The engineer who navigated every level of Northern Irish government

Countries & Cities · Published 12 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: From structural engineering to the halls of Westminster, Naomi Long has traversed the entire political spectrum. As a leader who has served in local, regional, and European politics, she has become a central figure in Northern Ireland's complex governance, navigating intense political shifts and personal challenges to shape modern policy.

Born in east Belfast in 1971, Naomi Long’s career began far from the political arena. Following her 1994 civil engineering graduation from Queen's University of Belfast, she practiced structural and hydraulic engineering for a few years prior to her political career. Her ascent was marked by a rare versatility; by 2019, she became the first Northern Irish politician to have served at every level of government, including local council, the Northern Ireland Assembly, the UK Parliament, and the European Parliament.

Long's political journey has been defined by significant electoral victories and intense opposition. In 2010, she achieved a landmark victory by defeating Peter Robinson, the leader of the DUP and First Minister of Northern Ireland, to become the Member of Parliament for Belfast East. This made her the first Alliance Party MP elected to Westminster and the first Liberal-affiliated MP elected to the House of Commons from Northern Ireland since 1914. However, her tenure in the Commons ended in 2015 when she lost her seat to the DUP's Gavin Robinson following a five-party unionist pact.

As leader of the Alliance Party since 2016, Long has championed progressive causes, including civil marriage equality and climate change frameworks. Her leadership has seen the party hold the balance of power at Stormont and achieve a 65% rise in council representation in 2019. Despite facing threats of violence in 2012 following decisions regarding the flying of the Union flag, she has continued to hold high office, serving as Minister of Justice in the Northern Ireland Executive from January 2020 to October 2022, and again from February 2024.

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