Tina McKenzie (politician)

Tina McKenzie

Tina McKenzie (born 1973[1]) is a business executive and politician from West Belfast in Northern Ireland. McKenzie is notable for having been the first Chair of Northern Irish political party NI21 and their European candidate for the 2014 European elections.

Born in west Belfast in Northern Ireland, McKenzie is the daughter of Harry Fitzsimons, a former Irish Republican Army paramilitary. When she was thirteen, her parents divorced, and she thereafter saw little of her father.[2]

McKenzie spent over 15 years working in recruitment in Great Britain and Europe, returning to Northern Ireland in 2012 as the national director of Staffline in Ireland. She is the Recruitment and Employment Confederation's Regional Director for Northern Ireland.[3]

Shortly after returning to Northern Ireland, McKenzie joined newly formed political party NI21 and was appointed as its first Chair. McKenzie described herself as believing in the maintenance of the union of Britain and Northern Ireland, principally for economic reasons.[1] Many in the media made note of this decision due to McKenzie's family background.[4]

NI21 selected McKenzie as their candidate for the European election, 2014,[5] proposing to support the region in Europe and promote jobs and economic growth.[6] She also stood for Belfast City Council in Balmoral.

Following allegations of sexual misconduct made against party leader Basil McCrea the night of the election, a majority of members of the party's Executive resigned. McKenzie's resignation as party chair was leaked to the media half an hour before the polls closed.[7] Shortly after, McKenzie announced she was leaving politics on the grounds that she was disillusioned.[8] Out of 10 candidates for the European election, McKenzie came 9th with 10,553 first preference votes (1.7%).

McKenzie is the mother of three children.[5]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Kerri Dunn, "On The Record", Lisburn's 98FM, 13 June 2013
  2. ↑ Liam Clarke, "Unionist chief Tina McKenzie's father was IRA terrorist", Belfast Telegraph, 6 November 2013
  3. ↑ "Tina McKenzie new REC director"
  4. ↑ Liam Clarke, "Unionist chief Tina McKenzie's father was IRA terrorist", Belfast Telegraph, 6 November 2013
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "McKenzie to run for NI21 in Europe", UTV, 7 April 2014
  6. ↑ "Tina McKenzie selected as NI21's European election candidate", BBC News, 7 April 2014
  7. ↑ ""
  8. ↑ "NI21 European candidate Tina McKenzie quitting politics", BBC News, 24 May 2014