Jean Coulter
Encyclopedia
Rose Jean Coulter is a former unionist politician
in Northern Ireland
.
Born in the Shankhill district of Belfast
, Coulter studied at the Girls' Model School before becoming a solicitor's clerk. She also became active in the Ulster Unionist Party
(UUP). In June 1973, she worked with John Laird
and Hugh Smyth
to form the West Belfast Loyalist Coalition, which contested the Northern Ireland Assembly election, 1973
. All three were elected from the Belfast West
constituency. In Coulter's case, she was co-sponsored by the Vanguard Progressive Unionist Party
.
In January 1974, Brian Faulkner
resigned as leader of the UUP, and Coulter switched her affiliation back to that party, allowing the West Belfast Loyalist Coalition to become inactive. In 1975, she was elected to the Northern Ireland Constitutional Convention
as a UUP member. Although she did not stand for election again, she remained politically active, calling for the Royal Air Force
to bomb Irish republican areas of Northern Ireland, claiming that there were no "innocent people" there. She opposed the Belfast Agreement
, and by the UK general election, 2005, was a supporter of the Democratic Unionist Party
.
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 the Shankhill district of Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
, Coulter studied at the Girls' Model School before becoming a solicitor's clerk. She also became active in the 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...
(UUP). In June 1973, she worked with John Laird
John Laird, Baron Laird
Professor John Dunn Laird, Baron Laird FRSA of Artigarvan is an Ulster Unionist life peer and former chairman of the cross-border Ulster-Scots Agency.-Career:...
and Hugh Smyth
Hugh Smyth
Cllr Hugh Smyth is a former leader of the Progressive Unionist Party. He is a long-serving member of Belfast City Council and former Lord Mayor of Belfast. He is also the longest-serving member of the council, having represented the Upper Shankill areas since 1973...
to form the West Belfast Loyalist Coalition, which contested the Northern Ireland Assembly election, 1973
Northern Ireland Assembly election, 1973
-Seats summary:-Source:* http://www.ark.ac.uk/elections/fa73.htm...
. All three were elected from the Belfast West
Belfast West (Assembly constituency)
Belfast West is a constituency in the Northern Ireland Assembly.The seat was first used for a Northern Ireland-only election for the Northern Ireland Assembly, 1973...
constituency. In Coulter's case, she was co-sponsored by the Vanguard Progressive Unionist Party
Vanguard Progressive Unionist Party
The Vanguard Unionist Progressive Party , informally known as Ulster Vanguard, was a unionist political party which existed in Northern Ireland between 1973 and 1978...
.
In January 1974, Brian Faulkner
Brian Faulkner
Arthur Brian Deane Faulkner, Baron Faulkner of Downpatrick, PC was the sixth and last Prime Minister of Northern Ireland from March 1971 until his resignation in March 1972...
resigned as leader of the UUP, and Coulter switched her affiliation back to that party, allowing the West Belfast Loyalist Coalition to become inactive. In 1975, she was elected to 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....
as a UUP member. Although she did not stand for election again, she remained politically active, calling for the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
to bomb Irish republican areas of Northern Ireland, claiming that there were no "innocent people" there. She opposed the Belfast Agreement
Belfast Agreement
The Good Friday Agreement or Belfast Agreement , sometimes called the Stormont Agreement, was a major political development in the Northern Ireland peace process...
, and by the UK general election, 2005, was a supporter of the Democratic Unionist Party
Democratic Unionist Party
The Democratic Unionist Party is the larger of the two main unionist political parties in Northern Ireland. Founded by Ian Paisley and currently led by Peter Robinson, it is currently the largest party in the Northern Ireland Assembly and the fourth-largest party in the House of Commons of the...
.