Deborah Erskine
MLA
Member of the Legislative Assembly
for Fermanagh and South Tyrone
Assumed office
11 October 2021
Preceded byArlene Foster
Personal details
Born
Deborah Armstrong

1990/1991
Enniskillen, County Fermanagh
NationalityBritish
Political partyDemocratic Unionist Party
SpouseRobert Erskine (m.2019)
OccupationPolitician
ProfessionJournalist

Deborah Erskine (born 1990 or 1991; née Armstrong) is a Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) politician from Northern Ireland. She was elected as a councillor for Erne North in the 2019 Fermanagh and Omagh District Council election, and has been a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Fermanagh and South Tyrone since 11 October 2021. Erskine is the DUP Spokesperson for Promoting the Union with Young People and New Communities.[1]

Career

Before becoming a politician, Deborah Armstrong worked as a journalist. Her first role was a reporter for the Ulster Herald, a weekly newspaper based in Omagh.[2] She then became a press officer for the DUP, before working in Arlene Foster's constituency office.

Council

Armstrong was elected to Fermanagh and Omagh District Council in the 2019 election, for the Erne North electoral area, ranking sixth out of ten candidates on first preference votes. She unseated incumbent DUP councillor David Mahon once all vote transfers had been completed.[3] Arlene Foster was named as her election agent.[4] She had been considered a favourite for chairperson of the council in 2021 following the end of Diana Armstrong's term, however the role went to Errol Thompson of the DUP.[5]

Armstrong (Erskine following her marriage in late 2019[5]) was supportive of Arlene Foster when DUP MLAs and MPs signed a letter of no confidence in her leadership. Along with Mid Ulster District Council councillor Kim Ashton, she criticised Christopher Stalford's handling of the fallout.[5] Following Foster's resignation as leader, and the subsequent leadership election, Erskine was critical of Foster's removal, with her constituency group saying it was "not done in our name".[6] She was thought to be supportive of Paul Bell, Ashton's father, who left the party following Poots's election.[7]

MLA

Foster announced her resignation as MLA for Fermanagh and South Tyrone on 7 September 2021.[8] A month later, on 7 October, Erskine was announced to have been co-opted to replace Foster,[9] and became MLA on 11 October 2021.[10] Erskine used her acceptance speech to praise Foster, saying that "[h]er dedication to Fermanagh and South Tyrone has been unstinting. I thank Arlene for her unwavering encouragement to me, and I know that will continue."[11] Her seat on Fermanagh and Omagh District Council was filled by Paul Stevenson. Erskine is a member of the Committee for Health in the Assembly.[12]

In the 2022 Assembly election, Erskine was elected to a full term with 5,272 first preference votes. She was elected in the eighth count with 6695.3 votes.[13] She used her acceptance speech to praise Foster, saying that she "should be here today for re-election and I want to pay tribute to her for her work and dedication to this constituency and indeed, Northern Ireland."[14]

Personal life

Erskine married Robert Erskine on 31 October 2019.[15][5]

References

  1. ^ "Deborah Erskine MLA". DUP. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
  2. ^ "Deborah Armstrong Archives". Ulster Herald. Archived from the original on 22 October 2021. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
  3. ^ "Erne North DEA - Election Results 2019" (PDF). fermanaghomagh.com. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
  4. ^ "Deborah Erskine replaces Arlene Foster as Fermanagh-South Tyrone MLA". BBC News. 7 October 2021. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
  5. ^ a b c d Hughes, Brendan (8 September 2021). "Deborah Erskine, the DUP councillor tipped to replace Arlene Foster as MLA". BelfastLive. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
  6. ^ Leebody, Christopher. "Fermanagh and South Tyrone DUP group express 'disgust' at removal of Arlene Foster as leader". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
  7. ^ Manley, John (7 July 2021). "Former DUP press officer Deborah Erskine earmarked for Arlene Foster's Stormont seat". The Irish News. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
  8. ^ "Arlene Foster to step down as MLA by end of month". BBC News. 7 September 2021. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
  9. ^ "Ex-Herald journalist replaces Arlene Foster as MLA". Ulster Herald. 7 October 2021. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
  10. ^ "The Northern Ireland Assembly". www.niassembly.gov.uk. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
  11. ^ "New DUP Fermanagh and South Tyrone MLA welcomed by leader". Impartial Reporter. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
  12. ^ "Membership". www.niassembly.gov.uk. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
  13. ^ "NI Assembly Election 2022 Results For Fermanagh South Tyrone". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  14. ^ Campbell, Niamh (6 May 2022). "Fermanagh and South Tyrone: UUP lose female representation at Stormont as Tom Elliott replaces Rosemary Barton, as DUP and Sinn Fein's seats remain". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  15. ^ @deborah_cheryl (2 November 2019). "Our wedding day. On Thursday I took on another role - wife. Thank you to everyone for their love and support. Wonderful memories to last a lifetime" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
Categories