08-06-2026 08:59 via belfasttelegraph.co.uk

'I’m not a soft unionist': Independent MLA Claire Sugden

Claire Sugden is the only independent MLA in Stormont. Co-opted into the assembly for east Londonderry in 2014, she served as justice minister from May 2016 to March 2017.  Widely considered a ‘liberal unionist’, in May 2021 she turned down an invitation from Doug Beattie to join the UUP but she says she’s no “soft unionist”. But under John Burrow’s leadership, could she consider joining the party now? Can liberal Unionism be revived? And beside
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