Former Ulster Unionist councillor Linzi McLaren has been selected to run as an SDLP candidate in next May’s Stormont election.
The 49-year-old former police constable, who until a year ago served as a UUP councillor, will contest the South Antrim seat.
She quit the Ulster Unionists and gave up her council seat, saying she no longer felt comfortable “within political unionism”.
Ms McLaren, who is from Antrim town and grew up in the area, described her selection as a “homecoming”.
She faces an uphill battle to secure a seat in the predominantly unionist constituency where Sinn Féin’s Declan Kearney topped the poll in 2022 with more than 9,000 first preference votes.
SDLP candidate Roisin Lynch secured around one-third of Mr Kearney’s total but her party will be hopeful its 2027 candidate’s unionist background makes her more transfer friendly.
On her decision to switch allegiance to a nationalist party, Ms McLaren said the SDLP offered “hope, ambition and practical action” ahead of tribal politics.
“Some people will understandably be interested in the political journey I have travelled and what I would say to them is that my values have not changed, but my perspective has,” she said.
“I have always cared passionately about building a society that is fair, inclusive and ambitious for everyone who lives here, no matter their background. The SDLP is committed to working towards a New Ireland, and persuading more people by demonstrating that we can deliver for them in the here and now.”
She thanked Ms Lynch for her “steadfast” leadership in the constituency.
SDLP leader Claire Hanna described the party’s latest recruit as “thoughtful, determined and committed to making politics work for people”.
The South Belfast and Mid Down MP said her party would be a home for “people who believe that Northern Ireland can work better today while having an open, respectful and ambitious conversation about our future”.
“The SDLP has always believed in persuasion – we want to build a New Ireland, but we know that means reaching beyond traditional political identities, listening to people whose experiences are different from our own and building a future in which everyone can see themselves,” Ms Hanna said.
“Linzi’s journey reflects conversations that are happening in homes and communities across Northern Ireland. People are questioning old assumptions and thinking about what kind of society they want to leave to the next generation.”