Frank Millar
Encyclopedia
Frank Millar was a Northern Irish
unionist politician
.
Millar worked in the shipyard
s, where he became a shop steward, before becoming a founder member of Ulster Protestant Action
in 1956.
Millar was first elected to Belfast City Council
in 1972, representing Dock, then the Antrim and Shore Road areas. He held his seat at each subsequent election until retiring in 1993
. He was Deputy Lord Mayor of Belfast
in 1981-2 and 1992-3.
Millar was also elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly in 1973
for Belfast North
as an Ulster Unionist Party
anti-Sunningdale Agreement
candidate. He held his seat on the Northern Ireland Constitutional Convention
in 1975 as an independent Unionist
, and for the 1982 Northern Ireland Assembly.
In 1986, Millar was fined £100 for describing supporters of Cliftonville F.C.
as "Republican bastards". Two years later, he called for Irish Traveller
s to be "incinerated", while in 1989, he was fined £50 for punching Democratic Unionist Party
councillor Sammy Wilson
. He also faced criticism for describing Nelson Mandela
as a "black Provo", and gay people as "deviants".
In the late 1980s, Millar campaigned against the privatisation of the Harland and Wolff
shipyard.
Millar's son, Frank Millar Jr
, was also an Ulster Unionist Party Assembly member.
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...
unionist politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
.
Millar worked in the shipyard
Shipyard
Shipyards and dockyards are places which repair and build ships. These can be yachts, military vessels, cruise liners or other cargo or passenger ships. Dockyards are sometimes more associated with maintenance and basing activities than shipyards, which are sometimes associated more with initial...
s, where he became a shop steward, before becoming a founder member of 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...
in 1956.
Millar was first 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...
in 1972, representing Dock, then the Antrim and Shore Road areas. He held his seat at each subsequent election until retiring in 1993
Northern Ireland local elections, 1993
Elections for local government were held in Northern Ireland on 19 May 1993.-Overall:-Belfast:-References:...
. He was Deputy Lord Mayor of Belfast
Lord Mayor of Belfast
The Lord Mayor of Belfast is the leader and chairman of Belfast City Council, elected annually from and by the City's 51 councillors.The Lord Mayor is Niall Ó Donnghaile of Sinn Féin, while the Deputy Lord Mayor is Ruth Patterson of the Democratic Unionist Party, who were elected in May 2011.The...
in 1981-2 and 1992-3.
Millar was also elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly in 1973
Northern Ireland Assembly (1973)
The Northern Ireland Assembly was a legislative assembly set up by the Government of the United Kingdom on 3 May 1973 to restore devolved government to Northern Ireland with the power-sharing Northern Ireland Executive made up of unionists and nationalists....
for Belfast North
Belfast North (Assembly constituency)
Belfast North 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...
as an 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...
anti-Sunningdale Agreement
Sunningdale Agreement
The Sunningdale Agreement was an attempt to establish a power-sharing Northern Ireland Executive and a cross-border Council of Ireland. The Agreement was signed at the Civil Service College in Sunningdale Park located in Sunningdale, Berkshire, on 9 December 1973.Unionist opposition, violence and...
candidate. He held his seat on the Northern Ireland Constitutional Convention
Northern Ireland Constitutional Convention
The Northern Ireland Constitutional Convention was an elected body set up in 1975 by the UK Labour government of Harold Wilson as an attempt to deal with constitutional issues surrounding the status of Northern Ireland....
in 1975 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....
, and for the 1982 Northern Ireland Assembly.
In 1986, Millar was fined £100 for describing supporters of Cliftonville F.C.
Cliftonville F.C.
Cliftonville Football & Athletic Club is a semi-professional, Northern Irish football club playing in the IFA Premiership. Founded on 20 September 1879 by John McCredy McAlery in the suburb of Cliftonville in north Belfast, it is the oldest football club in Ireland and celebrated its 130th...
as "Republican bastards". Two years later, he called for Irish Traveller
Irish Traveller
Irish Travellers are a traditionally nomadic people of ethnic Irish origin, who maintain a separate language and set of traditions. They live predominantly in the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom and the United States.-Etymology:...
s to be "incinerated", while in 1989, he was fined £50 for punching 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...
councillor Sammy Wilson
Sammy Wilson
Samuel Wilson is a politician from Northern Ireland who is a Member of Parliament and a Member of the Legislative Assembly for East Antrim. He served as Lord Mayor of Belfast in 1986 – 1987; and again from June 2000 to June 2001. He was the first person from the Democratic Unionist Party ...
. He also faced criticism for describing Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999, and was the first South African president to be elected in a fully representative democratic election. Before his presidency, Mandela was an anti-apartheid activist, and the leader of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the armed wing...
as a "black Provo", and gay people as "deviants".
In the late 1980s, Millar campaigned against the privatisation of the Harland and Wolff
Harland and Wolff
Harland and Wolff Heavy Industries is a Northern Irish heavy industrial company, specialising in shipbuilding and offshore construction, located in Belfast, Northern Ireland....
shipyard.
Millar's son, Frank Millar Jr
Frank Millar Jr
Frank Millar is a Northern Irish journalist and former unionist politician.The son of Frank Millar, also a unionist politician, he was known as "Frank Millar Jr" during his early political career...
, was also an Ulster Unionist Party Assembly member.