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Kate Nicholl

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Kate Nicholl
MLA
Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly
for Belfast South
Incumbent
Assumed office
5 May 2022
Preceded byClare Bailey
79th Lord Mayor of Belfast
In office
1 June 2021 – 7 May 2022[1]
DeputyTom Haire
Preceded byFrank McCoubrey
Succeeded byMichael Long[2]
Member of
Belfast City Council
In office
3 June 2016 – 7 May 2022[3]
Preceded byPaula Bradshaw
Succeeded byMicky Murray
ConstituencyBalmoral
Personal details
Born
Kate Siobhan Nicholl

(1988-05-04) 4 May 1988 (age 36)[4]
Marondera, Zimbabwe
Political partyAlliance
Spouse
Fergal Sherry
​
(m. 2018)​
Children2
EducationMethodist College Belfast
Alma materUniversity College London (BSc)[5]
Ulster University (MSc)[6]
OccupationPolitician
WebsiteOfficial website
Assembly profile

Kate Siobhan Nicholl (born 4 May 1988)[4] is a Northern Irish politician for the Alliance Party, serving as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Belfast South since 2022.

Prior to her election to the assembly, Nicholl was the 79th Lord Mayor of Belfast, having been elected in June 2021.[7][1] She was the first Lord Mayor in recent history not to be born in the United Kingdom or Republic of Ireland.[8]

Nicholl was an unsuccessful candidate in the 2024 Alliance Party deputy leadership election.[9]

Early life

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Nicholl was born in Marondera, Zimbabwe.[10] Her father comes from County Down and her mother Helen comes from South Africa, where her family was involved in anti-Apartheid activism.[11][12] They left Zimbabwe in 2000 when Kate was 12 after violence broke out, moving to Belfast.[12] She studied at Methodist College Belfast,[11] and worked as an advisor to the Alliance Party's Anna Lo.

Political career

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Early career (2014–2021)

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Nicholl ran as one of two Alliance Party candidates, alongside Andrew Muir, for the constituency of Hollywood and Clandeboye in the North Down and Ards Borough Council, as a part of the 2014 local elections. She placed sixth; missing out on the fifth seat by just under 200 votes to the DUP's Jennifer Gilmore.[13]

On 3 June 2016, Nicholl was co-opted onto Belfast City Council to fill the vacant position left after Paula Bradshaw of the Alliance Party was elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly in May 2016 to represent Belfast South. In May 2019, she was elected outright, topping the poll in the Balmoral constituency.[8]

Lord Mayor of Belfast (2021–22)

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She was sworn in as 79th Lord Mayor of Belfast on 1 June 2021, succeeding the Democratic Unionist Party's Frank McCoubrey.[12] The theme for Nicholl's year as Lord Mayor was 'Our Belfast'. One of her first policies on becoming Lord Mayor was to focus on the health and well-being of children and brought the views of young people into meetings, though mental and wider physical health formed no part of her or the Council's responsibilities.[14]

Nicholl claimed that being a non-native of Northern Ireland was a positive personal attribute as it gave her an outsider view on events.[12] In interviews she acknowledged the differences and conflict in Belfast, but hoped she would be able to unite people, saying "how the city – all of it – is ours".[11] As Lord Mayor, Nicholl was sexually harassed on social media over her condemnation of sexism and abuse on the Internet. She said that Alliance Party leader Naomi Long had faced similar harassment.[15]

In December 2021, Nicholl publicly stated her support for the legalisation of cannabis, as well as the introduction of supervised injection sites in Belfast.[16]

Nicholl was chosen as one of two Alliance candidates for Belfast South at the 2022 Northern Ireland Assembly election, alongside Paula Bradshaw.[17]

The remaining three weeks of Nicholl's term as Lord Mayor was filled by Michael Long, the husband of Alliance Party leader Naomi Long. Long's three-week term as Lord Mayor was the shortest term of office for any Lord Mayor of Belfast and was also the first time that the spouse of a former Lord Mayor has held the post.[2][18][19]

Member of the Legislative Assembly (2022–)

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On 7 May 2022, Nicholl was the final candidate to be elected for Belfast South, edging out incumbent Green Party MLA Clare Bailey.[20] She is the first Zimbabwe-born MLA in Northern Ireland.[8] Upon her return to work soon after her daughter's birth, Nicholl highlighted that "support simply doesn't exist for women MLAs with babies and young children" as MLAs have no option for paid maternity leave like MPs do.[21][22]

She has been a passionate advocate for migrants and asylum seekers, and has been reported as "one of the best liked MLAs in Stormont across the parties."[23]

Nicholl ran in Belfast South and Mid Down at the 2024 general election, coming second to the SDLP's Claire Hanna, increasing Alliance's share by 4.9% to 8,839 votes (20.3%).[24][25]

Personal life

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Nicholl is married and has one son and a daughter.[8] She gave birth to son, Cian Luca Sherry on 17 November 2019.[26] On 30 May 2022, Nicholl gave birth to a daughter named Étaín Evelyn Sherry.[27][28] She was named after Nicholl's grandmother Evelyn, who was involved in anti-apartheid activism as a member of the Black Sash in South Africa.[29]

