Michelle Gildernew was first elected to the constituency of Fermanagh and South Tyrone in 2001, winning with a majority of just four votes in 2010. Having lost the seat in 2015, she was reelected in 2017 and again in 2019 with a majority of just 57.
The constituency of Fermanagh and South Tyrone is found in the bottom left hand corner of Northern Ireland along the border with the Irish Republic. The constituency has a small Catholic majority and its elections are regularly a highly competitive affair involving all of Northern Ireland’s main political parties. Since 1983, the seat has alternated between Sinn Fein and the Ulster Unionist Party, with Sinn Fein gaining the seat back from the UU in 2017. In 1981, it was briefly represented by the IRA hunger striker, Bobby Sands.
Like other Sinn Fein MPs, Gildernew has never taken up her seat at Westminster.
Gildernew also represents Fermanagh and South Tyrone in the Northern Ireland Assembly and has done so since her election on 25 June 1998. She previously served as the Agriculture and Rural Development Minister in the Northern Ireland Assembly between 2007 and 2011.
Born in 1970, after leaving university Michelle travelled extensively in Europe, the United States and Australia where she worked for a year. On her return in 1996 she stood for Sinn Féin in the Forum elections for Fermanagh/South Tyrone.
In 1997 she was appointed Sinn Féin representative to London, a position which she held until her election to the Assembly in 1998. While in London she was part of the first Sinn Féin delegation to Downing Street in December 1997.
Email – michelle.gildernew.mp@parliament.uk
Twitter: @gildernewmp
