Basil Glass
Encyclopedia
Basil Glass was a politician
in Northern Ireland
.
Born in County Leitrim
, Glass studied at Queen's University Belfast; he qualified as a solicitor
in 1950 and became a prominent lawyer. He was elected joint treasurer of the New Ulster Movement
, with fellow solicitor Oliver Napier
, in 1969. The following year, he became the first Chairman of the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
.
In 1973, Glass became the President of the Alliance Party, and he was elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly
for South Belfast, acting as the party's chief whip
in the Assembly. At the October 1974 UK general election he stood for the Westminster seat of South Belfast, taking second position and almost one quarter of the vote.
Glass was again elected to represent South Belfast on the Northern Ireland Constitutional Convention
in 1975. In 1976, he became the Alliance Party's deputy leader. In 1977
he was elected to Belfast City Council
, a post he held for four years. At the 1979 UK general election, he slightly improved his performance for the Westminster seat.
Glass narrowly failed to be elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly, 1982
, and thereafter scaled back his political activities. In 1987, he was appointed to the High Court bench.
He was described by John Wilson QC, Clerk of the Crown for Northern Ireland, as "a gentleman and a scholar."
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
.
Born in County Leitrim
County Leitrim
County Leitrim is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the village of Leitrim. Leitrim County Council is the local authority for the county...
, Glass studied at Queen's University Belfast; he qualified as a solicitor
Solicitor
Solicitors are lawyers who traditionally deal with any legal matter including conducting proceedings in courts. In the United Kingdom, a few Australian states and the Republic of Ireland, the legal profession is split between solicitors and barristers , and a lawyer will usually only hold one title...
in 1950 and became a prominent lawyer. He was elected joint treasurer of the New Ulster Movement
New Ulster Movement
The New Ulster Movement was a political pressure group in Northern Ireland.The organisation was established in early 1969 under the Chairmanship of Brian Walker, and soon had a membership of around 8,000 people...
, with fellow solicitor Oliver Napier
Oliver Napier
Sir Oliver Napier was the first leader of the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland. In 1974 he served as the first and only Legal Minister and head of the Office of Legal Reform in the Northern Ireland power-sharing executive set up by the Sunningdale Agreement.-Early life:Napier was educated at St...
, in 1969. The following year, he became the first Chairman of the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
The Alliance Party of Northern Ireland is a liberal and nonsectarian political party in Northern Ireland. It is Northern Ireland's fifth-largest party overall, with eight seats in the Northern Ireland Assembly and one in the House of Commons....
.
In 1973, Glass became the President of the Alliance Party, and he was elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly
Northern Ireland Assembly election, 1973
-Seats summary:-Source:* http://www.ark.ac.uk/elections/fa73.htm...
for South Belfast, acting as the party's chief whip
Chief Whip
The Chief Whip is a political office in some legislatures assigned to an elected member whose task is to administer the whipping system that ensures that members of the party attend and vote as the party leadership desires.-The Whips Office:...
in the Assembly. At the October 1974 UK general election he stood for the Westminster seat of South Belfast, taking second position and almost one quarter of the vote.
Glass was again elected to represent South Belfast on the Northern Ireland Constitutional Convention
Northern Ireland Constitutional Convention
The Northern Ireland Constitutional Convention was an elected body set up in 1975 by the UK Labour government of Harold Wilson as an attempt to deal with constitutional issues surrounding the status of Northern Ireland....
in 1975. In 1976, he became the Alliance Party's deputy leader. In 1977
Northern Ireland local elections, 1977
Elections for local government were held in Northern Ireland in May 1977.The elections saw good performances by the four largest parties: the Ulster Unionist Party , Social Democratic and Labour Party , Alliance Party of Northern Ireland and Democratic Unionist Party , while smaller parties failed...
he was elected to Belfast City Council
Belfast City Council
Belfast City Council is the local authority with responsibility for the city of Belfast, the capital and largest city of Northern Ireland. The Council serves an estimated population of , the largest of any district council in Northern Ireland, while also being the fourth smallest by area...
, a post he held for four years. At the 1979 UK general election, he slightly improved his performance for the Westminster seat.
Glass narrowly failed to be elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly, 1982
Northern Ireland Assembly, 1982
The Northern Ireland Assembly established in 1982 represented an ultimately unsuccessful attempt to restore the devolution to Northern Ireland which had been suspended 10 years previously. The Assembly was abolished in 1986.-Origins:...
, and thereafter scaled back his political activities. In 1987, he was appointed to the High Court bench.
He was described by John Wilson QC, Clerk of the Crown for Northern Ireland, as "a gentleman and a scholar."