References

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  1. ^ a b Kate Nicholl [@KateNicholl] (8 May 2022). "When I was declared an MLA, I stopped being Lord Mayor (3 weeks early!) I've had the best year meeting so many extraordinary people & witnessing all the good in our city. Thank you Belfast for the privilege of a lifetime ❤️ #OurBelfast" (Tweet). Retrieved 8 May 2022 – via Twitter.
  2. ^ a b Corscadden, Jane (9 May 2022). "Alliance's Michael Long set to 'make history' as Belfast mayor for three weeks". BelfastLive. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
  3. ^ "The Rt. Hon. the Lord Mayor, Councillor Kate Nicholl". Belfast City Council. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
  4. ^ a b Kate Nicholl [@kate_nicholl] (4 May 2022). "34 today! (& wishing for as many first preference votes as possible tomorrow 🤞) #AE22 #SouthBelfast". Retrieved 5 May 2022 – via Instagram.
  5. ^ "Kate Nicholl". The Alan Turing Institute. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
  6. ^ "Belfast Lord Mayor Kate Nicholl shares thoughts on new Belfast campus". Ulster University. 23 March 2022. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
  7. ^ "Nicholl 'overwhelmed' to clinch South Belfast seat". BBC News. 7 May 2022. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  8. ^ a b c d Hughes, Brendan (1 June 2021). "New Belfast Lord Mayor Kate Nicholl's priorities for her year". BelfastLive. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  9. ^ "Two Alliance MLAs to go head-to-head for party's deputy role". BelfastTelegraph.co.uk. 24 September 2024. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
  10. ^ "I have chosen Belfast as my home". BBC News. 11 May 2021. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  11. ^ a b c "New Belfast mayor Kate Nicholl pledges to build 'inclusive community relationships'". The Irish News. 12 May 2021. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  12. ^ a b c d Simpson, Mark (1 June 2021). "Alliance's Kate Nicholl installed as Belfast lord mayor". BBC News. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  13. ^ "Local Council Elections 2014 - Results by Stage". The Electoral Office for Northern Ireland. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
  14. ^ "New lord mayor of Belfast to focus on wellbeing of young people". The Irish News. 2 June 2021. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  15. ^ Hughes, Brendan (6 June 2021). "Belfast lord mayor Kate Nicholl says she had to limit social media due to receiving sexist messages". BelfastLive. Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  16. ^ Lee, John (26 December 2021). "Belfast mayor Kate Nicholl in legalise cannabis call". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 1 February 2024.
  17. ^ Paula Bradshaw MLA [@PaulaJaneB] (27 October 2021). "So it's official, @KateNicholl and I were selected by the South Belfast Alliance Association this evening as their candidates for next year's Assembly Elections!" (Tweet). Retrieved 8 April 2022 – via Twitter.
  18. ^ Simpson, Mark (9 May 2022). "Alliance: Michael Long makes history as three-week mayor". BBC News. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
  19. ^ Fox, Matt (9 May 2022). "Alliance Party's Naomi and Michael Long to make history as first couple to hold Belfast lord mayor office". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
  20. ^ Edwards, Mark; McGovern, Eimear (7 May 2022). "Northern Ireland election results: Lord Mayor of Belfast Kate Nicholl wins last seat in South Belfast, eliminating Green Party's Clare Bailey". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  21. ^ Breen, Suzanne (20 June 2022). "Alliance MLA Kate Nicholl back to work at Stormont with baby daughter at her side". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 24 June 2022.
  22. ^ Nicholl, Kate (22 June 2022). "Reform needed as too many women face choice between motherhood and career". BelfastLive. Retrieved 24 June 2022.
  23. ^ "Two Alliance MLAs to go head-to-head for party's deputy role". BelfastTelegraph.co.uk. 24 September 2024. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
  24. ^ "Seat Details - Belfast South and Mid Down". Electoral Calculus. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
  25. ^ "Nicholl honoured and privileged to be Alliance's South Belfast and Mid Down Westminster candidate". Alliance Party. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
  26. ^ "Alliance councillor Kate Nicholl welcomes baby boy". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
  27. ^ Kate Nicholl [@KateNicholl] (1 June 2022). "Thank you for all the lovely messages 💛 We can't believe Baby Étaín is finally here. Our hearts are bursting & we're endlessly grateful to the wonderful midwives at the Royal who looked after us so well 🥰 @fergal_sherry" (Tweet). Retrieved 1 June 2022 – via Twitter.
  28. ^ McGonagle, Suzanne (1 June 2022). "Alliance MLA Kate Nicholl says heart is 'bursting' following birth of daughter". The Irish News. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  29. ^ Breen, Suzanne (31 May 2022). "Kate Nicholl: Alliance MLA names newborn daughter in honour of grandmother who fought apartheid in South Africa". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
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