History of Sorts

Yesterday I interviewed Claire Sugden, a Northern Irish politician who was the Minister of Justice in the fourth Northern Ireland Executive from May 2016 to March 2017. She is a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for East Londonderry, having been co-opted to the position after the death of David McClarty in 2014, and won election to the seat in 2016, 2017 and 2022. She is an Independent Unionist, and is considered to be one of the most socially liberal unionist MLAs in the Assembly.

These were the questions I asked her

“To introduce yourself to our listeners, who is Claire Sugden?

What made you want to go into politics?

I understand that Martin McGuinness approached you to take the Minister of Justice role, how did you feel about that?

How did you feel about the impasse in the Northern Ireland Assembly?

Are you hopeful , now that a deal appears to have been reached, that the assembly will be up and running again?

Going forward , what impact do you think you can have in Northern Irish politics, as an independent?

Where do you see the future of Northern Ireland, continued as a part of the UK, or as part of the Republic of Ireland, or perhaps as its own nation?

This is just a question to illustrate that life is not all about politics, what is your favourite song?”

Below is the interview. And also her favourite song