Mid Ulster MLA Patsy McGlone has confirmed that he will retire at the end of this Assembly mandate and not seek re-election next year.
He is the Social Democratic and Labour Party’s longest-serving politician at Stormont. He was first elected in 2003 and served as deputy speaker between 2016 and 2024.
Speaking to the Irish News, he said: “There’s a time for just stepping aside, to go on with other things in your life and allow someone else to take over.”
Leader of the SDLP, Claire Hanna MP said: “Patsy McGlone has made an outstanding contribution over four decades of public service, not only to the SDLP, but to the people of Mid Ulster and the North as a whole. The fact that he has been returned at six successive Assembly elections is a testament to the trust and respect he has earned from the community he serves.
“Throughout his political career Patsy built a reputation as someone who worked tirelessly for his constituents and delivered real results. Even during the most difficult periods of our past he won admiration across the community for his determination to bring people together and to help anyone who came through his door, regardless of their background or tradition.
“While Patsy may be stepping down from the Assembly, he will always remain an important part of the SDLP family and a valued source of wisdom and advice. On behalf of our party, I want to thank him for his years of service and and wish Patsy and Geraldine every happiness for the future. Knowing Patsy, I suspect he still has plenty of work left to do before next year’s election.”
SDLP leader of the opposition Matthew O’Toole MLA called Mr McGlone a “stalwart’ on social media.
“Patsy’s huge experience, cross-community respect and craic will be a loss to us. It really won’t be the same after next year. Thankfully, he isn’t going anywhere just yet and hope we will always have his wisdom and activism to draw on,” O’Toole said on X.
