Sinn Féin MP Mickey Brady has revealed that he won’t be standing in the forthcoming Westminster election.
The Newry and Armagh representative is the third Sinn Féin MP in as many weeks to signal their intention not to defend their House of Commons seat.
As revealed by The Irish News last week, veteran Mid Ulster MP Francie Molloy is to retire from frontline politics, while sitting Fermanagh and South Tyrone Westminster representative Michelle Gildernew plans to contest June’s European election in the Republic.
It’s understood that if Ms Gildernew were to win a seat in the European Parliament, she would not seek the nomination to defend her Westminster seat.
Mr Brady (73) told The Irish News it was “time to give younger people a chance”.
The former welfare rights worker was first elected to the assembly in 2007, before succeeding Conor Murphy as MP for Newry and Armagh in 2015.
He has held the seat twice since, securing a majority of 9,287 in the 2019 general election. His replacement candidate has yet to be formally selected.
The father of six, who lost his first wife to cancer in 1989, became a Sinn Féin elected representative after working for the Confederation of Community Groups in his native Newry for 26 years.
He said he would likely continue working voluntarily in the sector following his retirement.
“It’s said republicans never retire, and in my case that’s probably true, as I intend to continue working on behalf of society’s most vulnerable – that’s always been the most important part of politics for me,” he said.
“People talk about a cost of living crisis today but for many of those I represent there’s always been a cost of living crisis, and in the 40 years I’ve been involved in the sector it’s just got worse.”
The former civil rights activist said when he was younger he’d never imagined that one day he would represent his community at Westminster.
“I’ve seen so much change during my adult life and while in 1969 it would have never occurred to me that one day I or anybody from my community would be an MP, it makes me immensely proud,” he said.
Sinn Féin deputy leader Michelle O’Neill said Mr Brady had given a voice to the less well off “for over 40 years”, assisting people with welfare and housing advice.
“First elected to the assembly in 2007, Mickey has spent his life fighting for a fair and equal society, and was steadfast in his support for the Good Friday Agreement and delivering real change,” she said.
“He was elected to Westminster as MP for Newry and Armagh on three terms and has worked hard and with great determination, both locally and abroad, to promote the continued peace and reconciliation on the island of Ireland and to consolidate the growth of Sinn Féin.”