Andrew Muir (politician)
Andrew Muir | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs | |
| Assumed office 3 February 2024 | |
| First Minister | Michelle O'Neill |
| Preceded by | Edwin Poots(2022) |
| Member of theNorthern Ireland Assembly forNorth Down | |
| Assumed office 23 December 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Stephen Farry |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Andrew David Muir 9 July 1976 Bangor,County Down,Northern Ireland |
| Nationality | Northern Irish |
| Political party | Alliance |
| Alma mater | University of Ulster |
| Occupation | Politician |
| Website | http:// andrewmuir.net/ |
Andrew Muir(born 9 July 1976) is aNorthern Irishpolitician who has served asMinister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairssince February 2024. He is anAlliance PartyMember of the Legislative Assembly(MLA) forNorth Down.[1]He was appointed as an MLA following incumbent Alliance MLAStephen Farry's election asMPforNorth Downin the2019 UK general election,[2]and elected in the constituency in the2022 Northern Ireland Assembly election.[3]
Professional life[edit]
From 2006 until he became a full-time politician Muir worked forTranslink (Northern Ireland).[4]Before that he held a variety of low-level administrative posts including atArts Council of Northern Ireland.
Political career[edit]
Council (2010-2019)[edit]
Muir was co-opted ontoNorth Down Borough Councilin 2010,[5]and was elected for the Hollywood DEA at the2011 local elections.He was elected on the first count with 22.73% of FPVs, but he did not top the poll as newly elected MLAGordon Dunneout-polled him by 90 votes.[6]
Muir became the first openly gaymayorinNorthern Irelandwhen he became North Down Borough Council mayor from 2013 to 2014.[7]
Muir was re-elected at the2014 local electionfor the Holywood and Clandeboye DEA, following the local government reform that merged Ards and North Down borough councils. He ran as one of two Alliance candidates, with now- MLA for Belfast SouthKate Nichollbeing his running mate. He was elected behindStephen Dunne,the son of Gordon Dunne, and now MLA for North Down.
Muir ran alongside Stephen Farry as an Alliance candidate at the2016 Assembly electionin North Down, and was runner up behind his party colleague.[8]
Muir was subsequently re-elected at the2019 local elections,topping the poll with 1,397 votes (20.43%). His running mate Gillian Greer was also elected on the first count and gained a seat at the expense of theDUP.[9]
Member of the Legislative Assembly (2019-Present)[edit]
Muir was selected by Alliance to replace Stephen Farry, the newly elected MP for North Down, and was co-opted into the Assembly. In doing so, he became the second openly gay member of the Assembly, after Alliance MLAJohn Blair(South Antrim).[10]
He was selected to run as one of Alliance's two candidates in North Down for the2022 Northern Ireland Assembly electionand both he and his running mate,Connie Egan,were elected. He polled the second most FPVs (6,838) and 16.38% of the vote as Alliance increased their vote by 10.3% in the constituency.[11]
Personal life[edit]
Muir is gay and a public advocate forLGBTI issues in Northern Ireland.
He is known for his distinctive bow ties.
References[edit]
- ^"Andrew Muir selected as Alliance Party's new North Down MLA".Belfast Telegraph.18 December 2019.
- ^"Alliance selects Andrew Muir as North Down MLA".Alliance Party.18 December 2019. Archived fromthe originalon 31 March 2022.Retrieved7 May2022.
- ^"North Down result - Northern Ireland Assembly Elections 2022".BBC News.7 May 2022.Retrieved7 May2022.
- ^http:// ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk/images/assets/Muir-2.PDF
- ^"Our Candidates".Alliance Party.Archived fromthe originalon 10 May 2022.Retrieved11 May2022.
- ^"Holywood Result Sheet"(PDF).The Electoral Office for Northern Ireland.Retrieved8 July2021.
- ^McConville, Marie Louise (19 December 2019)."Alliance select NI's first openly gay mayor Andrew Muir to replace Stephen Farry as MLA".The Irish News.Retrieved1 April2020.
- ^"NI Assembly Election 2016 - Result Sheets".The Electoral Office for Northern Ireland.Retrieved11 May2022.
- ^"Local Council Election Results".The Electoral Office for Northern Ireland.Retrieved11 May2022.
- ^Duffy, Nick (19 December 2019)."Northern Ireland assembly gets second openly gay MLA".PinkNews.Retrieved24 January2020.
- ^"North Down result - Northern Ireland Assembly Elections 2022".BBC News.Retrieved11 May2022.