By Violet Brown
THE Alliance Party has been dealt a major blow with Kellie Armstrong’s decision not to stand for re-election to the Assembly for Strangford.
The veteran Ards peninsula politician, who topped the polls in Strangford in 2022 and who was the closest thing to a certainty in next year’s Assembly poll, said she felt it was the right time to retire.
Ms Armstrong was elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly to represent Strangford in 2016 and 2017 and topped the polls in Strangford in 2022.
Previous to her time on the Northern Ireland Assembly, she served as a councillor on both the Ards and Ards and North Down Councils from 2013 until 2016. “It has truly been an honour and privilege to serve the people of Strangford on behalf of Alliance,” she said.
“I have been thinking about retiring for a while and so it was with great sadness I made the decision that the 2027 election is the right time for me to retire from politics.”
Ms Armstrong outlined she would stay on as an MLA to serve Strangford constituents until the dissolution of the Assembly, and promised that she and her constituency staff would continue to give 100% for all those who needed help until then.
“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,” Ms Armstrong continued.
“I also wish to thank my family for their love and backing.”
She said her family had helped her through the highs and lows of being an elected representative and had been a ‘pillar of strength’ throughout.
Examples of the highs, said Ms Armstrong, included bringing the Integrated Education Bill, and the lows included receiving abuse and threats online.
“Most of all, I want to thank every single person who voted for me over the years and allowed me the privilege of representing,” Ms Armstrong said.
“I will continue to be involved with the party, and wish Nick [Mathison] and my successor every best wish in serving the people of this great constituency to the highest possible standards.”
For the next year Ms Armstrong said she would still be working out of her office in Newtownards representing people at the Assembly and would be there to help anyone who needed her.
“I think it is time for the new face to come in and I’m really looking forward to supporting them in their work,” she added. Alliance party leader, Naomi Long, said Ms Armstrong would be missed by everyone in the Assembly.
“As a councillor, MLA and Alliance whip she has consistently championed fairness, equality and a shared future in housing, transport, disability rights and integrated education,” Mrs Long said.
