Sinn Féin's Alex Maskey will not contest the next assembly election Sinn Féin's Alex Maskey is to step down from politics Connla Young 05 August, 2021 01:00 Alex Maskey pictured with former Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams, Martin McGuinness and Danny Morrison in 1984 Veteran Sinn Féin politician and Stormont speaker Alex Maskey is set to step down from politics at the next assembly election. The 69-year-old is Sinn Féin's longest serving representative and has been involved with the republican movement for around half a century. Interned twice in the 1970s, the senior republican is currently speaker at the assembly, a role he has held since January last year.