https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-68854806
Justice Minister Naomi Long says she has not yet reached a conclusion about running in the upcoming general election.
There has been speculation she would seek to regain the Belfast East seat.
She held it for Alliance from 2010 until 2015.
It is currently held by interim DUP leader Gavin Robinson, but Mrs Long narrowed his majority to fewer than 2,000 votes in the 2019 general election.
She was asked about her plans after a decision by Robin Swann to stand down as health minister once the Westminster campaign begins.
He has already been announced as the Ulster Unionist party (UUP) candidate for Westminster in South Antrim.
He told the BBC's Sunday Politics that once the election was called and the election period begins, he would give up his seat at the Stormont Executive.
On Monday Mrs Long said Mr Swann's decision "put no pressure" on her whatsoever and that discussions about who would be Alliance's candidate for east Belfast were "not finalised" yet.
"We will make the decision on the basis of what's right for us, and not in the wake of decisions by the UUP or Robin Swann," she said.
"I have reached no conclusion as to whether I want to run in east Belfast at this point in time… that's still under consideration."
The Alliance leader previously said she was "fully focused" on her job as justice minister and would not be distracted by the possibility of standing in the general election this year.
by Ah_here_like
7 comments
Her stepping down to run for an MP position only signals that she doesn’t trust anyone else to run a decent campaign, which is a bad look to have for a party.
No harm to her but I’m not sure if I’ll be voting alliance again with the kid thing they’re pushing for. Willing to give it the benefit of the doubt as I would want to see what the kids will be taught but if they’re told they can sexually identify as a pink unicorn I don’t think that will align with my morals.
I wish they would put as much effort into the actual curriculum like teaching kids the value of money, saving, mortgages, life lessons that we were not taught instead.
If it’s awareness about sexual predators fair enough but I’m pretty skeptical that it will include other agendas.
Oh well that’s my rant on the internet done for today.
I don’t think Naomi Long runs anywhere
When has Naomi ever turned downed the chance to make it all about her?
We all know she’s gonna be the nominee so not sure what this is all about
Alliance Party is becoming a personality cult. She runs for MP, MLA, MEP, Lord Mayor, you name it.
Fact is, Gavin Robinson is vulnerable and if Naomi was clever she could run a lower profile candidate, other than herself, and still potentially win the seat.
She’s still eating lunch from Thursday, so hasn’t had a chance to sort it out.