Election Round-up: Impact on Assembly
A guaranteed seven MLAs will be stepping down as a result of their election to Westminster, a further three could follow, at least one ministerial position will be reshuffled, and the future of two party leaders within the Assembly is in the balance.
With the outcome of the General Election resulting in a Hung Parliament, it remains unclear which of the three main parties will be able to form a government. In the coming hours and days there may well still be speculation on the role, if any, that Northern Ireland MPs might play in that process. However the result will have a definitive impact on the working of the Assembly.
Perhaps the biggest upset of the election was the defeat of Peter Robinson to Alliance Party deputy leader, Naomi Long. She will now be under pressure to clarify whether she will remain as an MLA for East Belfast and continue as Lord Mayor of Belfast.
Prior to the election the DUP had committed to ending double jobbing, with the then notable exception of Peter Robinson remaining in his position as First Minister. It is as yet unclear whether the election defeat will see Peter Robinson step down as Leader and First Minister, or indeed whether any successor would be appointed from the ranks of their newly appointed MPs. However there will with certainty be a re-shuffle amongst a number of his MLA colleagues.
- Finance Minister, Sammy Wilson duly re-elected as MP for East Antrim is expected to step down from his role as Minister.
- Nigel Dodds will step down from his Assembly seat in North Belfast
- Gregory Campbell will step down from his Assembly seat in East Londonderry [UPDATE]
- Jim Shannon will step down from his Assembly seat in Strangford
- David Simpson will step down from his Assembly seat in Upper Bann
- Jeffrey Donaldson will step down from his Assembly seat in Lagan Valley
The SDLP will now have to decide whether their leader Margaret Ritchie remains as Social Development Minister and MLA for South Down.
- Mark Durkan has already committed to stepping down from his Assembly seat in Foyle
- It is as yet unclear whether returning South Belfast MP, Alasdair McDonnell will also step down from his Assembly seat.
UPDATE: It appears as if Gregory Campbell will continue on with his 'dual mandate' as MLA and MP for East Londonderry. It is as yet unclear how long this will continue, or whether other DUP MLAs will continue in more than one post. In further developments Peter Robinson has confirmed he will continue as leader of the DUP and First Minister.