Standards probe had ‘no bearing’ on my resignation, says former Alliance MLA Patrick Brown

On Monday the Alliance Party announced that Mr Brown, who represented South Down, was stepping down with immediate effect for “personal reasons”.

Mr Brown had been an MLA for less than two years, having been elected in May 2022.

On Thursday it emerged that Mr Brown was facing a probe by Stormont’s standards commissioner over a complaint regarding his conduct towards an integrated school.

In a lengthy social media post, the former MLA said he recognised there has been speculation about the “real” reason for his departure and appreciated the “vagueness of the ‘personal reasons’ given” in Monday’s statement.

Mr Brown confirmed that last year a school made a complaint about him to the Assembly, which he said was a “counter-complaint in direct response to a complaint I made to them on behalf of numerous constituents who had raised incredibly serious concerns with me”.

He said he did “absolutely nothing wrong” in pursuing his complaint and “despite the speculation, this had no bearing on my reasons for resigning”.

Mr Brown said the timing of his departure had more to do with a new job he had recently been offered, which he has accepted, and “finding the right time to inform staff and colleagues”.

The former MLA also revealed in the post he had struggled in his political role and recently been diagnosed with ADHD.

He said: “More recently, on the advice of friends, I secured a diagnosis for adult ADHD, something I've always suspected I had, and frankly the pressures of being in full-time politics combined with a neurodiverse brain, and a typical male reluctance to shut down rather than discuss how I was feeling, was a fairly potent mix for my wellbeing.

“As colleagues rightly highlighted in the Assembly just this week, there are basically no treatment pathways for adult ADHD in NI, and I didn't feel it was likely I could come to learn to cope with and fully understand this diagnosis within formal politics.

“Politics is an incredibly challenging environment at the best of times, and I have nothing but respect for each and every one of the 89 MLAs I served with.

“The amount of work, scrutiny, pressure, competition and abuse is, I would argue, unlike any other job. To continue working towards the public good under those circumstances is an achievement in itself.”

Mr Brown said he remains an Alliance Party member and supporter, and refutes “any speculation that I was made to resign or resigned because of issues within the party”.

“...No party is perfect but I still firmly believe Alliance is the best vehicle for change in Northern Ireland, and I hope my supporters in South Down will continue to show the party their support in forthcoming elections,” he said.

On Monday an Alliance spokesperson said: “It is with regret we announce Patrick’s immediate resignation due to personal reasons.

“We thank him for his service, which saw him help Alliance make an historic breakthrough in South Down at the Assembly, and wish him well in his future endeavours.”

Mr Brown was first elected as an Alliance Councillor on Newry, Mourne and Down District Council in 2014, being re-elected in May 2019 while topping the poll.

He became Alliance’s first MLA in South Down at the May 2022 Assembly election.

Earlier this year, he was censured by the local government commissioner for standards over comments about an interview process for a council chief executive.