignty and protect our armed forces; or spinelessly surrender to the Republic who have delivered nothing for victims.
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Closer to home, the Sinn Fein Finance Minister has now produced his draft Budget. This document has been published without Executive agreement and cannot be treated as settled. While we recognise the real financial pressures facing Northern Ireland, the priorities John O’Dowd has chosen raise serious concerns. Public services, particularly education, are under severe strain, and significant changes will be required before this Budget could ever secure DUP support.

The year ahead will test the Executive, and meeting those challenges will require both Ministers and the Civil Service to be focused on delivering core public services. Only this week we saw the failure of the Department for Infrastructure to even carry out basic road gritting, particularly in rural areas. When people are left stranded or at risk while resources are diverted into pet political projects like dual language signage at bus stations, it demonstrates misplaced priorities and a failure of proper governance.

But it isn’t just about day-to-day operations. Northern Ireland must also show it can deliver major infrastructure projects if we are serious about investment, jobs, and economic growth. At the Northern Ireland Affairs Select Committee this week, we heard of a major opportunity that has been caught in our planning system for nearly 20 years. That’s two decades where progress has stalled, and it sends the wrong signal to businesses who want to invest here.

A planning system that allows nationally significant projects to languish for decades is a direct barrier to economic growth. Northern Ireland must demonstrate it can make timely decisions and actually deliver the infrastructure our economy needs. From transport to energy, water, and regeneration, progress on major projects is essential if we are to attract investment, create jobs, and build confidence in our future. Every party around the Executive table must realise the urgent need to remove the roadblocks that have held us back for far too long.

A new year must bring not just new words, but higher standards and real delivery. Whether it is standing up for those who served this country, demanding fairness in how our past is addressed, or ensuring that public money is focused on the services people rely on, the DUP will continue to hold the Government and other Executive Ministers to account. Northern Ireland deserves better than drift and mis-prioritisation, and I remain determined to fight for a common sense, responsible and secure future for us all.

Yours sincerely,

Rt. Hon. Gavin Robinson MP

DUP Leader

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