David McClarty

David McClarty MLA
Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly for Londonderry, East
Incumbent
Assumed office 25 June 1998
Preceded by	New Creation
Personal details
Born	23 February 1951 (1951-02-23) (age 60) Coleraine, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland
Political party	Independent
Website	http://www.davidmcclarty.co.uk/

Councillor David McClarty, MLA (born 23 February 1951) is an Independent Unionist politician from Northern Ireland.

He is from Coleraine and was educated at Coleraine Academical Institution and Magee College. McClarty was first elected to Coleraine Borough Council in 1989, and held the post of Mayor from 1993 to 1995.

Until January 1, 2011 he was an Ulster Unionist Party member of the Northern Ireland Assembly (1998–present) for East Londonderry and was the Ulster Unionist Party’s chief whip at the Assembly but has since then vowed to fight future elections as an independent. On 8 May 2007 he was elected as one of the three Deputy Speakers of the Assembly.

He is one of a number of high profile Ulster Unionist moderates who have left the party along with Harry Hamilton and Paula Bradshaw, who both joined the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland, and Trevor Ringland, who has also become an independent.^[1]

McClarty appeared to dismiss speculation about switching to the Alliance by saying, "It has been suggested that, with my moderate views, I should go Alliance like Harry Hamilton in Upper Bann. But Alliance are luke warm on the union and I will be fighting as an Independent Unionist."^[2] He retained his seat in the Assembly in the 2011 election.^[3]

McClarty served on the Enterprise, Trade and Investment Committee and the Environment Committee in the Assembly from 1998 to 2002.

He was made a Freeman of the City of London in 1994.

He is married to Norma.

References

1. ^ "BBC News - David McClarty resigns from UUP after being deselected". Bbc.co.uk. 2011-01-03. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-12107666. Retrieved 2011-01-21. 
2. ^ "McClarty to run as Independent - Belfast Today". Newsletter.co.uk. http://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/McClarty--to-run-as.6693961.jp. Retrieved 2011-01-21. 
3. ^ NI Assembly election: all seats now filled BBC news, 7 May 2011

External links

• NI Assembly profile
• Stratagem profile

Political offices
Preceded by William King	Mayor of Coleraine 1993 - 95	Succeeded by Pauline Armitage
Preceded by Donovan McClelland Jane Morrice Jim Wilson	Deputy Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly (with John Dallat and Francie Molloy) 2007–present	Succeeded by Current
Northern Ireland Assembly
Preceded by New creation	MLA for East Londonderry 1998 -	Succeeded by Incumbent

Persondata
Name	Macclarty, David
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	23 February 1951
Place of birth	Coleraine, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland
Date of death
Place of death