Sylvia Hermon

IND- North Down

Lady Hermon, wife of the former RUC Chief Constable, Sir Jack Hermon, was first returned to Westminster from North Down in 2001, and again in 2005.

She had studied Law at Aberystwyth University and, a year after graduating, she was appointed to teach in the Law Faculty at Queen's University, Belfast.

Sylvia Hermon joined the Ulster Unionist Party a short time after the signing of the Belfast Agreement on Good Friday in 1998, and represented the UUP at Westminster until her resignation from the Party in March of this year.

She is currently running as an Independent unionist candidate for the forthcoming General Election on 6 May.

Lady Hermon served on the Northern Ireland Affairs Select Committee, and also on the Speaker's Committee for the Electoral Commission. During her time at Westminster, she was nominated as Backbencher of the Year and Opposition MP of the Year.

Profile based on information supplied by the party.