Lawrence Orr
Encyclopedia
Captain Lawrence Percy Story Orr (16 September 1918 - 11 July 1990) was an Ulster Unionist politician in Northern Ireland
. He was Member of Parliament
(MP) for South Down
from 1950 until he retired at the October 1974 general election, preceding Enoch Powell
.
Orr was chairman of the Ulster Unionist MPs in the House of Commons
from 1964 to 1974 and also Imperial Grand Master of the Orange Order.
He defended the influence of Orangemen in the UUP, saying they are "neither bigoted nor uncharitable ... we do not seek to injure or upbraid a man on account of his religious opinions ... and that they treated those who differed from them with all the common courtesies of a civilised community." Orr warned members not to "follow any narrow-minded part or copy the medieval Roman church in restricting the liberty of conscience of our members."
He also resisted attempts by Westminster to interfere in Northern Ireland's affairs. He married Jean Hughes and bore five children: Willie, John, Kate, Robin, and Christopher. There is also a sixth child Nicolas born in 1957 .
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...
. He was Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
(MP) for South Down
South Down (UK Parliament constituency)
South Down is a Parliamentary Constituency in the United Kingdom House of Commons.-Boundaries:The county constituency was first created in 1885 from the southern part of Down...
from 1950 until he retired at the October 1974 general election, preceding Enoch Powell
Enoch Powell
John Enoch Powell, MBE was a British politician, classical scholar, poet, writer, and soldier. He served as a Conservative Party MP and Minister of Health . He attained most prominence in 1968, when he made the controversial Rivers of Blood speech in opposition to mass immigration from...
.
Orr was chairman of the Ulster Unionist MPs in the House of Commons
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
from 1964 to 1974 and also Imperial Grand Master of the Orange Order.
He defended the influence of Orangemen in the UUP, saying they are "neither bigoted nor uncharitable ... we do not seek to injure or upbraid a man on account of his religious opinions ... and that they treated those who differed from them with all the common courtesies of a civilised community." Orr warned members not to "follow any narrow-minded part or copy the medieval Roman church in restricting the liberty of conscience of our members."
He also resisted attempts by Westminster to interfere in Northern Ireland's affairs. He married Jean Hughes and bore five children: Willie, John, Kate, Robin, and Christopher. There is also a sixth child Nicolas born in 1957 .