Jim Shannon
Encyclopedia
Richard James Shannon is a unionist
politician from Northern Ireland
.
. He was in the Ulster Defence Regiment
in 1973-75 and 1976–77 and was awarded the General Service Medal
. He served in the Royal Artillery
TA from 1977-88. He is a member of the Orange Order and Apprentice Boys of Derry
.
for Political Dialogue in 1996. Shannon has been elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly
for Strangford at every election since 1998 representing the DUP
.
At the 2010 general election Shannon won in his own constituency of Strangford
with 14,926 votes compared to the Ulster Conservatives & Unionists
9,050 and Sinn Féin
1,161.
Following his election to Westminster, he resigned his Assembly seat in favour of Simpson Gibson
.
Unionism in Ireland
Unionism in Ireland is an ideology that favours the continuation of some form of political union between the islands of Ireland and Great Britain...
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...
.
Early life
Shannon was educated at Ballywalter Primary School and Coleraine Academical InstitutionColeraine Academical Institution
Coleraine Academical Institution , styled locally as Coleraine Inst, is a voluntary grammar school for boys, situated in Coleraine, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland....
. He was in the Ulster Defence Regiment
Ulster Defence Regiment
The Ulster Defence Regiment was an infantry regiment of the British Army which became operational in 1970, formed on similar lines to other British reserve forces but with the operational role of defence of life or property in Northern Ireland against armed attack or sabotage...
in 1973-75 and 1976–77 and was awarded the General Service Medal
General Service Medal (1962)
The General Service Medal , was introduced in 1962 to combine the General Service Medal , as awarded to the Army and RAF, and the Naval General Service Medal...
. He served in the Royal Artillery
Royal Artillery
The Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery , is the artillery arm of the British Army. Despite its name, it comprises a number of regiments.-History:...
TA from 1977-88. He is a member of the Orange Order and Apprentice Boys of Derry
Apprentice Boys of Derry
The Apprentice Boys of Derry is a Protestant fraternal society with a worldwide membership of over 80,000, founded in 1814. They are based in the city of Derry, Northern Ireland. However, there are Clubs and branches across Ireland, Great Britain and further afield...
.
Political career
Shannon is a councillor who was first elected to Ards Borough Council in 1985 and served as Mayor in 1991-92. He was elected as a member of the Northern Ireland ForumNorthern Ireland Forum
The Northern Ireland Forum was a body set up in 1996 as part of a process of negotiations that eventually led to the Belfast Agreement in 1998....
for Political Dialogue in 1996. Shannon has been elected 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...
for Strangford at every election since 1998 representing the DUP
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...
.
At the 2010 general election Shannon won in his own constituency of Strangford
Strangford (UK Parliament constituency)
Strangford is a Parliamentary Constituency in the United Kingdom House of Commons.-Boundaries:The seat was created in boundary changes in 1983, as part of an expansion of Northern Ireland's constituencies from 12 to 17, and was predominantly made up from parts of North Down...
with 14,926 votes compared to the Ulster Conservatives & Unionists
Ulster Conservatives and Unionists – New Force
The Ulster Conservatives and Unionists, officially registered as the Ulster Conservatives and Unionists – New Force , is a bipartisan electoral alliance in Northern Ireland between the Ulster Unionist Party and the Northern Ireland branch of the Conservative Party, the latter party also being...
9,050 and Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin is a left wing, Irish republican political party in Ireland. The name is Irish for "ourselves" or "we ourselves", although it is frequently mistranslated as "ourselves alone". Originating in the Sinn Féin organisation founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffith, it took its current form in 1970...
1,161.
Following his election to Westminster, he resigned his Assembly seat in favour of Simpson Gibson
Simpson Gibson
Hugh John Simpson Gibson is a unionist politician in Northern Ireland.Gibson studied at Saintfield Secondary School and Shaftesbury House Tutorial College, before working as a farmer and becoming a member of the Orange Order. He joined the Democratic Unionist Party and was elected to Ards...
.
Personal life
He was voted 'least sexiest MP' in a list of all Westminister MP's.He laughed off his position at the bottom of the poll.External links
- ALDERMAN JIM SHANNON (DUP) Ards Borough Council