Mitchel McLaughlin elected first-ever nationalist Speaker of Assembly

SINN FÉIN’S Mitchel McLaughlin has been elected the first-ever nationalist or republican Speaker of the Assembly.

The DUP has now honoured a longstanding agreement to support Mitchel’s nomination but the SDLP refused to support it.

Welcoming Mitchel’s election as Principal Speaker, South Down Sinn Féin MLA Chris Hazzard said he hopes the DUP move heralds “a new beginning in the relationships between the parties in going forward”

He added:

“Mitchel McLaughlin has a long record in politics going back to the Civil Rights era and I am sure he will bring all his experience to his new role.

“This is an historic day in that it’s the first time that a nationalist or republican has held the role since the formation of the state.

“As Principal Deputy Speaker, Mitchel secured the trust of the Assembly in debates and in his other duties by the fair and even-handed manner in which he carried out his duties.

“It is important the Assembly delivers for the electorate and I hope today’s vote signals that the political will is now there to implement remaining commitments in the agreed Programme for Government.”

◼︎ Mitchel McLaughlin is the Sinn Féin MLA for South Antrim. 

He joined Sinn Féin in the 1960s, holding various senior positions within the party, including General Secretary and National Chairperson.

Mitchel was key to developing the party's peace strategy and a major contributor to the Sinn Féin document Towards a Lasting Peace in Ireland.

He was an integral part of the Sinn Féin team that negotiated the Good Friday and St Andrew’s Agreements.

As well as Chair of the Assembly Finance Committee, Mitchel has served as Assembly Private Secretary to Education Minister John O’Dowd MLA and was the Sinn Féin spokesperson on Victims and Truth before holding the position of Principal Deputy Speaker of the Assembly.