Chris Hazzard
Chris Hazzard (born 20 August 1984) is an Irish Sinn Féin politician who has been the Member of Parliament (MP)[1] for South Down[2] since the 2017 general election, when he defeated incumbent Margaret Ritchie of the SDLP.[3] Due to Sinn Féin's policy of abstentionism with regard to the Westminster Parliament of the United Kingdom, Hazzard has not taken his seat.
Chris
Hazzard | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of Parliament for South Down | |
| Assumed office 8 June 2017 | |
| Preceded by | Margaret Ritchie |
| Majority | 1,620 (3.2%) |
| Member of the Legislative Assembly for South Down | |
| In office 13 April 2012 – 9 June 2017 | |
| Preceded by | Willie Clarke |
| Succeeded by | Emma Rogan |
| Minister for Infrastructure | |
| In office May 2016 – January 2017 | |
| Preceded by | Michelle McIlveen |
| Succeeded by | Nichola Mallon |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 20 August 1984 Drumaness, Northern Ireland, UK |
| Political party | Sinn Féin |
| Alma mater | Queen's University Belfast |
He was selected by his party as a member (MLA) of the Northern Ireland Assembly to represent the South Down constituency in April 2012.[4] He was the Minister for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland from May 2016 until the Executive's collapse in January 2017. At the Snap General Election held on 8 June 2017 he became an MP.
The eldest of four siblings, he attended Our Lady and St Patrick's College, Knock. He replaced his party colleague Willie Clarke, who had retired to concentrate on his local council work. A Gaelic Athletic Association member and PhD candidate at Queen's University Belfast.[5] He was, at the time of his selection, the youngest MLA.
References
- Parliament UK
- McGonagle, Suzanne (9 June 2017). "Constituency Profile: Chris Hazzard wins South Down". The Irish News. Archived from the original on 17 July 2017. Retrieved 17 July 2017.
- BBC
- Hazzard to represent South Down, Newry Times, 17 April 2012.
- Profile Archived 27 January 2016 at the Wayback Machine, sinnfeinsouthdown.com; accessed 26 December 2015.
External links
| Northern Ireland Assembly | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Willie Clarke |
Member of the Legislative Assembly for South Down 2012–2017 |
Succeeded by Emma Rogan |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by Michelle McIlveen as Minister for Regional Development |
Minister for Infrastructure of Northern Ireland 2016–2017 |
Northern Irish government suspended |
| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
| Preceded by Margaret Ritchie |
Member of Parliament for South Down 2017–present |
Incumbent |