Michelle said she was honoured to be taking on the position as MLA.

“I am absolutely delighted to have been selected by Alliance members in Lagan Valley as the new MLA for the area. It is truly an immense honour to represent the constituency where I live in this role,” she said.

“I look forward to getting straight down to work. Sorcha Eastwood leaves huge shoes to fill with her history-making election but I will continue to work closely with her as the new MP, as well as my constituency colleague David Honeyford MLA. I look forward to building on their work and mine as Councillor to serve the people of Lagan Valley on the issues that matter to them.

“As a team, we will continue to advocate for positive change in Northern Ireland and its institutions. The people of Northern Ireland deserve to have a functioning government, and Alliance believes that reforming our institutions is the right way forward. No single party should have the power to bring down our Assembly and Executive. 

“Lagan Valley is an increasingly diverse constituency as symbolic of the new Northern Ireland. Alliance continues to grow here, as the positive and progressive voice people know they can trust, and that has been evidenced across several elections now.”

Alliance Leader Naomi Long MLA said she was delighted Michelle was joining the team.

“Michelle has been a dedicated and passionate Alliance elected representative for many years now and I am delighted she is strengthening Alliance’s Assembly team by joining it.

“Alongside David and Sorcha, as well as our local Councillors, Michelle will be a key part of our growing Lagan Valley team, who aim to deliver the Alliance vision of a fairer and better community for everyone across the entire community.”