UUP selects Macauley to contest Assembly election

UUP selects Macauley to contest Assembly election

20 October 2021

THE Ulster Unionist Party has selected Jill Macauley to contest next year’s South Down Assembly election.

A former Newry, Mourne and Down councillor, Mrs Macauley has secured the backing of her party and received a ringing endorsement from leader Doug Beattie.

Mrs Macauley — who is a member of Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Council — said she is “delighted” to have secured her party’s nomination to contest one of the five seats up for grabs.

At the 2017 Assembly election, Harold McKee was the UUP flag bearer and polled 4,172 votes, with the party confident that it can make a serious push for a seat when voters go to the polls next May.

Based in Rathfriland, Mrs Macauley is one of the UUP’s most senior figures and having served as a councillor in two local authority areas, she now feels the time is right to “step up and give the electorate of South Down a chance for change and a chance for positive and hardworking -pro-Union representation at Stormont”.

She described her work as a local representative as a “privilege”, allowing her to meet and work with “some wonderful people and great organisations” within the constituency who do sterling work to support local communities and those most in need.

Mrs Macauley revealed she has been working hard over recent months to grow the local UUP membership and said the optimism and resolve for a “more confident and inclusive unionism” has allowed her to continue working effectively with her party colleagues on a range of issues.

She said these included the children’s funeral fund, transfer test, school uniform costs, disability and special educational needs improvement and period poverty.

“We have a fantastic hardworking team of local councillors, working on the ground, always accessible and working for the greater good of local people,” said the Assembly candidate.

“I want to thank my fellow councillors for the help and support they have given me thus far and encouraging me to step forward for election to the Assembly and the opportunity to lead our local team, as we strive to continue to be the strongest voice for Unionism right across South Down.”

Mrs Macauley said she hopes to prove that she is on their side and will be a strong voice for positive, confident Unionism. 

She added: “From Katesbridge to Kilkeel and from Warrenpoint to St Johns Point, I have a bold, positive, ambitious vision for our people of South Down and am prepared to work with anyone to make that a reality.

“For too long, we have been trapped in a perpetual cycle of fear and division, resulting in every election becoming a constitutional show of strength rather than a mandate for socio-economic change. Change that we so desperately need.”

Mr Beattie said that when he became party leader he made two pledges, including bringing more women into the party and reaching out into rural communities to give a platform to those from the community to speak on its behalf. 

“Who better to do that than Jill Macauley,” he continued. “A woman who lives and breathes her community and I am delighted that she has agreed to take on the role of our South Down Assembly election candidate.

“As a mum and businesswoman, Jill is tuned into the community and the needs of local businesses, the vital fishing and farming industries, economic tourism potential as well as the complex needs of young families.”

Mr Beattie said Mrs Macauley has a proven track record of working hard for the electorate and has no doubt she will offer an “authentic voice for the pro-Union voters of South Down”.    

He added: “The Ulster Unionist Party is changing, and for the better. Jill and her outreach locally shows that we are building a team who want to build a union of people and who share a vision for a modern, accepting Northern Ireland.”