Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Belfast Live
Belfast Live
National
Donal McMahon

New Newry Mourne and Down councillor to be first from Chinese community

A newly co-opted Alliance Party councillor is to be first member of the Chinese community on his local authority.

Dave Lee is stepping in after Rowallane councillor Patrick Brown was elected to the Assembly in South Down on May 5.

The 35-year-old cookery teacher is married to Peter Surginor whose 2015 question to Jim Wells about gay marriage led to controversy when the then DUP Health Minister linked gay parents to child abuse. Mr Wells later resigned.

Read more: Richard Neal should reflect on use of term 'Planter', Castlereagh Councillor says

Cllr Lee said: “I suppose my co-opting onto NMDDC is significant if for nothing else, that I will be the first person of Chinese origin on the council, with my parents both from Hong Kong.”

The Newry Mourne and Down District (NMDDC) councillor, from Killough, is a father-of-one with pottery artist husband Peter Surginor

Cllr Lee, an Ulster University business graduate and former Fort Hill College, Lisburn student, is now focussing on a future political career in the former heartland of Mr Wells.

He said: “I have been a campaigner for Alliance for some years since 2015 doing a lot of the ground work of putting up posters and things like that.

“Some people may say that Paddy Brown taking the MLA seat was an overnight success, but really it’s more a tip of the iceberg story of a decade of hard work.

“Perhaps being co-opted is slightly different than being elected, so with that in mind I would like to carry on with all the great work that Paddy (Brown) has been doing at the council and continue with those projects.”

Read more: Monkeypox symptoms as PHA says no confirmed cases in Northern Ireland

Read more: Belfast GP shares the good, the bad and the ugly side of doctors surgery practice

For the latest politics news straight to your inbox, sign up to our newsletter here.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.