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Naomi Long officially becomes Alliance Party leader | Naomi Long officially becomes Alliance Party leader |
(35 minutes later) | |
Naomi Long has become the new leader of the Alliance Party. | Naomi Long has become the new leader of the Alliance Party. |
The East Belfast MLA has served as deputy leader up until now. | The East Belfast MLA has served as deputy leader up until now. |
She was the only candidate for the vacancy, and now succeeds David Ford, who stood down earlier this month after 15 years in the job. | She was the only candidate for the vacancy, and now succeeds David Ford, who stood down earlier this month after 15 years in the job. |
Members of the party council, which has 250 members, elected her at a meeting in an East Belfast hotel on Wednesday evening. | Members of the party council, which has 250 members, elected her at a meeting in an East Belfast hotel on Wednesday evening. |
Accepting the role, Ms Long said: "Leadership is not just a position, it is an attitude." | Accepting the role, Ms Long said: "Leadership is not just a position, it is an attitude." |
The Alliance Party operates solely in Northern Ireland and has eight MLAs in the Stormont assembly. | |
Mrs Long was the party's only MP - until she lost her seat in 2015 Westminster election. | |
The former MP for East Belfast began her political career at Belfast City Council, where she served as Lord Mayor. | The former MP for East Belfast began her political career at Belfast City Council, where she served as Lord Mayor. |
In 2015, she lost her Westminster seat to the DUP's Gavin Robinson, who triumphed with support from the UUP. | In 2015, she lost her Westminster seat to the DUP's Gavin Robinson, who triumphed with support from the UUP. |
Speaking earlier this month, Mrs Long said she would take the opportunity to "refresh, renew and re-energise the party". | Speaking earlier this month, Mrs Long said she would take the opportunity to "refresh, renew and re-energise the party". |