David McClarty
Encyclopedia
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.
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." He retained his seat in the Assembly in the 2011 election.
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.
Independent Unionist
See also Independent .Independent Unionist has been a label sometimes used by candidates in elections in the United Kingdom, indicating a support for Unionism, retaining the unity of the British state....
politician from 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...
.
He is from Coleraine
Coleraine
Coleraine is a large town near the mouth of the River Bann in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It is northwest of Belfast and east of Derry, both of which are linked by major roads and railway connections...
and was educated at Coleraine Academical Institution
Coleraine Academical Institution
Coleraine Academical Institution , styled locally as Coleraine Inst, is a voluntary grammar school for boys, situated in Coleraine, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland....
and Magee College
Magee College
Magee College is a campus of the University of Ulster located in Derry, Northern Ireland. It opened in 1865 as a Presbyterian Christian arts and theological college...
. McClarty was first elected to Coleraine Borough Council
Coleraine Borough Council
Coleraine Borough Council is a local council mainly in County Londonderry and partly in County Antrim in Northern Ireland. Its headquarters are in the town of Coleraine. Small towns in the area include Garvagh, Portrush, Portstewart and Kilrea...
in 1989, and held the post of Mayor from 1993 to 1995.
Until January 1, 2011 he was an Ulster Unionist Party
Ulster Unionist Party
The Ulster Unionist Party – sometimes referred to as the Official Unionist Party or, in a historic sense, simply the Unionist Party – is the more moderate of the two main unionist political parties in Northern Ireland...
member of the Northern Ireland Assembly
Northern Ireland Assembly
The Northern Ireland Assembly is the devolved legislature of Northern Ireland. It has power to legislate in a wide range of areas that are not explicitly reserved to the Parliament of the United Kingdom, and to appoint the Northern Ireland Executive...
(1998–present) for East Londonderry
East Londonderry
East Londonderry or East Derry can refer to:*The eastern part of County Londonderry*The eastern part of the city of Derry*East Londonderry *East Londonderry...
and was the Ulster Unionist Party’s chief whip at the Assembly
Ulster Unionist Chief Whip
This is a list of people who served as Chief Whip of the Ulster Unionist Party in the Parliament of the United Kingdom, the Parliament of Northern Ireland and the Northern Ireland Assembly.-Parliament of the United Kingdom:...
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
Harry Hamilton
Harry Hamilton is a former professional American football player. He was an Academic All-American safety at Penn State University in 1982 and 1983. He played 8 seasons as a safety in the National Football League. He attended John S. Fine High school in Nanticoke, Pennsylvania...
and Paula Bradshaw
Paula Bradshaw
Paula Bradshaw was the Ulster Conservatives and Unionists – New Force parliamentary candidate for Belfast South in the 2010 United Kingdom General Election...
, who both joined 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....
, and Trevor Ringland
Trevor Ringland
Trevor Maxwell Ringland, MBE is a solicitor, former rugby union winger and Unionist politician. After attending Larne Grammar School Ringland studied law at Queen's University Belfast.-Rugby career:...
, who has also become an independent.
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." He retained his seat in the Assembly in the 2011 election.
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
City of London
The City of London is a small area within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which the modern conurbation grew and has held city status since time immemorial. The City’s boundaries have remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, and it is now only a tiny part of...
in 1994.
He is married to Norma.