Eóin Tennyson

Tennyson attended St. Patrick's Academy, a Catholic grammar school in Dungannon, County Tyrone. He studied accounting at Queen's University Belfast, graduating with bachelor of science degree in 2019. While at university, he was elected chair of Alliance Youth.{{Cite news |title=Both praise and ridicule after Foster and O'Neill pose for picture together |url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/both-praise-and-ridicule-after-foster-and-oneill-pose-for-picture-together-38018693.html |work=Belfast Telegraph |language=en-GB |issn=0307-1235 |access-date=16 May 2022}} In 2020, he obtained a Master of Accounting from the Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School at University College Dublin. He subsequently joined Deloitte in Belfast as an auditor and began training as a chartered accountant.{{cite web |title=Eóin Tennyson |url=https://www.linkedin.com/in/e%C3%B3in-tennyson-35a094118/ |website=LinkedIn |access-date=8 May 2022}}{{Cite news |last=Breen |first=Suzanne |date=24 November 2019 |title=Constituency profile: 'Force of nature' Carla Lockhart looking runaway favourite to hold seat for DUP in Upper Bann |url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/politics/general-election-2019/constituency-profile-force-of-nature-carla-lockhart-looking-runaway-favourite-to-hold-seat-for-dup-in-upper-bann-38722114.html |work=Belfast Telegraph |language=en-GB |issn=0307-1235 |access-date=16 May 2022}}

Tennyson was elected to Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council in the 2019 local elections, representing the Lagan River district electoral area. He polled 10.81% of the first-preference votes, and gained a seat at the expense of the Ulster Unionist Party.{{Cite web |title=Local Council Election Results |url=https://www.eoni.org.uk/Elections/Election-results-and-statistics/Election-results-and-statistics-2003-onwards/Elections-2019/Local-Council-Election-Results |website=The Electoral Office for Northern Ireland |access-date=11 May 2022}}

In December, he contested the 2019 general election in Upper Bann, placing third with 13% of the vote.{{cite news |last=McCormack |first=Jayne |date=26 November 2019 |title=Upper Bann constituency profile: Five-party target but two-party choice? |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2019-50462771 |website=BBC News |access-date=11 May 2022}} Though unsuccessful, he obtained a swing of 8.4% and polled ahead of Doug Beattie of the UUP and Dolores Kelly of the SDLP.{{cite web |title=Upper Bann Parliamentary constituency |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/N06000017 |website=BBC News |date=13 December 2019 |access-date=8 May 2022}}

Tennyson was elected as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Upper Bann in the 2022 Assembly election, outpolling the leader of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) and gaining a seat at the expense of the Social Democratic and Labour Party's (SDLP) Dolores Kelly. He polled 6,440 (11.5%) first-preference votes, increasing Alliance's share by 6.2% on the previous Assembly election. Tennyson became the first non-designated politician to be elected for the Upper Bann constituency.{{Cite news |title=Winners and losers of historic Northern Ireland Assembly election 2022 |url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/politics/northern-ireland-assembly-election-2022/at-a-glance-winners-and-losers-of-historic-northern-ireland-assembly-election-41626276.html |work=Belfast Telegraph |issn=0307-1235 |language=en-GB |date=7 May 2022 |access-date=25 May 2022}} At 23-years-old, he also became the youngest MLA elected to the Assembly, and gained the unofficial title of Baby of the House.{{Cite web |last1=O'Carroll |first1=Lisa |last2=Carroll |first2=Rory |date=7 May 2022 |title='A lifetime waiting for this day': crowds celebrate historic Sinn Féin victory |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2022/may/07/a-lifetime-waiting-for-this-day-crowds-celebrate-historic-sinn-fein-victory |website=The Guardian |language=en |location=Magherafelt |access-date=16 May 2022}} He is the third openly gay MLA to serve, joining his party colleagues John Blair and Andrew Muir.{{Cite web |last=Moore |first=Steven |date=22 April 2022 |title=Eóin Tennyson hopes to be first openly gay MLA |url=https://www.sundayworld.com/news/northern-ireland-news/eoin-tennyson-hopes-to-be-first-openly-gay-mla-41579293.html |website=Sunday World |language=en |access-date=11 May 2022}}

During the course of the 2022 campaign, Tennyson faced abuse and intimidation. On one occasion, he was verbally abused and told to leave a 'Protestant area' when canvassing in Lurgan.{{Cite news |last=Campbell |first=Niamh |date=24 April 2022 |title=Alliance candidate Eóin Tennyson told to leave 'Protestant area' when canvassing in Lurgan |url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/politics/northern-ireland-assembly-election-2022/alliance-candidate-eoin-tennyson-told-to-leave-protestant-area-when-canvassing-in-lurgan-41583077.html |work=Belfast Telegraph |issn=0307-1235 |language=en-GB |access-date=11 May 2022}}

