Sian Mulholland sets out priorities for North Antrim as Alliance confirms 2027 election candidate

Sian Mulholland MLA alongside Alliance Party Leader Naomi Long MLA.

Friday 16 October 2026

Alliance MLA Sian Mulholland will seek to retain her North Antrim Assembly seat at next May’s election, promising to put struggling families, affordable childcare and women’s healthcare at the centre of her campaign.

The party has selected Ms Mulholland to contest the constituency on Thursday 6 May 2027, with the rising cost of living, household energy bills and access to healthcare among the issues she says must be addressed in the next Assembly mandate.

Her selection sets the stage for another electoral contest in North Antrim, where voters will decide who represents communities including Ballymena, Ballymoney and Ballycastle at Stormont.

Families facing financial pressure

Ms Mulholland said the financial pressures facing households, particularly those living in rural communities, would remain a major focus of her work.

Since becoming an MLA, she has advocated improved support for Universal Credit claimants, raised concerns about the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) assessment system and campaigned on household energy costs.

She has also identified better childcare provision and more affordable housing as priorities for families struggling to balance everyday expenses.

Speaking following her selection, Ms Mulholland said:

“North Antrim is my home. It’s where I’m raising my family, and I’m incredibly proud to have the opportunity to serve the area as an Alliance MLA.

“From our independent businesses to the community groups supporting people through difficult times, and the young people standing up against violence against women and girls, there is so much happening across North Antrim that deserves to be recognised and supported.

“But I also hear how much pressure families are under. Rising bills, heating costs and everyday expenses are making life harder for people, particularly in rural communities.

“As the first mother to represent North Antrim in the Assembly, I know how important it is that decisions made at Stormont reflect the realities of family life. That means better childcare, more affordable homes and practical action to bring down energy costs and help families manage their household budgets.”

Greater focus on women’s healthcare

Improving healthcare for women is another central commitment in Ms Mulholland’s campaign, with particular emphasis on conditions she believes require better recognition and treatment.

During her time at Stormont, she has co-sponsored a motion calling for a fully funded Women’s Health Strategy and has highlighted the need for improved access to specialist care.

She said:

“I want to see women’s health taken seriously, with women able to access the care they need and have their concerns listened to. That means advocating for healthcare pathways for conditions like endometriosis, infertility and menopause-related symptoms.”

Ms Mulholland has also developed proposals for legislation intended to support charities and community organisations, reflecting another area of her Assembly work.

A call for a different approach to politics

Beyond her policy priorities, the Alliance representative said she wanted to challenge political division and promote a more inclusive approach to representing North Antrim.

She said:

“We have seen first-hand what the politics of fear and division can cost us. It’s time for a different way of doing things: a politics of hope, compassion, peace and progressive change.

“I want a North Antrim that looks forward. I want to keep building a place where everyone can thrive, our children can be proud to call home, and we can work towards a brighter, shared future for everyone.”

North Antrim looks towards the 2027 election

The Assembly election will give voters the opportunity to assess the record of their existing representatives and the competing priorities put forward by parties seeking seats in the constituency.

For Ms Mulholland, the campaign will be an opportunity to make the case for continuing her work at Stormont, with particular attention to the pressures affecting household finances, the availability of family support and access to healthcare.

With the election approaching, those commitments will form part of the wider debate over what the next Assembly can realistically deliver for families and communities across North Antrim.