- David Simpson (UK politician)
-
David Simpson MP 
Spokesman for Trade and Industry Incumbent Assumed office
9 June 2008Leader Peter Robinson Member of Parliament
for Upper BannIncumbent Assumed office
5 May 2005Preceded by David Trimble Majority 3,361 (8.1%) Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly
for Upper BannIn office
26 November 2003 – 1 July 2010Preceded by Mervyn Carrick Succeeded by Sidney Anderson Personal details Born 16 February 1959
Moy, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, United KingdomNationality British Political party Democratic Unionist Party Spouse(s) Elaine Simpson Children 3 Residence Portadown, County Armagh Alma mater Belfast Metropolitan College Religion Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster (Free Presbyterian) Website David Simpson MP David Simpson (born 16 February 1959) is a Democratic Unionist politician and proponent of intelligent design[1] in the United Kingdom.
Contents
Early life
He went to Birches Primary School on Clonmacate Road then Killicomaine High School on Upper Church Lane in Portadown, County Armagh. He then studied at the College of Business Studies (now called Belfast Metropolitan College) in Belfast. Although having no political training, he has been a successful politician for many years.
He then worked in the food manufacturing industry, specifically Universal Meat Company in Portadown.
Parliamentary career
He has been the Member of Parliament for Upper Bann since the 2005 general election when he defeated Ulster Unionist Party leader David Trimble.
He was, until 2010, also a Member of the Legislative Assembly for the same seat (resigning after being returned to Westminster in the 2010 general election[2] and a former Mayor of Craigavon Borough Council which lies within the constituency.
Anti-scientific stance
In addition to being a proponent of creationism, he is a supporter of homeopathy, having signed several early day motion in support of its continued funding on the National Health Service sponsored by Conservative MP David Tredinnick.[3]
Other Political Achievements
- Negotiated fundamental changes to the failed Belfast Agreement.
- Made it a requirement that no party can get into government without prior full, verifiable, witnessed and transparent decommissioning and an end to all paramilitary and criminal activity.
- Negotiated a testing period in which republican good faith could be proved (this would have caught the Northern Bank robbery and barred SF/IRA from government)
- Ensured proper ministerial accountability.
- Established the principle that policing and justice powers could not be devolved until unionists were satisfied.
- Secured a Victims' Commissioner
- Achieved de-rating of Orange Halls.
- Achieved an efficiency review of all aspects of government to investigate savings for the tax payer.
Personal life
He is married with a son and two daughters, and lives in Portadown. He is also involved in youth work and drugs rehabilitation programmes. He is also known to enjoy Gopsel Singing, to which he partakes. He is Chairman of the Upper Bann Constituency Association and is Deputy Master Loughgall District Loyal Orange Order.
Election history
Westminster Elections
General Election 2010: Upper Bann[4][5][6] Party Candidate Votes % ±% Democratic Unionist David Simpson 14,000 33.8 -3.8 Conservatives and Unionists Harry Hamilton 10,639 25.7 +0.2 Sinn Féin John O'Dowd 10,237 24.7 +3.7 SDLP Dolores Kelly 5,276 12.8 -0.2 Alliance Brendan Heading 1,231 3.0 +0.8 Majority 3,361 8.1 Turnout 41,383 55.3 Democratic Unionist hold Swing General Election 2005: Upper Bann[6] Party Candidate Votes % ±% Democratic Unionist David Simpson 16,679 37.6 +8.1 Ulster Unionist David Trimble 11,281 25.5 -8.0 Sinn Féin John O'Dowd 9,305 21.0 -0.1 SDLP Dolores Kelly 5,747 13.0 -1.9 Alliance Alan Castle 955 2.2 +2.2 Workers' Party Tom French 355 0.8 -0.2 Majority 5,398 12.2 Turnout 44,322 61.2 -9.1 Democratic Unionist gain from Ulster Unionist Swing +8.1 General Election 2001: Upper Bann[6] Party Candidate Votes % ±% Ulster Unionist David Trimble 17,095 33.5 -10.1 Democratic Unionist David Simpson 15,037 29.5 +18.0 Sinn Féin Dara O'Hagan 10,771 21.1 +9.0 SDLP Dolores Kelly 7,607 14.9 -9.3 Workers' Party Tom French 527 1.0 -0.1 Majority 2,058 4.0 Turnout 51,037 70.3 +2.4 Ulster Unionist hold Swing Northern Ireland Assembly Elections
