Politics

North Belfast MLA the new DUP deputy leader

New DUP deputy leader Paula Bradley at Stormont yesterday. Picture by Brian Lawless/PA Wire
New DUP deputy leader Paula Bradley at Stormont yesterday. Picture by Brian Lawless/PA Wire New DUP deputy leader Paula Bradley at Stormont yesterday. Picture by Brian Lawless/PA Wire

Paula Bradley has been an assembly member for North Belfast for the past decade.

From Mossley in Newtownabbey she was described by Ian Paisley as "an absolutely excellent candidate for deputy leadership".

Her first entry into the political world was in 2002 when she took on a communications role in DUP headquarters.

Previously serving in the RUC and working in social care, she was elected to the then Newtownabbey Borough Council in 2005. She served as mayor and deputy mayor during her time as a councillor.

Ms Bradley, a mother-of-two was asked by Nigel Dodds to run for Stormont and in 2011 she became an MLA for North Belfast.

Most recently, she has chaired Stormont's Communities Committee, scrutinising the department led by Sinn Féin's Deirdre Hargey.

She is seen as one of the party's more liberal representatives and was also one of five DUP MLAs - including outgoing leader Arlene Foster - who abstained when a motion calling for a ban on gay conversion therapy was put to a vote in the assembly last month.

Speaking after her election yesterday, Ms Bradley said she would at times be a "critical friend" to new leader Edwin Poots.

She added: "I would never have thought just over a week ago that I would be standing here in this position today. But people encouraged me, have supported me, and obviously have voted for me as well."