1. Early life
Emma Little-Pengelly's early life was marked by her family background and a rigorous educational path, which prepared her for a career in law before she entered politics.
1.1. Birth and family background
Born on 31 December 1979, Emma Little-Pengelly is the daughter of Maureen Elizabeth Little and Noel Little, who was also known as John Little. Her father was a prominent leader within loyalist paramilitary groups, specifically Ulster Resistance, and had previously served as a soldier in the Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR).
Noel Little's involvement with paramilitary activities had a significant impact on Emma's childhood; he was absent for two years following his arrest in Paris in April 1989. Alongside two other paramilitaries, he was convicted of conspiracy related to terrorism. This conviction stemmed from his attempts to trade stolen British missile plans to the South African government in exchange for weapons. He received a fine and a sentence that amounted to time served. Additionally, Noel Little was alleged to have been involved in the smuggling of weapons to loyalist groups in 1987.
1.2. Education and legal career
Little-Pengelly pursued her education at Markethill High School and Portadown College. She then continued her academic journey at Queen's University Belfast. Following her university studies, she qualified as a barrister in 2003, establishing her professional career in the legal field.
2. Political career
Little-Pengelly's political career began as a special advisor and progressed through various elected offices in both the Northern Ireland Assembly and the UK Parliament, culminating in her appointment as Deputy First Minister.
2.1. Special Advisor
Little-Pengelly commenced her political career in 2007 as a Special Advisor (Spad) to Ian Paisley, who was serving as the First Minister at the time. In this role, she was an integral part of the Democratic Unionist Party's (DUP) discussions team, working directly with victims of the Troubles. She continued to serve as a Special Advisor when Peter Robinson became First Minister in 2008, holding the position for over eight years until 2015.
2.2. Member of the Legislative Assembly (Northern Ireland)
Little-Pengelly has served two non-consecutive terms as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) in the Northern Ireland Assembly.
2.2.1. Belfast South (2015-2017)
In 2015, the Democratic Unionist Party selected Emma Little-Pengelly to succeed Jimmy Spratt as the MLA for Belfast South after his retirement due to ill health. Her appointment to the Northern Ireland Assembly occurred on 28 September 2015. She subsequently successfully ran in the 2016 Assembly Election for the South Belfast constituency and was elected. However, she lost her seat in the 2017 Northern Ireland Assembly election. This loss was attributed in part to a reduction in the total number of seats for Belfast South, which decreased from six to five. At the time of her elimination from the contest, she trailed her running mate, Christopher Stalford, by a margin of only 15 votes.
2.2.2. Lagan Valley (2022-present)
Little-Pengelly returned to the Northern Ireland Assembly on 12 May 2022, one week after the 2022 Northern Ireland Assembly election. She was co-opted by the Democratic Unionist Party to fill the seat for Lagan Valley after the DUP leader, Jeffrey Donaldson, refused to take up his seat in Stormont due to his opposition to the Northern Ireland Protocol. Upon her appointment, Little-Pengelly stated that she agreed to fill Donaldson's seat to support the ongoing work and ensure continued high levels of support and service to the constituents of Lagan Valley. She expressed that it was a privilege to fulfill this role at such an important time for unionism and for Northern Ireland, looking forward to serving the people of Lagan Valley with passion and commitment while Sir Jeffrey focused on other immediate tasks.
2.3. Member of Parliament (UK)
Little-Pengelly also served a term as a Member of Parliament (MP) in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom.
2.3.1. Belfast South (2017-2019)
At the 2017 United Kingdom general election, Little-Pengelly was elected as the MP for the Belfast South constituency. She gained this seat from Alasdair McDonnell of the SDLP. The campaign that led to her victory was notably strategized by former Northern Ireland First Minister Peter Robinson, who served as her chief strategist. However, her tenure as an MP was short-lived, as she subsequently lost the seat to Claire Hanna of the SDLP in the 2019 United Kingdom general election.
2.4. Junior Minister
On 28 October 2015, Emma Little-Pengelly was appointed as a Junior Minister within the Northern Ireland Executive Office.
3. Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland
On 3 February 2024, Emma Little-Pengelly made history by becoming the Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland. This significant appointment followed the reestablishment of the Northern Ireland Executive and the restoration of power-sharing governance in the region. Her elevation to this role marked a historic moment, as she became the first unionist to occupy the office of Deputy First Minister.
4. Personal life
Emma Little-Pengelly is married to Richard Pengelly. Richard Pengelly holds the title of CB and serves as the Permanent Secretary at the Department of Justice in Northern Ireland.