Political News
SDLP: Patsy McGlone not contesting next Assembly election
An MLA since 2003, Patsy McGlone will retire at the end of this Assembly mandate. He is the SDLP’s longest-serving politician in the Assembly, and has been described as a ‘stalwart’.
TUV announce North Antrim candidates for next year’s Assembly election
Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) will field two North Antrim candidates in the Assembly election next year. The party say they hope to elect both Timothy Gaston and Kirk Wilson.
UUP: Doug Beattie to be reselected for Assembly election in Upper Bann
The local Ulster Unionist Party association in Upper Bann is now expected to reselect Doug Beattie to stand in next year’s Assembly election. It comes after the party HQ asked the association to ‘revisit’ its decision.
Your Representatives
Councils are responsible for local services such as waste collection, leisure centres, parks, planning, environmental health and community development. They cannot make laws. Councillors are elected using Single Transferable Vote (STV) every four years.
The Assembly is the devolved legislature for Northern Ireland, based at Parliament Buildings, Stormont. There are 90 members that are elected from 18 constituencies. The MLAs make laws on devolved matters such as health, education, justice, infrastructure and agriculture. MLAs are elected every five years using STV.
The UK Parliament is the highest legislative authority and NI is represented by 18 Members of Parliament. MPs make decision on reserved and excepted matters, which include defence, foreign policy, immigration and taxation and welfare. MPs are elected every five years in a general election using First Past the Post (FPTP)