Roy Thompson (politician)
Encyclopedia
Roy Thompson is a Northern Irish
politician, initially with the Democratic Unionist Party
(DUP) and later with the Ulster Unionist Party
(UUP).
A dairy farmer by profession Thompson was involved in politics from an early age and was a founder member of the DUP, serving on the new party's executive. He was elected to Antrim Borough Council in the 1981 elections and the following year was elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly for South Antrim
. Whilst serving as deputy mayor of Antrim in 1992 he resigned from the DUP for unknown reasons, although he stated publicly that his decision had nothing to do with Ian Paisley
's leadership.
Thompson has subsequently changed political allegiance on a number of occasions. In the 1993 local elections he was returned to Antrim Council as an Independent Unionist
before in 1997 retaining the seat as a UUP member. He remained a councillor until 2005 when he was defeated, having returned to the DUP. Once again representing the DUP Thompson was re-elected to the council in 2011.
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...
politician, initially with 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) and later with 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).
A dairy farmer by profession Thompson was involved in politics from an early age and was a founder member of the DUP, serving on the new party's executive. He was elected to Antrim Borough Council in the 1981 elections and the following year was elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly for South Antrim
South Antrim (Assembly constituency)
South Antrim 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...
. Whilst serving as deputy mayor of Antrim in 1992 he resigned from the DUP for unknown reasons, although he stated publicly that his decision had nothing to do with 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...
's leadership.
Thompson has subsequently changed political allegiance on a number of occasions. In the 1993 local elections he was returned to Antrim Council 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....
before in 1997 retaining the seat as a UUP member. He remained a councillor until 2005 when he was defeated, having returned to the DUP. Once again representing the DUP Thompson was re-elected to the council in 2011.