Gerry Kelly reverses decision not to stand for Stormont

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 29 Oct, 11:15 · Archive

Sinn Féin MLA Gerry Kelly will contest May's Northern Ireland Assembly election after reversing his earlier decision to stand down.

Gerry Kelly, the Sinn Féin MLA for North Belfast, has announced he will contest the May 2027 Assembly election after previously stating in July that he would be standing down. Kelly said he reconsidered after being approached by his party. The 73-year-old, first elected in the 1996 Northern Ireland Forum election, has been an MLA since the Assembly's inception in 1998, following the Good Friday Agreement.

Kelly and current Stormont Speaker Edwin Poots are the only remaining MLAs from the original class of 1998. In a statement confirming his decision, Kelly said politics in Northern Ireland is at an incredibly important juncture and that the Assembly and Council elections in May 2027 will be absolutely crucial. He described the election as an opportunity to stand against those who want to drag the region back to the past.

If elected, Kelly said he would play his full part as part of the Sinn Féin team at the Assembly and work hard for the people of North Belfast. The BBC reports that Kelly said he would put his name forward for selection as one of Sinn Féin's candidates in Belfast North.

Gerry Kelly reverses decision not to stand for Stormont — Image: Belfast Telegraph

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How it is being reported

U-turn as Sinn Féin’s Gerry Kelly confirms he will stand in 2027 Assembly electionNorth Belfast MLA says election is an opportunity to ‘stand up against those who want to drag us back to the past’Belfast Telegraph · 29 Oct, 11:07
Gerry Kelly to contest Stormont election after Sinn Féin 'approach'Sinn Féin MLA Gerry Kelly has announced he will seek re-election to the Northern Ireland Assembly in 2027, having previously decided not to stand.BBC Northern Ireland · 29 Oct, 10:38
Gerry Kelly u-turns on standing down from StormontThe Sinn Féin North Belfast MLA previously announced that he would be standing down at May's electionBelfast Live · 29 Oct, 10:34

In this story: Gerry Kelly · Sinn Féin · North Belfast · Edwin Poots · Northern Ireland · Good Friday Agreement

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