Dawn Purvis
Encyclopedia
Dawn Purvis was an Independent Unionist member of the Northern Ireland Assembly
. She was previously the leader of the Progressive Unionist Party
(PUP) until she resigned in 2010. She lost her seat in the Assembly in the 2011 election.
, Purvis joined the PUP in 1994. She stood for the party in the 1996 Northern Ireland Forum
election in Belfast South
and then in the 1998 Northern Ireland Assembly election
in Belfast East
, here taking only 271 votes.
Purvis stood in Belfast South
in the 2001 UK general election
, finishing in sixth place with a total of 1112 votes (2.9%).
In 2006, Purvis was appointed to the Northern Ireland Policing Board
. Her appointment was later criticised by the Democratic Unionist Party
, due to the PUP's links with the paramilitary Ulster Volunteer Force.
In January 2007, Purvis succeeded the late David Ervine
as leader of the PUP and MLA for Belfast East. Commenting on her new role she said:
In her maiden speech in the Assembly she said "As long as there is poverty, and as long as there is inequality in education, health and gender, it will be my duty to articulate the needs of the working and workless classes in East Belfast."
She was re-elected in the constituency at the Assembly election
held on 7 March 2007, on the tenth and final round of counting.
.
running against her. In the end neither candidate was elected and instead the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
gained a second East Belfast seat.
Member of the Legislative Assembly
A Member of the Legislative Assembly or a Member of the Legislature , is a representative elected by the voters of a constituency to the legislature or legislative assembly of a sub-national jurisdiction....
. She was previously the leader of the Progressive Unionist Party
Progressive Unionist Party
The Progressive Unionist Party is a small unionist political party in Northern Ireland. It was formed from the Independent Unionist Group operating in the Shankill area of Belfast, becoming the PUP in 1979...
(PUP) until she resigned in 2010. She lost her seat in the Assembly in the 2011 election.
Biography
Born in the Donegall Pass area of BelfastBelfast
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...
, Purvis joined the PUP in 1994. She stood for the party in the 1996 Northern Ireland Forum
Northern 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....
election in Belfast South
Belfast South (Assembly constituency)
Belfast South 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...
and then in the 1998 Northern Ireland Assembly election
Northern Ireland Assembly election, 1998
-Seats summary:-Details:Although the SDLP won the most first preference votes, the Ulster Unionists won the most seats in the Assembly. This has been attributed to several reasons, including:...
in Belfast East
Belfast East (Assembly constituency)
Belfast East 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...
, here taking only 271 votes.
Political career
By 1999, Purvis was the PUP's Spokesperson on Women's Affairs. She took a degree in Women's Studies, Social Policy and Social Anthropology and began working full time for the party.Purvis stood in Belfast South
Belfast South (UK Parliament constituency)
Belfast South is a Parliamentary Constituency in the United Kingdom House of Commons.-Boundaries:The seat was created in 1922 when, as part of the establishment of the devolved Stormont Parliament for Northern Ireland, the number of MPs in the Westminster Parliament was drastically cut...
in the 2001 UK general election
United Kingdom general election, 2001
The United Kingdom general election, 2001 was held on Thursday 7 June 2001 to elect 659 members to the British House of Commons. It was dubbed "the quiet landslide" by the media, as the Labour Party was re-elected with another landslide result and only suffered a net loss of 6 seats...
, finishing in sixth place with a total of 1112 votes (2.9%).
In 2006, Purvis was appointed to the Northern Ireland Policing Board
Northern Ireland Policing Board
The Northern Ireland Policing Board is the police authority for Northern Ireland, charged with supervising the activities of the Police Service of Northern Ireland...
. Her appointment was later criticised by 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...
, due to the PUP's links with the paramilitary Ulster Volunteer Force.
In January 2007, Purvis succeeded the late David Ervine
David Ervine
David Ervine was a Northern Irish politician and the leader of the Progressive Unionist Party .-Biography:...
as leader of the PUP and MLA for Belfast East. Commenting on her new role she said:
I am deeply honoured to have been made the leader of the PUP. However this is also tinged with sadness given the huge loss of David. It is a huge challenge to step into this role, especially after the good work he did. But this gives us an opportunity to rebuild and continue to serve working class loyalists and unionist communities.
In her maiden speech in the Assembly she said "As long as there is poverty, and as long as there is inequality in education, health and gender, it will be my duty to articulate the needs of the working and workless classes in East Belfast."
She was re-elected in the constituency at the Assembly election
Northern Ireland Assembly election, 2007
The third elections to the Northern Ireland Assembly were held on 7 March 2007 when 108 new members were elected. The election saw endorsement of the St Andrews Agreement and the two largest parties, the Democratic Unionist Party and Sinn Féin, along with the Alliance Party, increase their...
held on 7 March 2007, on the tenth and final round of counting.
Resignation from PUP
In June 2010, Purvis resigned as leader, and as a member, of the PUP because of its relationship with the UVF and the murder of Bobby Moffet which was attributed to that group by the Independent Monitoring CommissionIndependent Monitoring Commission
The Independent Monitoring Commission was an organization founded on 7 January 2004, by an agreement between the British and Irish governments, signed in Dublin on 25 November 2003...
.
Electoral defeat
In the 2011 Assembly election Purvis defended her seat as an independent candidate with PUP leader Brian ErvineBrian Ervine
Brian Ervine is a playwright, songwriter and teacher living in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The Northern Irish playwright St John Ervine was a distant relative...
running against her. In the end neither candidate was elected and instead the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
The Alliance Party of Northern Ireland is a liberal and nonsectarian political party in Northern Ireland. It is Northern Ireland's fifth-largest party overall, with eight seats in the Northern Ireland Assembly and one in the House of Commons....
gained a second East Belfast seat.