Foyle MLA Julie Middleton targeted by misogynistic attacks online

Foyle MLA Julie Middleton targeted by misogynistic attacks online

Julie Middleton, who recently took over as the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) assembly member for Foyle, has reported facing misogynistic attacks online shortly after starting her new role. The criticism came amid her decision to replace her husband Gary Middleton in the Northern Ireland Assembly at Stormont.

Following her appointment on Monday, Middleton revealed she encountered questions from some individuals doubting how she could assume the position while her husband remained at home due to illness. Addressing these remarks, she firmly stated that she has her husband’s full support. “I would ask why I should be at home all the time, Gary doesn’t want that,” Middleton said, emphasizing her commitment both to her family and her political responsibilities.

Throughout this transition, Middleton has continued her public service as a councillor, something she described as an ongoing journey. She highlighted that there is a clear distinction between her private and public lives, noting, “Our private life and public life are two very different things.”

Gary Middleton had served as an MLA from 2015 and held a brief stint as a junior minister in the Northern Ireland Executive, along with experience as a councillor. Julie Middleton herself was elected as a councillor in 2023 for the Faughan district within Derry City and Strabane District Council. She also shared that she was born and raised in the area and has spent her professional life working within the city

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