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Eóin Tennyson

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Eóin Tennyson
MLA
Deputy Leader of the Alliance Party
Incumbent
Assumed office
8 October 2024
LeaderNaomi Long
Preceded byStephen Farry
Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly
for Upper Bann
Incumbent
Assumed office
5 May 2022
Preceded byDolores Kelly
Member of
Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council
In office
7 May 2019 – 5 May 2022
Preceded byCarol Black
Succeeded byJessica Johnston
ConstituencyLagan River
Personal details
Born (1998-05-17) 17 May 1998 (age 26)
Maghery, Northern Ireland
Political partyAlliance
EducationSt. Patrick's Academy
Alma materQueen's University Belfast (BSc)
University College Dublin (MAcc)
OccupationPolitician

Eóin Tennyson (born 17 May 1998) is a Northern Irish politician who has been the deputy leader of the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland since October 2024. He succeeded former deputy leader Stephen Farry who resigned from the position in 2024.[1] He has been a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Upper Bann since 2022, where he defeated former Social Democratic and Labour Party incumbent Dolores Kelly to become the youngest MLA for the constituency.

He is the youngest member of the Northern Ireland Assembly. Tennyson was a successful candidate in the 2024 Alliance Party deputy leadership election.[2]

Early life and career

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Tennyson attended St. Patrick's Academy, a Catholic grammar school in Dungannon, County Tyrone. He studied accounting at Queen's University Belfast, graduating with bachelor of science degree in 2019. While at university, he was elected chair of Alliance Youth.[3] In 2020, he obtained a Master of Accounting from the Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School at University College Dublin. He subsequently joined Deloitte in Belfast as an auditor and began training as a chartered accountant.[4][5]

Political career

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Early career

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Tennyson was elected to Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council in the 2019 local elections, representing the Lagan River district electoral area. He polled 10.81% of the first-preference votes, and gained a seat at the expense of the Ulster Unionist Party.[6]

In December, he contested the 2019 general election in Upper Bann, placing third with 13% of the vote.[7] Though unsuccessful, he obtained a swing of 8.4% and polled ahead of Doug Beattie of the UUP and Dolores Kelly of the SDLP.[8]

Member of the Legislative Assembly

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Tennyson was elected as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Upper Bann in the 2022 Assembly election, outpolling the leader of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) and gaining a seat at the expense of the Social Democratic and Labour Party's (SDLP) Dolores Kelly. He polled 6,440 (11.5%) first-preference votes, increasing Alliance's share by 6.2% on the previous Assembly election. Tennyson became the first non-designated politician to be elected for the Upper Bann constituency.[9] At 23-years-old, he also became the youngest MLA elected to the Assembly, and gained the unofficial title of Baby of the House.[10] He is the third openly gay MLA to serve, joining his party colleagues John Blair and Andrew Muir.[11]

During the course of the 2022 campaign, Tennyson faced abuse and intimidation. On one occasion, he was verbally abused and told to leave a 'Protestant area' when canvassing in Lurgan.[12]

At a sitting of the Assembly on 30 May 2022, Tennyson accused the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) of treating the public as "leverage", after the party refused to assent to the election of a Speaker and blocked formation of an Assembly in protest over the Northern Ireland Protocol.[13] He subsequently called on the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to stop the salaries of MLAs who refused to enter the Assembly in order to incentivise the DUP to "get back to work".[14] Following the restoration of devolution in February 2024, Tennyson was appointed to the Committee for Finance and became a member of the Northern Ireland Policing Board.[15][16]

He contested Upper Bann at the 2024 general election, coming third, with a small increase in his vote by 0.7%.[17][18][19]

Deputy leadership campaign (2024)

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Further information: 2024 Alliance Party of Northern Ireland deputy leadership election
Tennyson's campaign logo

On 24 September 2024, Tennyson announced that he was nominated as a candidate in the 2024 Alliance Party deputy leadership election. While it was initially expected he would run unopposed, South Belfast MLA Kate Nicholl also put her name forward for the position.[20]

In a campaign announcement video uploaded to X, Tennyson stated that "my candidacy is not about a change in direction, but a change in gear. I'm keen to build on the momentum left behind by Stephen [Farry] and his enormous legacy and to work with Naomi [Long] and our vibrant leadership team to grow the party even further."[21]

Deputy leader of the Alliance Party

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Tennyson was elected deputy leader of the Alliance Party on 8 October 2024. He said working with party leader Naomi Long is an "important role" that he was excited to begin.[22]

Personal life

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Tennyson came out as gay at age 19.[11][12]

References

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  1. ^ "Upper Bann MLA Eoin Tennyson becomes new Alliance deputy leader". www.bbc.com. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
  2. ^ "Two Alliance MLAs to go head-to-head for party's deputy role". BelfastTelegraph.co.uk. 24 September 2024. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
  3. ^ "Both praise and ridicule after Foster and O'Neill pose for picture together". Belfast Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
  4. ^ "Eóin Tennyson". LinkedIn. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
  5. ^ Breen, Suzanne (24 November 2019). "Constituency profile: 'Force of nature' Carla Lockhart looking runaway favourite to hold seat for DUP in Upper Bann". Belfast Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
  6. ^ "Local Council Election Results". The Electoral Office for Northern Ireland. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
  7. ^ McCormack, Jayne (26 November 2019). "Upper Bann constituency profile: Five-party target but two-party choice?". BBC News. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
  8. ^ "Upper Bann Parliamentary constituency". BBC News. 13 December 2019. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
  9. ^ "Winners and losers of historic Northern Ireland Assembly election 2022". Belfast Telegraph. 7 May 2022. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
  10. ^ O'Carroll, Lisa; Carroll, Rory (7 May 2022). "'A lifetime waiting for this day': crowds celebrate historic Sinn Féin victory". The Guardian. Magherafelt. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
  11. ^ a b Moore, Steven (22 April 2022). "Eóin Tennyson hopes to be first openly gay MLA". Sunday World. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
  12. ^ a b Campbell, Niamh (24 April 2022). "Alliance candidate Eóin Tennyson told to leave 'Protestant area' when canvassing in Lurgan". Belfast Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
  13. ^ Macauley, Conor (30 May 2022). "Northern Ireland Assembly fails to elect speaker". RTÉ. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  14. ^ Campbell, Niamh (21 June 2022). "Brandon Lewis 'currently exploring' options to cut MLA salaries while Jim Allister pledges percentage of pay to 'fighting protocol'". Belfast Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 24 June 2022.
  15. ^ "AIMS Portal".
  16. ^ ""Eóin Tennyson"".
  17. ^ @EoinTennyson (25 May 2024). "It's always an honour to be selected by local members to represent the @AllianceParty in Upper Bann. The DUP have worked hand in glove with the Tories & Sinn Féin won't show up. On 4th July, we can return positive & progressive MPs who will take their seats & work for change" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  18. ^ "2024 UK General Election Results for Upper Bann". Bloomberg. 6 July 2024. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
  19. ^ "Seat Details - Upper Bann". Electoral Calculus. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
  20. ^ "Two Alliance MLAs to go head-to-head for party's deputy role". BelfastTelegraph.co.uk. 24 September 2024. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
  21. ^ https://x.com/EoinTennyson/status/1838664443158253897
  22. ^ "Upper Bann MLA Eoin Tennyson becomes new Alliance deputy leader". www.bbc.com. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
Northern Ireland Assembly
Preceded by MLA for Upper Bann
2022–present 		Incumbent
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