David Cook (politician)

David Cook is a former politician in Northern Ireland.

Cook works as a solicitor, eventually becoming a senior partner at Sheldon and Stewart Solicitors.^[1]

In 1970, Cook was a founder member of the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland (APNI),^[2] while he was elected to the party's Central Executive in 1971.^[3] He was elected to Belfast City Council in 1973,^[4] a position he held until 1985.^[5] In 1978, he became the first non-unionist Lord Mayor of Belfast since partition (the pro-Home Rule Liberal William James Pirrie having held the post in the 1890s).^[6]

He stood for APNI in Belfast South in the February 1974 general election, taking just under 10% of the vote.^[7] He was able to improve to 27% of the vote at the Belfast South by-election, 1982. Following this, he won a seat on the Northern Ireland Assembly representing Belfast South. In the 1983 general election, 1986 by-election and 1987 general election, he consistently won over 20% of the votes cast in Belfast South. He also stood for Alliance in the European Parliament election, 1984, but took only 4% of the vote.^[7]

From 1980 until 1984, Cook served as the Deputy Leader of APNI.^[1]

In 1994, Cook became the Chairman of the Police Authority of Northern Ireland, but he was sacked from this role in 1996 after losing a vote of confidence.^[8] After a critical account of his role appeared in 1998, he undertook a lengthy libel case, ultimately settled out of court.^[9] He subsequently sat on the Craigavon Health and Social Services Trust.^[10]

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "Policing in Northern Ireland". Meathpeacegroup.org. http://meathpeacegroup.org/events/?p=23. Retrieved 2010-11-28. 
2. ^ "Cook raps 'mean spirited unionism'". Belfasttelegraph.co.uk. 1997-02-11. http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/imported/article1022796.ece. Retrieved 2010-11-28. 
3. ^ Dr Martin Melaugh. "APNI - Alliance Annual Conference 1971". Cain.ulst.ac.uk. http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/issues/politics/docs/apni/apni270371.htm. Retrieved 2010-11-28. 
4. ^ "The Local Government Elections 1973-1981: Belfast". Ark.ac.uk. http://www.ark.ac.uk/elections/73-81lgbelfast.htm. Retrieved 2010-11-28. 
5. ^ "Local Government Elections 1985 - 1989: Belfast". Ark.ac.uk. http://www.ark.ac.uk/elections/85-89lgbelfast.htm. Retrieved 2010-11-28. 
6. ^ "A Chronology of the Conflict - 1978". Cain.ulst.ac.uk. http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/othelem/chron/ch78.htm. Retrieved 2010-11-28. 
7. ^ ^{a b} "David Cook candidacies". Electionsireland.org. http://www.electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?id=6667. Retrieved 2010-11-28. 
8. ^ "Mayhew's dilemma in police watchdog crisis". Belfasttelegraph.co.uk. 1996-02-23. http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/imported/article760308.ece. Retrieved 2010-11-28. 
9. ^ "Police Authority pair settle out of court". Belfasttelegraph.co.uk. 2001-11-12. http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/imported/article1085386.ece. Retrieved 2010-11-28. 
10. ^ "Why Alliance critics point accusing finger". Belfasttelegraph.co.uk. 1996-12-12. http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/imported/article830646.ece. Retrieved 2010-11-28. 

Political offices
Preceded by James Stewart	Lord Mayor of Belfast 1978 - 79	Succeeded by Billy Bell
Party political offices
Preceded by Basil Glass	Deputy Leader of the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland 1980 - 84	Succeeded by Addie Morrow

Persondata
Name	Cook, David
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth
Place of birth
Date of death
Place of death