Julie Middleton has been confirmed as the new DUP MLA for Foyle.

The Chief Electoral Officer Dr. David Marshall formally declared Mrs. Middleton had been returned to serve as a member of the Northern Ireland Assembly for the Foyle constituency on Monday morning.

The Bready woman has been a DUP Alderman for the Faughan District Electoral Area (DEA) of Derry City & Strabane District Council since 2023.

She replaces her husband Gary Middleton who last week announced he was stepping down down to allow space and time to deal with mental health challenges.

Following that announcement Mrs. Middleton said: “Personally as a family we faced a huge change this week as my darling husband resigned due to his serious mental health struggles.

"It is now time for him to rest, recover and step out of the public arena. He is so brave, and I am so proud of him. Thank you to everyone who is holding us close in prayer.”

A native of Bready, Julie Middleton, is a former teacher of RE, history and citizenship and a graduate in Professional Education Studies at St. Martin's College, Lancaster.

She has spent almost two decades working within community, youth and education settings and describes herself as a Christian who is supportive of local church groups.

In her debut election to Derry City and Strabane District Council in 2023 she received 988 first preference votes (12.21 per cent) in the Faughan DEA and was elected as a local representative for the rural constituency at Stage 5 of the county having amassed 1,659.82 votes following transfers.