Arlene Foster

British politician (born 1970)

Dame Arlene Isabel Foster MLA PC (née Kelly; born 17 July 1970)[2] is a Northern Irish politician. She was the First Minister of Northern Ireland from 2020 until 2021, having also served this role from 2016 to 2017. She also was the leader of the largest Northern Irish political party, the Democratic Unionist Party, from 2015 until 2021. She was a member of the Northern Ireland Assembly, representing Fermanagh and South Tyrone from 2003 until 2021. She strongly supports Northern Ireland staying in the United Kingdom and is a member of the Protestant Church of Ireland.


Arlene Foster
Arlene Foster in 2013
4th First Minister of Northern Ireland
In office
11 January 2020 – 14 June 2021
Serving with Michelle O'Neill
Preceded byHerself (2017)
Succeeded byPaul Givan
In office
11 January 2016 – 9 January 2017[a]
Serving with Martin McGuinness
Preceded byPeter Robinson
Succeeded byHerself (2020)
Leader of the Democratic Unionist Party
In office
17 December 2015 – 28 May 2021
DeputyThe Lord Dodds of Duncairn
Preceded byPeter Robinson
Succeeded byEdwin Poots
Minister for Finance and Personnel
In office
11 May 2015 – 12 January 2016
Preceded bySimon Hamilton
Succeeded byMervyn Storey
Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment
In office
9 June 2008 – 11 May 2015
Preceded byNigel Dodds
Succeeded byJonathan Bell
Minister for the Environment
In office
8 May 2007 – 9 June 2008
Preceded byDermot Nesbitt
Succeeded bySammy Wilson
Member of the Legislative Assembly for Fermanagh and South Tyrone
In office
26 November 2003 – 6 October 2021
Preceded byJoan Carson
Succeeded byDeborah Erskine
Personal details
Born
Arlene Isabel Kelly

(1970-07-17) 17 July 1970 (age 54)[1]
Enniskillen, Northern Ireland
NationalityBritish
Political partyDemocratic Unionist Party (2004–2021)
Other political
affiliations
Independent (2003–2004)
Ulster Unionist Party (before 2003)
Spouse(s)Brian Foster
Children3
Alma materQueen's University Belfast
WebsiteOfficial website
^a Foster served as Acting FM from 11 January 2010 to 3 February 2010 and from 10 September 2015 to 20 October 2015 while Robinson was on leave.

On 28 April 2021, after more than 20 DUP MLAs and four DUP MPs signed a letter "...voicing no confidence in her leadership", Foster announced that she would resign as party leader on 28 May 2021 and as First Minister and MLA in June 2021.[3]

References

change
  1. "The Northern Ireland Assembly". www.niassembly.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 2 May 2017. Retrieved 27 January 2010.
  2. "The Northern Ireland Assembly". www.niassembly.gov.uk. Retrieved 2021-02-03.
  3. "Arlene Foster announces resignation as DUP leader and NI first minister". BBC News. 28 April 2021. Retrieved 28 April 2021.