Alliance MLA Kellie Armstrong has announced she is retiring from politics next year and, therefore, will not be standing in the Assembly election.
Ms Armstrong has been an MLA for Strangford since 2016 and before that she served on Ards and North Down Borough Council.
In a statement, she said it has “truely been an honour to serve the people of Strangford.”
“I have been thinking about retiring for a while and so it was with great sadness I made the decision the 2027 election is the right time for me to retire from politics.
“I will continue as an MLA, with my colleague Nick Mathison MLA, to serve Strangford constituents until the dissolution of the Assembly, and promise I and my constituency staff will continue to give 100 per cent for all those who need help in the meantime.
“I want to thank all my colleagues, particularly the local Alliance elected representatives, and the local party association for putting their faith in me over the years.
“I also wish to thank my family for their love and backing. They have helped me through the highs of being an elected representative, such as bringing the Integrated Education Bill, and the lows of being in the public eye, like receiving abuse and threats online. They have been a pillar of support throughout.
“Most of all, I want to thank every single person who voted for me over the years and allowed me the privilege of representing them over the years. I will continue to be involved with the party, and wish Nick and my successor every best wish in serving the people of this great constituency to the highest possible standards.”
She is the third MLA to announce that they will not seek re-election, after Padraig Delargy (Sinn Fein, Foyle) and Maoliosa McHugh (Sinn Fein, West Tyrone).
