1. Michelle McIlveen MLA was born on 21 January 1971 and is a Northern Irish unionist politician, serving as Deputy Leader of the Democratic Unionist Party since 2025 following her victory in the 2025 deputy leadership election.
12 Facts About Michelle McIlveen
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Michelle McIlveen is the party's Spokesperson for Environment, Climate and Fisheries.
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Michelle McIlveen served as Minister for Education from June 2021 to October 2022, and a Member of the Legislative Assembly for Strangford since 2007.
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Michelle McIlveen was first elected as a councillor to Ards Borough Council in 2005, representing the Newtownards District.
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Michelle McIlveen then became an MLA in the 2007 Assembly election for Strangford.
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Michelle McIlveen became the Junior Minister in the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister on 11 May 2015 until 28 October 2015.
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Michelle McIlveen became the Minister for Regional Development on 21 September 2015.
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Michelle McIlveen was appointed as minister for this department, with Emma Little-Pengelly replacing her as Junior Minister.
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Michelle McIlveen then served as the Minister of Agriculture, Environment, and Rural Affairs from 2016 until the collapse of the Northern Ireland Executive in January 2017.
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Michelle McIlveen represents a "centre ground" group of DUP MLAs and her support was critical in helping Edwin Poots win the May 2021 Democratic Unionist Party leadership election.
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Michelle McIlveen remained in the post under Sir Jeffrey Donaldson's leadership.
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Michelle McIlveen became deputy leader of the DUP following the 2025 deputy leadership election in which she was elected unopposed.