At a sitting of the Assembly on 30 May 2022, Tennyson accused the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) of treating the public as "leverage", after the party refused to assent to the election of a Speaker and blocked formation of an Assembly in protest over the Northern Ireland Protocol.{{Cite web |last=Macauley |first=Conor |date=30 May 2022 |title=Northern Ireland Assembly fails to elect speaker |url=https://www.rte.ie/news/2022/0530/1301909-stormont-ministers/ |website=RTÉ |language=en |access-date=8 August 2022}} He subsequently called on the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to stop the salaries of MLAs who refused to enter the Assembly in order to incentivise the DUP to "get back to work".{{Cite news |last=Campbell |first=Niamh |date=21 June 2022 |title=Brandon Lewis 'currently exploring' options to cut MLA salaries while Jim Allister pledges percentage of pay to 'fighting protocol' |url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/brandon-lewis-currently-exploring-options-to-cut-mla-salaries-while-jim-allister-pledges-percentage-of-pay-to-fighting-protocol-41774058.html |work=Belfast Telegraph |issn=0307-1235 |language=en-GB |access-date=24 June 2022}} Following the restoration of devolution in February 2024, Tennyson was appointed to the Committee for Finance and became a member of the Northern Ireland Policing Board.{{Cite web |title=AIMS Portal |url=https://aims.niassembly.gov.uk/mlas/details.aspx?&aff=18826&per=8084&cid=1666}}{{Cite web |title="Eóin Tennyson" |url=https://www.nipolicingboard.org.uk/board/eoin-tennyson}}

He contested Upper Bann at the 2024 general election, coming third, with a small increase in his vote by 0.7%.{{cite tweet |number=1794418437374259588 |user=EoinTennyson |title=It's always an honour to be selected by local members to represent the @AllianceParty in Upper Bann. The DUP have worked hand in glove with the Tories & Sinn Féin won't show up. On 4th July, we can return positive & progressive MPs who will take their seats & work for change. |url=https://twitter.com/EoinTennyson/status/1794418437374259588}}{{cite news|title = 2024 UK General Election Results for Upper Bann|url = https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2024-uk-election-results/constituencies/upper-bann/|work = Bloomberg|date = 6 July 2024|access-date = 28 October 2024}}{{cite web|title = Seat Details - Upper Bann|url = https://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/fcgi-bin/seatdetails.py?seat=Upper%20Bann|website = Electoral Calculus|access-date = 28 October 2024}}

{{Further|2024 Alliance Party of Northern Ireland deputy leadership election}}

On 24 September 2024, Tennyson announced that he was nominated as a candidate in the 2024 Alliance Party deputy leadership election. While it was initially expected he would run unopposed, South Belfast MLA Kate Nicholl also put her name forward for the position.{{Cite news |date=2024-09-24 |title=Two Alliance MLAs to go head-to-head for party’s deputy role |url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/politics/two-alliance-mlas-to-go-head-to-head-for-partys-deputy-role/a394599840.html |access-date=2024-09-25 |work=BelfastTelegraph.co.uk |language=en-GB |issn=0307-1235}}

In a campaign announcement video uploaded to X, Tennyson stated that "my candidacy is not about a change in direction, but a change in gear. I'm keen to build on the momentum left behind by Stephen [Farry] and his enormous legacy and to work with Naomi [Long] and our vibrant leadership team to grow the party even further."https://x.com/EoinTennyson/status/1838664443158253897

Tennyson was elected deputy leader of the Alliance Party on 8 October 2024. He said working with party leader Naomi Long is an "important role" that he was excited to begin.{{Cite web |title=Upper Bann MLA Eoin Tennyson becomes new Alliance deputy leader |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckgvzze9dpjo |access-date=2024-10-08 |website=www.bbc.com |language=en-GB}}

Tennyson came out as gay at age 19.

{{Reflist}}

{{s-start}}

{{s-par|ni/ass}}

{{s-bef | before = Dolores Kelly}}

{{s-ttl

| title = MLA for Upper Bann

| years = 2022–present

}}

{{s-inc}}

{{s-end}}

• {{twitter user}}

{{Alliance Party of Northern Ireland}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tennyson, Eoin}}

Category:Living people

Category:Alliance Party of Northern Ireland MLAs

Category:Northern Ireland MLAs 2022–2027

Category:Gay politicians from Northern Ireland

Category:Alumni of Queen's University Belfast

Category:Alumni of University College Dublin

Category:1998 births

Category:People educated at St Patrick's Academy, Dungannon

Category:Alliance Party parliamentary candidates