Conor Murphy: Sinn Féin chancellor to resign for medical reasons

May 8, 2024 Vaseline stjohnson 0

Deirdre Hargey will take over on a temporary basis

Chancellor of the Exchequer Conor Murphy at the Belfast Telegraph Business Awards on 2 May. Photo: Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph

Economy Minister, Conor Murphy. Photo: Rebecca Black/PA Cable

Thumbnail: Chancellor of the Exchequer Conor Murphy at the Belfast Telegraph Business Awards on 2 May. Photo: Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph
Thumbnail: Chancellor of the Exchequer, Conor Murphy. Photo: Rebecca Black/PA Cable

Sinn Féin MLA Conor Murphy has resigned as NI Chancellor of the Exchequer on medical grounds.

Party deputy chair and NI First Minister Michelle O’Neill announced the news on Wednesday night.

“Conor Murphy will step down as minister tonight for medical reasons,” he said.

“Conor has been advised by his doctor to rest and will undergo further medical tests. My colleagues and I wish Conor a speedy and complete recovery.

“I am nominating Deirdre Hargey to take over as Chancellor of the Exchequer on an interim basis pending Conor’s return.”

Reacting to the news, UUP leader Doug Beattie says he wishes Mr Murphy the best and hopes he makes a “speedy” recovery.

It comes after Ms O’Neill said on Tuesday night that Murphy would not appear before the Covid inquiry for health reasons.

He was due to appear before the inquiry alongside several other Stormont ministers including Lord Weir, Diane Dodds, Deirdre Hargey and Caral Ni Chuilin on Wednesday.

Murphy has held several ministerial roles at Stormont.

The Newry and Armagh MLA became Minister for Regional Development in May 2007, a position he held until May 2011.

He subsequently became Chancellor of the Exchequer when Stormont was reinstated in January 2020, a role he held until October 2022, before taking up his current role as Chancellor of the Exchequer in February this year.

Last week, Murphy attended the Belfast Telegraph Business Awards, addressing the crowd and praising the NI business community.

“I congratulate all the winners, nominees and all the companies in attendance who are at the forefront of writing a new, more prosperous chapter for our economy,” he said.