Political Platform: Diana Armstrong MLA

Diana Armstrong MLA was co-opted into the Assembly in September 2024, following in the footsteps of her father, the late former Ulster Unionist Party leader Harry West, by becoming a representative in Fermanagh and South Tyrone.

Outline your background/career to date

After leaving school I wanted to take the most direct route into employment so I opted for a bilingual secretarial course which led me to working in the cabinet of the Vice President of the European Commission in Brussels. On my return to Northern Ireland, I worked in the advertising/PR industry and then in interior design and merchandising.

I was elected as a local councillor on Fermanagh and Omagh District Council in May 2016. I retained this seat during two subsequent elections and served as both chair and vice chair of the council during this time. I stood for election in the general election in July 2024 as the sole Unionist candidate for Fermanagh and South Tyrone however was not elected. I was co-opted in place of Tom Elliott to the Northern Ireland Assembly in September 2024, following his elevation to the House of Lords in the prime minister’s dissolutions honours list.

What inspired you to get into politics?

I guess you could say I have always grown up in a political environment. My father, the late Harry West, was an Official Unionist Member of Parliament for Enniskillen in the Stormont Parliament from 1954 to 1973. During that time, he was Northern Ireland Minister for Agriculture from 1960 and 1969, and again between 1971 and 1972. He was also UUP Member of Parliament for Fermanagh and South Tyrone at Westminster in 1974. He was subsequently leader of the Ulster Unionist Party from 1974 to 1979.

I recall many conversations at the dinner table at our home with both family and visiting politicians on shaping a better future for people in Northern Ireland. I also saw at firsthand how the role of an elected representative could be a conduit for helping people with local issues and for improving lives.

Working at the European Commission in Brussels also inspired me as there I saw collaborative working where all EU countries came together with one vision.

Who do you admire in politics or public life?

I admire strong women in politics and public life as I know how difficult it is particularly for women to balance the demands of these roles with home lives. In particular, I admire Ursula von der Leyen and Angela Merkel for working in predominantly male environments and displaying strong leadership credentials and earning respect.

What drew you to the Ulster Unionist Party?

I wanted to continue my father’s legacy, albeit in a new generation. The Ulster Unionist Party for me is a party that represents the grass roots unionists and in particular the rural community and that is similar to my own background. I want to see Ulster unionism move forward into being a proactive, inclusive and diverse party promoting a prosperity agenda so that all who live in Northern Ireland have the best opportunity to live their best lives.

There is considerable untapped talent in our party and I want to see younger people step forward into the political arena so that they can represent their generation and be confident of our place in the United Kingdom.

The UUP voted to remain in the European Union – as did I – and we spoke out about the dangers of Brexit and what negative implications it would have for Northern Ireland. Now we have a border in the Irish Sea, trading barriers and EU Regulations. The UUP is a pragmatic party that wants to see Northern Ireland prosper and we want to speak for the middle ground that is seeking stability and support during these difficult economic times.

What are your key priorities for your constituency?

Fermanagh and South Tyrone is the most peripheral constituency in the United Kingdom. This is a rurally dispersed constituency that deserves to be treated fairly and equitably, I am a strong believer in that no community in Northern Ireland deserves to be left behind and that. Fermanagh and South Tyrone needs to better interconnected and interlinked with Northern Ireland and that requires 21st century infrastructure solutions to connect its people.

I was very disappointed to see that Fermanagh was left out of the All Island Strategic Rail Review – the only county in Ireland not to be included in this scheme, despite its once strong rail heritage.

I am very proud of the local indigenous industries in this constituency which are succeeding in a global marketplace through hard work and talent. The agrifood sector is very strong in this area and the recent budget announcements regarding agricultural property relief and business property relief are major challenges which need to be addressed.

The tourism industry also faces big challenges with the rise in National Insurance and the differential in VAT rates with our neighbours in the same sector in the Republic of Ireland only across the border.

Fermanagh and South Tyrone needs access to services on a par with all other areas in Northern Ireland, including the re-establishment of emergency surgery at the South West Acute Hospital in Enniskillen.

What are your interests outside work?

Life as an MLA is very busy with a three day commute to Belfast of 180 miles per day as well as constituency work across one largest constituencies. Outside of work I love to spend time with my three grandchildren who live nearby and with my husband and family. I am a retired runner but love to walk and my aim next year is to finish the last eight days of the Camino de Santiago with my two girlfriends. Getting out in fresh air is so refreshing and is a great way to relax and keep fit so my resolution will be to make time to fit that in as a healthy body leads to a healthy mind!