Michelle Guy | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Alliance Party portfolios | |
| 2024–present | Party Chair |
| 2024–present | Education spokesperson |
| Member of the Legislative Assembly forLagan Valley | |
| Assumed office 9 July 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Sorcha Eastwood |
| Deputy Mayor ofLisburn and Castlereagh | |
| In office 7 June 2022 – 8 June 2023 | |
| Mayor | Scott Carson |
| Preceded by | Tim Mitchell |
| Succeeded by | Gary McCleave |
| Member of Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council | |
| In office 2 May 2019 – 9 July 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Geraldine Rice |
| Succeeded by | Jamie Harpur |
| Constituency | Castlereagh South |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Teconnaught,County Down, Northern Ireland |
| Political party | Alliance Party (since 2015) |
| Other political affiliations | Northern Ireland Women's Coalition (before 2006) |
| Spouse | Chris Guy |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | Queen's University Belfast |
Michelle Guy (néeDavey) is anAlliance Party politician who has been aMember of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) forLagan Valley since July 2024,[1][2] as well as a member of the Alliance Party Executive, currently serving as Chair.[3]
Guy comes from Teconnaught inCounty Down and went toAssumption Grammar School.[4]
She graduated with alaw degree fromQueen's University Belfast but decided not to pursue a legal career. Guy did apostgraduate course inmarketing and secured a work placement withNewry-basedfinancial technology company First Derivatives. She has also worked for several other small Northern Irish technology firms.[5]
Guy was elected toLisburn and Castlereagh City Council in2019, representing theCastlereagh South District.[6] During her term, she served as Deputy Mayor in 2022.
At the2024 general election, she contested theStrangford constituency, where she finished second againstJim Shannon of theDemocratic Unionist Party (DUP), receiving 10,428 votes (26.8%).[7]
However, followingSorcha Eastwood's election asLagan Valley's MP, Guy applied for the now-vacant MLA seat in the Lagan Valley constituency. On July 10th, the party announced her as the new MLA.[8]
Guy's first attendance to the chamber was in supporting the Opposition to Racism motion following 'far-right' rioting in Belfast in August 2024.[9][10]
In her capacity as the Alliance's education spokesperson, Guy voiced concerns regarding theEducation Minister's decision to allocate £250,000 for magnetic lockable phone pouches in schools in September 2024. She welcomed the guidance onmobile phone use but criticised the expenditure amid financial constraints in the education sector, stating, "I find it difficult to believe this is the most appropriate use of the department's limited budget."[11]
As a member of the Education Committee, Guy raised her concerns about a controversial meeting between the Education Minister and theLoyalist Communities Council (LCC) in September 2024. She expressed her concern about the legitimacy of the LCC as a stakeholder in educational discussions, remarking, "It was disturbing to see it... not credible for the Minister to be standing against paramilitary exploitation of children then meeting with LCC."[12]
Guy lives just outsideDrumbo with her husband Chris and their two children, Caitlin and Daniel. Chris Guy works in corporate law.[13][14]
She is a supporter ofManchester United F.C. and enjoys walking in theMourne Mountains.[4]
Lisburn and Castlereagh councillor Michelle Guy has been selected by Alliance to replace Sorcha Eastwood in Lagan Valley.
| Northern Ireland Assembly | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of the Legislative Assembly forLagan Valley 2024–present | Incumbent |
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