Political Platform: Sian Mulholland MLA

Dubbed a ‘rebel with a cause’ in her early years, new Alliance MLA for North Antrim Sian Mulholland discusses how early years activism and youth work helped shape her involvement in the political arena.

Outline your background/career to date

I grew up in rural south Antrim, on the shores of Lough Neagh. My mum was a nurse for over 40 years and my dad was an eel fisherman, they were not at all political. I am the baby of the family and I have two older brothers, but I am definitely not the spoilt one.

All throughout school I wanted to be a journalist or a teacher but getting involved in youth work at 16 inspired me to a follow a journey into the community and voluntary sector. My early youth work career was focused on community relations and then political engagement before managing the youth projects at an arts centre for six years. I was a local councillor for over seven years before becoming an MLA and moving to north Antrim in April 2023, a path I never thought my career would take.

What inspired you to get into politics?

I was nicknamed the ‘rebel with a cause’ by a teacher of mine because I was always handing out a petition or ranting about some injustice around the world. I first became involved in activism when I ran a campaign in my school to ‘Shut Sellafield’ (a nuclear reprocessing site in northern England) and I then joined Amnesty International because I was interested in human rights. I got involved in local rights-based campaigns and helped out with Love Music Hate Racism Northern Ireland but it was not until my mid-twenties that I considered joining a political party.

I had been involved in political engagement with young people through my job at Belfast YMCA and the more I listened to the politicians we met with, the more I realised I wanted to be involved and that I had something to contribute. I am particularly passionate about the voice of young people being heard in the political arena and as I have gotten older and become a mum, I want to see politics become more accessible to mothers and families.

Who do you admire in politics or public life and who are your political role models?

Growing up, I thought Mo Mowlam was so impressive. I did not understand much of what she was involved in back then, just that she seemed to be respected by a lot of significant seeming people and did not take any nonsense. The first time I heard a female politician with our accent was Monica McWilliams and the movement of women she was involved in made a lasting impression on me. I have been fortunate to meet her and share a platform with her and she is still a hugely impressive person.

In my own party, and amongst my peers, I really admire the compassion that Kate Nicholl MLA brings to her work. She is incredibly passionate about issues like migration and fairness and her heart shines through all she does. Eóin Tennyson MLA’s ability to collect and retain information is a source of envy and David Honeyford MLA’s attitude of just getting the job done is such an admirable quality too.

What drew you to the Alliance Party?

Given my background in community relations and conflict resolution work with young people, I was not drawn to parties on either side of the traditional divide in Northern Ireland and I was not brought up in a political household, so did not have a frame of reference on the constitutional issue. I knew that I wanted to join a party that attracted people from all walks of life. I really admired the politicians I had engaged with like Naomi Long MLA, Chris Lyttle, and Anna Lo. I felt like their approach to politics was refreshing and based on making communities work for everyone, regardless of background.

What are your key priorities for your constituency or what are the key issues facing your constituency?

Representing such a diverse constituency is a balancing act. There are huge swathes of rural villages in North Antrim that all have their own profiles and needs, there is some overlap but they are all unique. Then there are the bigger, more built-up areas that come with their own challenges and needs to be understood and supported.

Infrastructure is an ongoing issue and that links into connectivity, public transport, sustainable travel, active travel, and green energy sources. I want to see better connections between the villages and the more urban hubs, for employment, reducing social isolation, and to improve access to vital resources.

The cost-of-living crisis has been having a devastating impact of some of the most vulnerable in my area with ever-increasing levels of poverty being presented by constituents to the office. This is having a knock-on impact on people’s health, particularly their mental health and the lack of an Executive or ministers to lobby for support is frustrating. The democratic deficit we are experiencing is having a real-time impact on so many lives.

I am particularly passionate about the voice of young people being heard in the political arena and as I have gotten older and become a mum, I want to see politics become more accessible to mothers and families.

Housing is the other issue that is most frequently raised as an issue in my office. Rural housing provision in particular is having a hugely detrimental impact on communities, family connections, and even on informal childcare arrangements for working families. There is simply not enough housing stock for the current need and that is really worrying, especially when we know how constrained budgets for the Housing Executive and its partners are.

What are your interests outside work?

Before I had children, my biggest love was local music and going to live music events, I could easily have been at two or three gigs per week. As a region, we produce some of the most talented artists and bands and I wish we had better investment and a more innovative approach to our arts and cultural sectors. Nowadays though, any free time I have outside of being an MLA is taken up with running my boys to various sports training, to the library, or to the park to burn off some of their seemingly never-ending energy. With another baby on the way in December, I cannot see myself getting any space for a new hobby anytime soon.