Keith Buchanan Explained

Keith Buchanan
Honorific-Suffix:MLA
Constituency Am:Mid-Ulster
Assembly:Northern Ireland
Term Start:6 May 2016
Predecessor:Ian McCrea
Birth Date:11 May 1973
Spouse:Sandra (m.1998)
Children:1
Party:Democratic Unionist Party

Keith Buchanan (born 11 May 1973) is Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) politician who has been a Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly (MLA) for Mid Ulster since 2016. He serves as the party's Chief Whip in the Northern Ireland Assembly as well as its spokesperson for Cultural Development and Loyal Order and Groups Engagement.[1]

He contested the Westminster seat of Mid Ulster for the DUP at the 2024 United Kingdom general election finishing second with 20.2% of the vote.[2]

Career

Buchanan was elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly at the 2016 election as his party's representative for Mid Ulster.[3]

In November 2021, he was called "disgraceful" by a fellow MLA for attempting to link the Gaelic Athletic Association to dissident Irish republicans. SDLP MLA Justin McNulty accused Buchanan of "stirring up the pot of sectarian tensions".[4]

Personal life

He has been married to Sandra Buchanan since 1998 and they have one daughter, Loren (born 2003). He is also an active member of the Church of Ireland.[5]

References

  1. Web site: Keith Buchanan MLA . 2023-11-20 . DUP . en.
  2. News: Mid Ulster - General election results 2024 . 2024-07-15 . BBC News . en-GB.
  3. Web site: Profile. niassembly.gov.uk. 14 May 2016.
  4. News: DUP slammed for 'disgraceful' comments on GAA club. Ainsworth. Paul. 2 November 2021. The Irish Times.
  5. Web site: MLA Keith Buchanan: I am who I am and I have my own identity; I don't smear that on other people's faces ... about 25% of people who come into my office are Roman Catholics. McNeilly. Claire. 27 November 2017. www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk.