Paula Bradshaw facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Paula Bradshaw
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Bradshaw in 2021
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| Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly for Belfast South |
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| Assumed office 5 May 2016 |
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| Preceded by | Anna Lo |
| Member of Belfast City Council |
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| In office 22 May 2014 – 7 May 2016 |
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| Preceded by | Tom Ekin |
| Succeeded by | Kate Nicholl |
| Constituency | Balmoral |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1 November 1972 |
| Nationality | Northern Irish |
| Political party | Alliance (2010–present) Ulster Unionist (until 2010) |
| Spouse |
Ian Parsley
(m. 2011) |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | University of Ulster Queen's University Belfast |
| Occupation | Politician |
| Profession | Community worker |
Paula Jane Bradshaw (born 1 November 1972) is a politician from the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland. She is a Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly (MLA) for South Belfast. She has held this role since the 2016 election. In 2024, she became the Alliance Party's Chief Whip. This means she helps make sure party members vote and act together.
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Early Life and Education
Paula Bradshaw went to Whiteabbey Primary School. She then attended Belfast High School. After school, she studied European Business at Ulster University at Coleraine.
Later, she continued her studies part-time. She studied law and government at the Jordanstown campus.
Career Before Politics
After finishing university, Paula worked in market research in Sheffield for a year. Then, she returned to Belfast. She worked for the South Belfast Traders Association for three years.
After that, she became an economic development officer. This job was with the South Belfast Partnership Board. In 2003, she became the director of Greater Village Regeneration Trust. She stayed in this role until she was elected to the Assembly in 2016.
Becoming a Politician
Paula Bradshaw first ran for election in 2010. She was a candidate for the Ulster Conservatives and Unionists. However, she was not elected.
In October 2010, she left the Ulster Unionist Party. She said she disagreed with some comments made by the party leader. She also mentioned how she was treated as a working mother.
In November 2010, Paula joined the Alliance Party. Her first public role was in May 2014. She was elected to Belfast City Council. She represented the Balmoral area.
Member of the Assembly
In 2016, Paula Bradshaw became the main Alliance candidate for Belfast South. She took over from Anna Lo. She won her election with 9.1% of the first votes.
She was re-elected in 2017 with more votes. In 2020, she became an Assembly Private Secretary. This role supported the Minister of Justice, Naomi Long.
Paula was elected again in 2022. The Alliance Party became the biggest party in South Belfast that year. Her fellow party member, Kate Nicholl, was also elected.
Personal Life
Paula Bradshaw is married to Ian Parsley. He is also active in the Alliance Party. She has two children.
