Patsy McGlone

Patsy McGlone (born 8 July 1959) is an Irish Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) politician who was Deputy Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly from 2016 to 2024. He also served as Deputy leader of the SDLP from 2010 to 2011. McGlone has been a Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly (MLA) for Mid Ulster since 2003.

Career From 1993 to 2009, McGlone was also Councillor in Cookstown District Council. He was chairman of the council in 2002–2003 and 2005–2006. In 1996 he was elected to the Northern Ireland Forum from Mid-Ulster.

McGlone was the unsuccessful running mate to Denis Haughey at the 1998 Northern Ireland Assembly election, being the last candidate to be eliminated in Mid Ulster, with 9.4% of first-preference votes.

Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly McGlone won election to the Assembly at the 2003 election, unseating Haughey for the SDLP's sole seat in the constituency.

At the 2005 general election, he finished third, with 17.4% of the vote, in Mid Ulster.

While canvassing for McGlone for the 2011 local and assembly elections, election workers had their car attacked with a petrol bomb by loyalists in Coagh.

McGlone contested the 2013 Mid Ulster by-election, where he came third with 6,478 votes (17.3%), behind Independent Unionist candidate Nigel Lutton.

On 12 May 2016, McGlone was elected Deputy Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly.

On 29 May 2026, McGlone announced that he will retire at the end of the current mandate and will not contest the next Northern Ireland Assembly election.

Membership of organisations Board Member of Foras na Gaeilge A member of the EU Structural Funds Monitoring Committee for Northern Ireland Board Member of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive Member of the Northern Ireland Housing Council Member of the Irish Central Border Area Network (ICBAN) Vice Chairman of Loughshore Foot and Mouth Support Group.

He was a candidate for the leadership of the SDLP in 2011, after announcing in July that he would stand against party leader Margaret Ritchie.