Profile

Sammy has held public office since 1981, when he was first elected to Belfast City Council on which he served until February 2010, topping the poll at every election. During his time on Belfast City Council he twice served as Lord Mayor, in 1986/87 and 2000/01.

In 1998 he was elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly representing East Belfast and was subsequently returned in 2003, 2007 and 2011 for the East Antrim Constituency. In 2007 Sammy was appointed to serve as the Chairman of the Education Committee before becoming Environment Minister in June 2008 and later, Finance Minister from July 2009 until August 2013. Sammy stepped down from the Assembly in July 2015.

In 2005 Sammy was elected as the Member of Parliament for East Antrim and was re-elected again in 2010 and 2015.