Anna Lo MLA

Anna Lo is Alliance’s MLA for South Belfast. A social worker and community worker by background, she is a former Chief Executive of the Chinese Welfare Association and was elected to the Assembly in 2007. She sits on the Employment and Learning and Social Development Committees.

What prompted your move to the UK in 1973 and what struck you when you arrived in Northern Ireland a year later?

I had been working as a PA in Hong Kong for several years and just wanted to spread my wings and travel to the West. I enrolled for a short course in London and stayed on to work as a secretary until I got engaged to a journalist from Belfast. We got married in October 1974 in Belfast on the basis that we might stay for six months to see how I liked the place, but obviously the ‘six months’ have stretched to more than half a life-time.

Arriving in Belfast at that time was quite a culture shock, with Northern Ireland still at the height of the Troubles, shortly after the workers’ general strike which brought down Stormont that summer. It was so strange to find Belfast city centre a ghost town after dark with no social amenities at all, which was such a stark contrast to what I was used to living in Hong Kong and London, two of the most vibrant cities in the world.

How and why did you get involved in politics?

I have always been interested in politics in Northern Ireland and that’s strange coming from someone who was brought up in a British colony – where politics was almost non-existent and local people were discouraged by the government from having political ideologies for fear of their sympathising with communist China or challenging the status quo of the colony. I recall writing to my mother week after week about our political intricacies until she wrote back politely to stop me from boring her with my new-found political knowledge.

Being married to a newspaper political correspondent for some years obviously brought me into contact with many senior politicians in my initial years here, but later on as an ethnic minority representative I have lobbied politicians in my own right on various issues. As someone who’s neither a nationalist nor a unionist, I never felt naturally affiliated to any of the tribal parties.

In December 2006, Naomi Long, the Alliance Party’s deputy leader, asked me if I would be interested to stand for South Belfast and I had only 24 hours to think it over before the party nomination closed. I now joke with Naomi that if she had given me a week to ponder I might have talked myself out of it.

What sets South Belfast apart from other constituencies?

South Belfast is the most diverse constituency in Northern Ireland in many aspects. Geographically, it currently stretches from the urban city centre southwards to suburbs such as Finaghy, encompassing Queen’s University as well as affluent and deprived residential areas, many of which are of mixed religions.

It has the richest ethnic mix in the province. You only have to walk down Lisburn Road to hear the many languages spoken. Some schools have half of their pupil population from overseas and there are many ethnic restaurants and supermarkets tempting customers with their exotic food. It is also the cultural hub of Northern Ireland playing host to many internationally renowned artists in superb venues such as the Opera House, Waterfront Hall, Lyric Theatre and the Ulster Museum.

What do you see as Alliance’s role in Northern Ireland?

The Alliance Party’s founding principles – of a Northern Ireland committed to building a united community, a prosperous economy and a sustainable society – are as relevant now as they were 40 years ago.

We have made remarkable progress – a lot of people in Northern Ireland now have only vague or no memories of civil conflict, economic struggle or social restriction. However, we are still only starting the journey. We still have divisions to overcome, to deliver wealth and promote sustainability to turn the current crisis into a huge opportunity for the new generation here.

We are committed to government based on proofing policy for its impact on tackling segregation and exclusion, rebalancing and rebuilding the economy, and delivering sustainable public services. That means a government prepared to take the tough choices – to close dilapidated leisure centres, amalgamate segregated schools or toll new roads – so that investment can be delivered for educating local communities, sharing the risk with local businesses and prioritising local public transport.

It also means a government prepared to deliver not sound bites but solutions on post-primary transfer, unemployment and front-line health funding.

What three goals do you, personally, hope to achieve before the next Assembly election in 2011?

Having worked for many years in communities, I have witnessed inequality, discrimination and exclusion where individuals or communities have been disadvantaged and unable to obtain equal opportunities in learning, employment and a place in society.

My main aim is to make Northern Ireland a fairer place, inclusive of people regardless of their community backgrounds, ethnic origins, gender, sexual orientation, age or disabilities. I will continue to be the voice for people who don’t often get heard – those who are under-represented and marginalised.

I proposed a motion last year calling for the Minister for Social Development to produce a white/policy paper to strengthen the relationship between government and the voluntary and community sector which has a significant role in addressing inequalities and deprivation. One of my measurable goals is to see this materialise before the 2011 election.

Through working in partnership with the women’s sector, I will continue to raise awareness on gender issues and to urge government actions to address employment inequalities, affordable childcare, domestic violence, human trafficking, and access to reproductive health and abortion services. I hope to see as a goal some improvement on these issues in the next two years.

I have placed a motion calling for the review of the Race Relations (Northern Ireland) Order to deal with the present inadequacies of the race law in Northern Ireland. I have also frequently called for the urgent publication of OFMDFM’s document ‘Cohesion, Sharing and Integration’ which is to replace ‘A Shared Future’ and the Racial Equality Strategy, to deal with community and race relations.

My third goal is to update legislation and public policies to promote good relations between communities in Northern Ireland.

Who do you admire most in politics?

I admire John F Kennedy, Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela, Gandhi and Dalai Lama but my most recent hero must be Barack Obama.

How do you relax outside work?

I listen to Classic FM and enjoy concerts, local events and festivals, as well as walking my dog.