Claire Sugden facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Claire Sugden
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| Minister of Justice | |
| In office 25 May 2016 – 2 March 2017 |
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| First Minister | Arlene Foster |
| Preceded by | David Ford |
| Succeeded by | Naomi Long |
| Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly for East Londonderry |
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| Assumed office 6 May 2014 |
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| Preceded by | David McClarty |
| Member of Coleraine Borough Council | |
| In office 2013–2014 |
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| Preceded by | David McClarty |
| Succeeded by | Council abolished |
| Constituency | Coleraine Town |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 7 August 1986 Castlerock, Northern Ireland |
| Nationality | British |
| Political party | Independent Unionist |
| Spouse | Andy Anderson (m. 2019) |
| Alma mater | Queen's University Belfast |
Claire Sugden (born 7 August 1986) is a politician from Northern Ireland. She served as the Minister of Justice for Northern Ireland from May 2016 to March 2017. This important role meant she was in charge of justice and law in the region.
Claire Sugden is also a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for East Londonderry. An MLA is like a local representative who helps make laws for Northern Ireland. She first became an MLA in 2014 and has been re-elected several times, including in 2016, 2017, and 2022. She is an Independent Unionist, meaning she supports Northern Ireland remaining part of the United Kingdom but does not belong to a major political party. She is known for her modern and open-minded views.
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Claire Sugden's Early Life and School
Claire Sugden was born on August 7, 1986. She grew up in a town called Coleraine in Northern Ireland. She was the youngest of five children. Her father, Arthur, was a prison officer.
Claire went to Killowen primary school and then Coleraine High School. After high school, she studied politics at Queen's University Belfast, graduating in 2008. She continued her studies, earning a master's degree in Irish politics from the same university. She also studied political lobbying at Ulster University.
Claire Sugden's Political Journey
Starting in Politics
After finishing her first degree in 2008, Claire Sugden gained experience by working as an intern. An intern is someone who works for a short time to learn about a job. She worked at the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister. She also interned at the United States Department of Health and Human Services.
In 2008, she started working for David McClarty, who was an MLA for East Londonderry at the time. She helped him with his work until 2014. When David McClarty left his position on the Coleraine Borough Council in 2013, Claire took his place. She was chosen to replace him as an MLA in February 2014 when he became ill.
Becoming an MLA
After David McClarty passed away in April 2014, Claire Sugden was chosen to become the new MLA for East Londonderry. This made her one of the youngest MLAs in the Northern Ireland Assembly. In her very first speech in the Assembly, on October 16, 2014, she encouraged other MLAs to remember how far they had come and to use their power responsibly.
She was part of the Committee for Employment and Learning from May 2014 to March 2016. She also led a group focused on older people. During her first two years as an MLA, she was known for speaking her mind and not being afraid to challenge the main political parties. She once said that politicians should take responsibility for their actions.
Claire Sugden was successfully elected as the MLA for East Londonderry in the 2016 election. She thanked the people who voted for her and mentioned how much it meant to her that they trusted her with the role.
Serving as Minister of Justice
After the 2016 election, some political parties decided not to join the government. This meant that the two largest parties, Sinn Féin and the DUP, had to decide who would be the Minister of Justice. This role is very important and can be difficult to agree on.
In May 2016, the leaders of the DUP and Sinn Féin talked with Claire Sugden about her possibly taking on the justice role. On May 25, 2016, it was announced that she would become the Minister of Justice. She said it was a "huge challenge" but that she was ready for it. Both the First Minister and Deputy First Minister praised her, calling her "impressive and progressive."
Legal groups in Northern Ireland welcomed her appointment. In December 2016, during a political issue called the Renewable Heat Incentive scandal, Claire Sugden voted against a motion that showed a lack of confidence in the First Minister. She explained that she wanted to see clear facts, not just rumors, before making such a decision. She also supported an independent investigation into the issue.
In January 2017, she again supported an independent investigation. She said that she believed the First Minister should stay in office during any investigation. She also mentioned that the political leaders had made it difficult for her to do her job. Soon after, the Deputy First Minister resigned, which led to new elections being called for March 2017.
Claire Sugden decided to run for re-election in January 2017. She said she wanted to "finish the job" she had started as justice minister. She remained in her role as Minister of Justice until the election day. In the 2017 election, she was the first MLA elected for East Londonderry.
After Being a Minister
In May 2021, Claire Sugden was invited to join the Ulster Unionist Party but chose to remain an independent politician. However, she did not completely rule out joining a party later. She was re-elected as an MLA in the 2022 election.
Claire Sugden's Personal Life
Claire Sugden married Andy Anderson in June 2019.
