Norman Porter
Encyclopedia
Norman Porter was a loyalist
politician
in Northern Ireland
.
A lay preacher, an Orangeman, an Apprentice Boy and a member of the Royal Black Institution, Porter became the leader of the National Union of Protestants in Northern Ireland in 1948. Ian Paisley
joined the Union in about 1950, but left after Porter refused to join his new Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster
. The Union disintegrated soon after. In 1953, Porter became the Director of the Evangelical Protestant Society
. He also edited the Ulster Protestant newspaper, which he produced with William McConnell Wilton.
At the Northern Ireland general election, 1953
, Porter was elected as an Independent Unionist
MP for Belfast Clifton
, standing with the slogan "For God and Ulster". He defeated Samuel Hall-Thompson
, who uniquely among Ministers was not a member of the Orange Order and who had faced criticism from loyalists for appearing to compromise with the Roman Catholic Church
while Minister of Education
.
Porter attended the first meeting of the Ulster Protestant Action
group in 1956, but he immediately withdrew. He lost his seat at the 1958 general election
to Robin Kinahan
. Porter was again defeated in the seat in a 1959 by-election.
Porter was an opponent of Catholicism
. In a 1964 speech reported in the Belfast Newsletter, he stated: "When you become too friendly with those of different religious persuasion, you find it increasingly hard and difficult to oppose their beliefs - this leads to compromise."
In 1969
, he stood in Belfast Duncairn
, where sitting Ulster Unionist Party
MP William Fitzsimmons' daughter had married a Roman Catholic, and Fitzsimmons had subsequently resigned from the Orange Order. Porter presented himself as a candidate whose opposition to Catholicism was in no doubt, but proved unsuccessful in the poll.
Porter's son, also Norman Porter, has written several books on politics in Northern Ireland.
Ulster loyalism
Ulster loyalism is an ideology that is opposed to a united Ireland. It can mean either support for upholding Northern Ireland's status as a constituent part of the United Kingdom , support for Northern Ireland independence, or support for loyalist paramilitaries...
politician
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...
.
A lay preacher, an Orangeman, an Apprentice Boy and a member of the Royal Black Institution, Porter became the leader of the National Union of Protestants in Northern Ireland in 1948. Ian Paisley
Ian Paisley
Ian Richard Kyle Paisley, Baron Bannside, PC is a politician and church minister in Northern Ireland. As the leader of the Democratic Unionist Party , he and Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness were elected First Minister and deputy First Minister respectively on 8 May 2007.In addition to co-founding...
joined the Union in about 1950, but left after Porter refused to join his new Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster
Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster
The Free Presbyterian Church is a Presbyterian denomination founded by the Rev. Ian Paisley in 1951. Most of its members live in Northern Ireland...
. The Union disintegrated soon after. In 1953, Porter became the Director of the Evangelical Protestant Society
Evangelical Protestant Society
The Evangelical Protestant Society was founded in Belfast, Northern Ireland in 1946. Today, it is stronger than ever, with thousands of supporters , not only in Northern Ireland, but in Great Britain, the Republic of Ireland, Europe, Northern America and Australasia...
. He also edited the Ulster Protestant newspaper, which he produced with William McConnell Wilton.
At the Northern Ireland general election, 1953
Northern Ireland general election, 1953
-References:*...
, Porter was elected as an Independent Unionist
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....
MP for Belfast Clifton
Belfast Clifton (Northern Ireland Parliament constituency)
Belfast Clifton was a constituency of the Parliament of Northern Ireland.-Boundaries:Belfast Clifton was a borough constituency comprising part of northern Belfast...
, standing with the slogan "For God and Ulster". He defeated Samuel Hall-Thompson
Samuel Hall-Thompson
Lt-Col. Samuel Hall-Thompson was a Unionist politician from Northern Ireland.Hall-Thompson was born in Crawfordsburn and studied at Dulwich College. His father, Rt. Hon. Robert Thompson, DL, was also an MP...
, who uniquely among Ministers was not a member of the Orange Order and who had faced criticism from loyalists for appearing to compromise with the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
while Minister of Education
Minister of Education (Northern Ireland)
The Minister of Education was a member of the Executive Committee of the Privy Council of Northern Ireland in the Parliament of Northern Ireland which governed Northern Ireland from 1921 to 1972.-References:*...
.
Porter attended the first meeting of the Ulster Protestant Action
Ulster Protestant Action
Ulster Protestant Action was an loyalist and Protestant fundamentalist vigilante group in Northern Ireland.The group was founded at a special meeting at the Ulster Unionist Party's offices in Glengall Street, Belfast, in 1956. Among the attendees were many loyalists who were to become major...
group in 1956, but he immediately withdrew. He lost his seat at the 1958 general election
Northern Ireland general election, 1958
-References:*-See also:*MPs elected in the Northern Ireland general election, 1958...
to Robin Kinahan
Robin Kinahan
Sir Robert George Caldwell "Robin" Kinahan was a politician, businessman and a senior member of the Orange Order in Northern Ireland. In his obituary, he was described as one of the last of the "county elite" to remain a high-ranking member of the Orange Order during the turbulent years of The...
. Porter was again defeated in the seat in a 1959 by-election.
Porter was an opponent of Catholicism
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
. In a 1964 speech reported in the Belfast Newsletter, he stated: "When you become too friendly with those of different religious persuasion, you find it increasingly hard and difficult to oppose their beliefs - this leads to compromise."
In 1969
Northern Ireland general election, 1969
-References:*...
, he stood in Belfast Duncairn
Belfast Duncairn (Northern Ireland Parliament constituency)
Belfast Duncairn was a constituency of the Parliament of Northern Ireland.-Boundaries:Belfast Duncairn was a borough constituency comprising part of northern Belfast...
, where sitting 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...
MP William Fitzsimmons' daughter had married a Roman Catholic, and Fitzsimmons had subsequently resigned from the Orange Order. Porter presented himself as a candidate whose opposition to Catholicism was in no doubt, but proved unsuccessful in the poll.
Porter's son, also Norman Porter, has written several books on politics in Northern Ireland.