Paul Maskey is the Sinn Féin MP for Belfast West, having first been elected to parliament in a by-election on 9 June 2011.

In the 2024 general election, Maskey won 21,009 votes, representing 52.9% of the vote. The People Before Profit Alliance candidate, Gerry Carroll, received 5,048 votes (12.7%), while the SDLP candidate, Paul Doherty, secured 4,318 votes (10.9%). Maskey was duly elected with a majority of 15,961 votes.  

The Belfast West constituency covers the western part of the city, including areas like the Falls Road. It is considered the most nationalist of the Belfast constituencies and a Sinn Féin stronghold. Maskey succeeded former Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams as the MP for Belfast West.

Political Career

In line with Sinn Féin’s longstanding policy of abstentionism, Maskey does not take his seat in the House of Commons. Sinn Féin MPs focus on constituency work and activity within Ireland.

In the foreword to Sinn Féin’s manifesto for the 2024 general election, the party’s leader, Mary Lou McDonald, said Sinn Féin MPs would work “hard as part of a strong all-Ireland Sinn Féin team to deliver for all our people and communities.”

The manifesto added: “We want a stronger and fairer economy that delivers good jobs that pay well, offers workers secure conditions, and supports local business.”

Upon his election to parliament in 2011, Masley stated: “I am delighted to be elected by the people, they have endorsed Sinn Fein yet again for their Westminster seat.”

He added: “This part of the city is moving forward and I will endeavour to be part of that and work tirelessly to do what I can for the people of west Belfast.

“I take on the proud and strong legacy of Sinn Fein party president Gerry Adams and look forward now to the challenges in front of me.”

Adams commented: “It’s Paul Maskey’s night. Once again Sinn Fein in west Belfast has delivered and we delivered big time.”

Prior to becoming an MP, Maskey served as a Sinn Féin member of the Northern Ireland Assembly (MLA) for the Belfast West constituency from March 2007 until July 2012. During his time as an MLA, he chaired the assembly’s public accounts committee (2008-2011).  

Before his time in the assembly, he served on Belfast City Council representing the Upper Falls electoral area from 2001 until 2009. He was leader of the Sinn Féin group on the council from 2005 to 2007.

Political Views

Maskey represents Sinn Féin, an Irish republican and democratic socialist party. The party’s core policies include advocating for a united Ireland and promoting left-wing economic and social policies.

Sinn Féin’s abstentionist policy is derived from its belief that the parliament at Westminster is illegitimate, and that its authority over Ireland rests on British sovereignty which the party does not recognise. Consequently, Sinn Féin MPs refuse to take their seats in the House of Commons, as doing so would require swearing an oath of allegiance to the British monarch, which the party regards as incompatible with its republican principles.

Maskey supported Remain in the 2016 Brexit referendum, and therefore agreed with a majority of his constituents, 74.1% of whom also voted to Remain.

Before politics

Born Paul John Maskey on 10 June 1967, Maskey worked as a tourism development co-ordinator for Fáilte Feirste Thiar (‘Welcome to West Belfast’), promoting tourism in the area, before entering politics full-time.

Personal life

Maskey’s brother, Alex, was a long-serving Sinn Féin politician and former speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Trivia

Maskey was the first republican to serve as lord mayor of Belfast.