Northern Ireland Assembly election, 2007 Party Candidate 1st Pref Result Count Sinn Féin John O'Dowd 7,733 Elected 1 Democratic Unionist David Simpson 6,828 Elected 1 Ulster Unionist Sam Gardiner 5,135 Elected 9 SDLP Dolores Kelly 4,689 Elected 8 Democratic Unionist Stephen Moutray 3,663 Elected 11 Sinn Féin Dessie Ward 3,118 Not elected 12 Democratic Unionist John McCrum 2,975 Not elected 10 Ulster Unionist George Savage 2,167 Elected 12 Ulster Unionist Arnold Hatch 1,815 Not elected 8 Independent (Unionist) Davy Calvert 1,332 Not elected 7 Green (NI) Helen Corry 1,156 Not elected 7 Alliance Sheila McQuaid 798 Not elected 5 SDLP Patrick McAleenan 761 Not elected 4 (Republican Sinn Féin) Barry Toman 386 Not elected 3 Conservative David Fry 248 Not elected 3 Independent (Unionist) Suzanne Peeples 78 Not elected 3 Northern Ireland Assembly election, 2003 Party Candidate 1st Pref Result Count Ulster Unionist David Trimble 9,158 Elected 1 Democratic Unionist David Simpson 5,933 Elected 5 Sinn Féin John O'Dowd 5,524 Elected 11 Democratic Unionist Stephen Moutray 4,697 Elected 6 Sinn Féin Dara O'Hagan 3,970 Not elected SDLP Dolores Kelly 3,661 Elected 11 SDLP Kieran Corr 3,157 Not elected Ulster Unionist Sam Gardiner 2,359 Elected 9 Democratic Unionist Denis Watson 1,770 Not elected Ulster Unionist George Savage 1,269 Not elected Independent David Jones 585 Not elected Independent Sidney Anderson 581 Not elected Alliance Francis McQuaid 571 Not elected Workers' Party Tom French 247 Not elected References
- General
- DUP page
- NI Assembly
- TheyWorkForYou.com – David Simpson
- Maiden Speech : House of Commons – 24 May 2005
- BBC Politics
- Specific
- ^ Lesley-Anne Henry (2007-09-26). "Tussle of Biblical proportions over creationism in Ulster classrooms – Education – News – Belfast Telegraph". Belfast Telegraph. http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/education/tussle-of-biblical-proportions-over-creationism-in-ulster-classrooms-13479246.html. Retrieved 2009-04-26.
- ^ NI Assembly membersip, note 13
- ^ Tredinnick, David (2010-06-29). "Early Day Motion No. 284 British Medical Association Motions on Homeopathy". http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=41216&SESSION=905.
- ^ Statement of Persons Nominated Electoral Office for Northern Ireland
- ^ General Election 2010 – Upper Bann BBC News
- ^ a b c Upper Bann ARK – Access Research Knowledge
Political offices Preceded by
Ignatius FoxMayor of Craigavon
2004–2005Succeeded by
George SavageNorthern Ireland Assembly Preceded by
Mervyn CarrickMLA for Upper Bann
2003–2010Succeeded by
Sidney AndersonParliament of the United Kingdom Preceded by
David TrimbleMember of Parliament for Upper Bann
2005–Succeeded by
IncumbentParliamentarians of Northern Ireland UK Parliament Gerry Adams · Gregory Campbell · Nigel Dodds · Pat Doherty · Jeffrey Donaldson · Mark Durkan · Michelle Gildernew · Sylvia Hermon · Naomi Long · Willie McCrea · Alasdair McDonnell · Martin McGuinness · Conor Murphy · Ian Paisley Jr. · Margaret Ritchie · David Simpson · Sammy Wilson
European Parliament Categories:- 1959 births
- Intelligent design advocates
- Living people
- Mayors of places in Northern Ireland
- Orangemen
- Northern Ireland MLAs 2003–2007
- Northern Ireland MLAs 2007–2011
- Members of the United Kingdom Parliament for Northern Irish constituencies
- People from Portadown
- Protestants from Northern Ireland
- UK MPs 2005–2010
- Democratic Unionist Party MPs
- UK MPs 2010–
- People educated at Killicomaine Junior High School
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