{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/65670352d7b5d40012be7324/6a22a14ebe8560e74b7484f0?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"\"I’m not a soft unionist” says independent MLA Claire Sugden ","thumbnail_width":200,"thumbnail_height":200,"thumbnail_url":"https://open-images.acast.com/shows/65670352d7b5d40012be7324/1780660649567-0ae31433-3b71-4c27-9c49-d2d8334fd07c.jpeg?height=200","description":"<p>Claire Sugden is the only independent MLA in Stormont. Co-opted into the assembly for east Londonderry in 2014, she served as justice minister from May 2016 to March 2017.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p><br></p><p>Widely considered a ‘liberal unionist’, in May 2021 she turned down an invitation from Doug Beattie to join the UUP but she says she’s no “soft unionist”.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p><br></p><p> But under John Burrow's leadership, could she consider joining the party now? Can liberal Unionism be revived? And besides Unionism, what else does Claire believe in?&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p><br></p><p>And she tells the BelTel that she wants to continue as a politician but not “at the expense of my health anymore.”&nbsp;</p><p><br></p><p>Claire Sugden joined Ciarán Dunbar.&nbsp;</p>","author_name":"Belfast Telegraph"}