Clare Bailey


Clare Bailey is a Northern Irish politician who has been the Leader of the Green Party in Northern Ireland since November 2018.

Early life

Bailey was born in Clonard on the Lower Falls. She was one of the first 28 pupils of Lagan College, Northern Ireland's first integrated school. She later attended Queen's University.

Political career

Bailey identifies as pro-choice and a feminist. She was a client escort for women accessing healthcare advice at the Belfast Marie Stopes Clinic, enduring assault and intimidation from anti-abortion protesters. She has also worked supporting survivors of sexual violence and abuse.
In 2011 she stood unsuccessfully for the Laganbank district electoral area on Belfast City Council, narrowly missing a seat and coming 6th in a 5-seater district electoral area. She has been an MLA for Belfast South since the 2016 election, after nearly tripling the Green Party vote in the area compared to the previous Assembly election. She was re-elected to the Assembly in 2017.
She served as the GPNI deputy leader until 2017, when she stood down to focus on her work as an MLA.
In November 2018, Bailey became leader of the Northern Irish Green Party.
In 2019 Bailey ran unsuccessfully for European Parliament, receiving 12,471 votes which placing her 7th. Bailey managed to increase the Greens' share of the vote by 0.48%.