Michelle McIlveen
Michelle McIlveen MLA (born 21 January 1971) is a Northern Irish unionist politician, serving as Deputy Leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) since 2025 following her victory in the 2025 deputy leadership election.[1] She is also the party's Spokesperson for Environment, Climate and Fisheries.[2] McIlveen served as the General Secretary of the DUP from 2008 until 2025.[3] She served as Minister for Education from June 2021 to October 2022, and a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Strangford since 2007.
Early life and education
A native of Newtownards, she attended Methodist College Belfast and later Queen's University, Belfast where she took a Master's Degree in Irish Politics and later still a Postgraduate Certificate in Education, the necessary qualification to teach in most parts of the United Kingdom.
She taught History and Politics at Grosvenor Grammar School in East Belfast for a number of years before entering full-time politics. [4] [5]
Political career
McIlveen was first elected as a councillor to Ards Borough Council in 2005, representing the Newtownards District. She then became an MLA in the 2007 Assembly election for Strangford.
McIlveen became the Junior Minister in the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister on 11 May 2015 until 28 October 2015.
She became the Minister for Regional Development on 21 September 2015. This post had been held by the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) minister Danny Kennedy until his party withdrew from the Northern Ireland Executive, and under the D'Hondt method the department was transferred to the DUP.[6] McIlveen was appointed as minister for this department, with Emma Little-Pengelly replacing her as Junior Minister.
McIlveen then served as the Minister of Agriculture, Environment, and Rural Affairs from 2016 until the collapse of the Northern Ireland Executive in January 2017.
She represents a "centre ground" group of DUP MLAs and her support was critical in helping Edwin Poots win the May 2021 Democratic Unionist Party leadership election.[7]
On 14 June 2021, McIlveen, a former teacher, was appointed as the Minister for Education by Poots.[8] She remained in the post under Sir Jeffrey Donaldson's leadership.[9] However, Donaldson unsuccessfully plotted to remove McIlveen as a party officer.[10]
Her constituency office is in Comber.
Deputy Leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (2025–present)
Election
McIlveen became deputy leader of the DUP following the 2025 deputy leadership election in which she was elected unopposed. She was seen by the leadership as a “safe pair of hands” who would help keep the party united.[1]
Notes
- ^ Resigned on 21 September 2015, re-entered office on 23 Sept. till 24 Sept., then 30 Sept.-1 Oct. 2015. Following 20 October she permanently occupies the office
References
- ^ a b "Michelle McIlveen on course to become DUP's new deputy leader". 5 March 2025. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
- ^ "Michelle McIlveen MLA". DUP. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
- ^ "Michelle McIlveen MLA". DUP. Retrieved 7 March 2025.
- ^ "Michelle McIlveen appointed new NI agriculture Minister".
- ^ "Minister for Education visit".
- ^ Kevin McGuigan murder: Provisional IRA still exists, says PSNI chief; accessed 14 May 2016.
- ^ "Michelle McIlveen on course to become DUP's new deputy leader". 5 March 2025. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
- ^ "Ministerial Appointments: Mr Frew and Miss McIlveen". They Work For You. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
- ^ DUP profile, dup.org.uk; accessed 14 May 2016.
- ^ "Michelle McIlveen on course to become DUP's new deputy leader". 5 March 2025. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 6 March 2025.