Chris Hazzard

Chris Hazzard (born 20 August 1984) is an Irish Sinn Féin politician who has been the Member of Parliament (MP)[1] for South Down[2] since the 2017 general election, when he defeated incumbent Margaret Ritchie of the SDLP.[3] Due to Sinn Féin's policy of abstentionism with regard to the Westminster Parliament of the United Kingdom, Hazzard has not taken his seat.

Chris Hazzard
Member of Parliament for South Down
Incumbent
Assumed office 8 June 2017
Preceded by	Margaret Ritchie
Majority	1,620 (3.2%)
Member of the Legislative Assembly for South Down
In office 13 April 2012 – 9 June 2017
Preceded by	Willie Clarke
Succeeded by	Emma Rogan
Minister for Infrastructure
In office May 2016 – January 2017
Preceded by	Michelle McIlveen
Succeeded by	Nichola Mallon
Personal details
Born	(1984-08-20) 20 August 1984 Drumaness, Northern Ireland, UK
Political party	Sinn Féin
Alma mater	Queen's University Belfast

He was selected by his party as a member (MLA) of the Northern Ireland Assembly to represent the South Down constituency in April 2012.[4] He was the Minister for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland from May 2016 until the Executive's collapse in January 2017. At the Snap General Election held on 8 June 2017 he became an MP.

The eldest of four siblings, he attended Our Lady and St Patrick's College, Knock. He replaced his party colleague Willie Clarke, who had retired to concentrate on his local council work. A Gaelic Athletic Association member and PhD candidate at Queen's University Belfast.[5] He was, at the time of his selection, the youngest MLA.