Jim Wilson (UK politician)
Encyclopedia
Jim Wilson is a Northern Irish
politician
.
Born in County Antrim
, Wilson attended Belfast College of Technology before becoming a marine engineer. He was elected to Newtownabbey Borough Council
in 1975 for the Vanguard Unionist Progressive Party, and joined the Ulster Unionist Party
the following year. However, he resigned his position on the council in 1988. He was UUP General Secretary from the late 1980s until 1998.
Wilson was elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly
for South Antrim
in 1998 and held his seat at the 2003 election
. He retired from front line politics in 2007. In March 2007 he was reappointed General Secretary of the UUP.
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
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
.
Born in County Antrim
County Antrim
County Antrim is one of six counties that form Northern Ireland, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland. Adjoined to the north-east shore of Lough Neagh, the county covers an area of 2,844 km², with a population of approximately 616,000...
, Wilson attended Belfast College of Technology before becoming a marine engineer. He was elected to Newtownabbey Borough Council
Newtownabbey Borough Council
Newtownabbey Borough Council is a Local Council in County Antrim in Northern Ireland. Newtownabbey has a population of over 80,000 and is on the north shore of Belfast Lough just immediately north of Belfast. The Borough was founded in 1958 as a result of an Act of Parliament passed in 1957 and...
in 1975 for the Vanguard Unionist Progressive Party, and joined 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...
the following year. However, he resigned his position on the council in 1988. He was UUP General Secretary from the late 1980s until 1998.
Wilson was 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 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...
in 1998 and held his seat at the 2003 election
Northern Ireland Assembly election, 2003
The second elections to the Northern Ireland Assembly, which at the time of the elections had been suspended for just over a year, were held on Wednesday 26 November 2003. Six members were elected by Single Transferable Vote from each of Northern Ireland's eighteen Westminster Parliamentary...
. He retired from front line politics in 2007. In March 2007 he was reappointed General Secretary of the UUP.