Jim Kirkpatrick
Encyclopedia
Jim Kirkpatrick is a Unionist politician who has represented the Ulster Unionist Party
(UUP) three times and the Democratic Unionist Party
twice. He sat in the 1982 Assembly and is currently a Belfast City councillor for the UUP.
Kirkpatrick was first elected as a UUP member of the Assembly for Belfast South in 1982. Three years later
he was elected to Belfast City Council
, representing the Balmoral electoral area, which covers the Lisburn, Malone and Donegal Road areas of the city.
Kirkpatrick joined the Democratic Unionist Party
(DUP) in 1996 and lost his council seat in 1997
, having moved from Balmoral to Laganbank. He subsequently rejoined the UUP and became chairman of the Drumbo
branch in Lagan Valley.
He was selected to contest the elections to the Northern Ireland Assembly
in 2003 by Lagan Valley
UUP in a controversial selection meeting but polled less than 700 votes and was quickly eliminated
.
Following this, in December 2004 he again defected to the DUP and was returned for that party to Belfast City Council in 2005, regaining his original seat in Balmoral. In 2007 however, Kirkpatrick was pictured at a fundraising dinner with Jim Allister
MEP, held to raise funds for a new Unionist Party opposed to powersharing. On 2 June 2009 he again defected back to the UUP, accusing senior DUP members of "caring more about dynasty building and expense claims than voters."
He has also served as High Sheriff before, having fulfilled the role in 1990. He was sworn in again as High Sheriff of Belfast
in a traditional ceremony at Belfast City Hall in January 2007, succeeding Councillor William Humphrey.
Kirkpatrick is a member of Malone Presbyterian Church, the Masonic Order and the Orange Order.
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) three times and 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...
twice. He sat in the 1982 Assembly and is currently a Belfast City councillor for the UUP.
Kirkpatrick was first elected as a UUP member of the Assembly for Belfast South in 1982. Three years later
Northern Ireland local elections, 1985
Elections for local government were held in Northern Ireland on 15 May 1985.-1981 elections:The previous elections had been fought in the middle of the hunger strike and the H-Block Prison Protest...
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...
, representing the Balmoral electoral area, which covers the Lisburn, Malone and Donegal Road areas of the city.
Kirkpatrick joined 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...
(DUP) in 1996 and lost his council seat in 1997
Northern Ireland local elections, 1997
Elections for local government were held in Northern Ireland on 21 May 1997, shortly after the 1997 general election across the entire United Kingdom.-Overall:-Belfast:-References:...
, having moved from Balmoral to Laganbank. He subsequently rejoined the UUP and became chairman of the Drumbo
Drumbo
Drumbo is a small village and townland in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It lies about south of Belfast city centre, east of Lisburn and west of Carryduff. The 2001 Census recorded the village's population as being 408....
branch in Lagan Valley.
He was selected to contest the elections to 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...
in 2003 by Lagan Valley
Lagan Valley (Assembly constituency)
Lagan Valley is a constituency in the Northern Ireland Assembly.The seat was first used for a Northern Ireland-only election for the Northern Ireland Forum in 1996. Since 1998, it has elected members to the current Assembly....
UUP in a controversial selection meeting but polled less than 700 votes and was quickly eliminated
.
Following this, in December 2004 he again defected to the DUP and was returned for that party to Belfast City Council in 2005, regaining his original seat in Balmoral. In 2007 however, Kirkpatrick was pictured at a fundraising dinner with Jim Allister
Jim Allister
James Hugh "Jim" Allister, QC is a Northern Ireland Unionist politician and senior barrister. He is the leader of the Traditional Unionist Voice political party, serving as MLA in the Northern Ireland Assembly, where he represents Antrim North.He was formerly a member of the Democratic Unionist...
MEP, held to raise funds for a new Unionist Party opposed to powersharing. On 2 June 2009 he again defected back to the UUP, accusing senior DUP members of "caring more about dynasty building and expense claims than voters."
He has also served as High Sheriff before, having fulfilled the role in 1990. He was sworn in again as High Sheriff of Belfast
High Sheriff of Belfast
The High Sheriff of Belfast is a High Sheriff title and position which was created in 1900 under the Local Government Act 1898, with Sir James Henderson the first holder. It is a largely ceremonial position currently held by Ian Adamson, who took office in January 2011...
in a traditional ceremony at Belfast City Hall in January 2007, succeeding Councillor William Humphrey.
Kirkpatrick is a member of Malone Presbyterian Church, the Masonic Order and the Orange Order.