Diane Forsythe
Diane Forsythe | |
|---|---|
 Forsythe in 2024 | |
| Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly for South Down | |
| Assumed office 7 May 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Jim Wells |
| Personal details | |
| Nationality | British |
| Political party | Democratic Unionist Party |
| Occupation | Politician |
Diane Forsythe is a Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) politician, serving as a Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly (MLA) for South Down since 2022. Forsythe as the first female unionist MLA to represent the area.[1] Forsythe is the DUP's Spokesperson for Communities, Childcare and Early Years.[2]
Political career
She unsuccessfully stood for election in the South Down Westminster constituency at the 2017 UK general election. She came in third place polling 8,867 votes, equating to 17.4% of the total vote.[3]
In April 2022, shortly before the 2022 Assembly election, all of the DUP's officers in South Down refused to endorse the party's candidate Forsythe and resigned from the DUP.[4] They claimed that Forsythe was "imposed" on them by the DUP without proper consultation.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland launched an investigation into "a defamatory message" being shared about Forsythe during the election campaign.[5]
On 5 May 2022, Diane Forsythe was elected as the new Democratic Unionist Party MLA for the South Down Constituency. She polled 6,497 first preference votes, and was elected on the 6th count with 11,073 votes. She became the first female unionist MLA for the constituency.[6]
She was the DUP's candidate in South Down at the 2024 general election, coming third with 7,349 votes (16.2%)[7][8]
References
- ^ "South Down: History in the making as Diane Forsthye becomes area's first female unionist MLA and Alliance's Patrick Brown gets elected". belfasttelegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2022-05-07.
- ^ "Diane Forsythe". DUP. Retrieved 2023-11-20.
- ^ "South Down parliamentary constituency - Election 2019 - BBC News". Retrieved 2022-05-07.
- ^ "DUP officers in South Down, representing 305 years' party membership, dramatically resign". The News Letter. 26 April 2022.
- ^ Simpson, Claire (3 May 2022). "Diane Forsythe: Police launch probe into 'defamatory message' circulated online". The Irish News. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
- ^ "South Down: History in the making as Diane Forsthye becomes area's first female unionist MLA and Alliance's Patrick Brown gets elected". BelfastTelegraph.co.uk. 2022-05-07. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2023-09-18.
- ^ "South Down - General election result 2024". BBC News. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
- ^ "South Down results - General Election 2024". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 2 November 2024.