Maurice Morrow, Baron Morrow
Encyclopedia
Maurice George Morrow, Baron Morrow (born 1948) is a Northern Irish
unionist politician. He is one of two Democratic Unionist
MLAs
for Fermanagh and South Tyrone
alongside Arlene Foster
, and was made a life peer in June 2006. He is also a councillor on Dungannon and South Tyrone Borough Council
representing Dungannon Town.
He was educated at Ballygawley Primary School, Dungannon Secondary and Dungannon Technical College, following which he pursued a career as an estate agent
.
Morrow’s political career began in 1973 when he was elected to Fermanagh District Council
. He has been an MLA in the Northern Ireland Assembly
since 1998. In July 2000 he became Minister for Social Development in the Northern Ireland Executive
, a position held until October 2001, during which time he was credited with implementing policies recognising the needs of the elderly, the farming community and introduced new measures to tackle welfare fraud
.
It was announced on 11 April 2006 that Morrow would be one of the first three members of the DUP to be created life peer
s, giving the party its first representation in the House of Lords
. He was created Baron Morrow, of Clogher Valley in the County of Tyrone, on 7 June 2006 and was formally introduced to the House of Lords on 27 June.
The other new DUP peers are Wallace Browne, the Lord Mayor
of Belfast for 2005–6, and Eileen Paisley, a vice-president of the DUP and wife of the Leader of the DUP, Ian Paisley
. All are to become "working" life peers. At the same time, it was announced that David Trimble
, former MP
and former leader of the Ulster Unionists, was also being appointed as a working life peer.
Morrow is married and has two daughters. He maintains an interest in rural development.
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. He is one of two Democratic Unionist
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...
MLAs
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....
for Fermanagh and South Tyrone
Fermanagh and South Tyrone (Assembly constituency)
Fermanagh and South Tyrone 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...
alongside Arlene Foster
Arlene Foster
Arlene Isabel Foster is a politician in Northern Ireland. She is one of two Democratic Unionist Party MLAs representing the Fermanagh and South Tyrone constituency in the Northern Ireland Assembly. She became Minister of the Environment on 8 May 2009 and was subsequently reshuffled into the...
, and was made a life peer in June 2006. He is also a councillor on Dungannon and South Tyrone Borough Council
Dungannon and South Tyrone Borough Council
Dungannon and South Tyrone Borough Council is a local council in Northern Ireland. Its main town is Dungannon, where the council is headquartered. The council area covers the southern part of County Tyrone and has a population of nearly 48,000...
representing Dungannon Town.
He was educated at Ballygawley Primary School, Dungannon Secondary and Dungannon Technical College, following which he pursued a career as an estate agent
Estate agent
An estate agent is a person or business that arranges the selling, renting or management of properties, and other buildings, in the United Kingdom and Ireland. An agent that specialises in renting is often called a letting or management agent...
.
Morrow’s political career began in 1973 when he was elected to Fermanagh District Council
Fermanagh District Council
Fermanagh District Council is a local council in Northern Ireland. The borders of the district are very similar to those of the traditional County Fermanagh, containing all of that county plus a small section of County Tyrone in the Dromore Road and Kilskeery Road areas. Council headquarters are...
. He has been an MLA in 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...
since 1998. In July 2000 he became Minister for Social Development in the Northern Ireland Executive
Northern Ireland Executive
The Northern Ireland Executive is the executive arm of the Northern Ireland Assembly, the devolved legislature for Northern Ireland. It is answerable to the Assembly and was established according to the terms of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, which followed the Good Friday Agreement...
, a position held until October 2001, during which time he was credited with implementing policies recognising the needs of the elderly, the farming community and introduced new measures to tackle welfare fraud
Welfare fraud
Welfare fraud refers to various intentional misuses of state welfare systems by withholding information or giving false or inaccurate information. This may be done in small, uncoordinated efforts, or in larger, organized criminal rings...
.
It was announced on 11 April 2006 that Morrow would be one of the first three members of the DUP to be created life peer
Life peer
In the United Kingdom, life peers are appointed members of the Peerage whose titles cannot be inherited. Nowadays life peerages, always of baronial rank, are created under the Life Peerages Act 1958 and entitle the holders to seats in the House of Lords, presuming they meet qualifications such as...
s, giving the party its first representation in the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
. He was created Baron Morrow, of Clogher Valley in the County of Tyrone, on 7 June 2006 and was formally introduced to the House of Lords on 27 June.
The other new DUP peers are Wallace Browne, the Lord Mayor
Lord Mayor
The Lord Mayor is the title of the Mayor of a major city, with special recognition.-Commonwealth of Nations:* In Australia it is a political position. Australian cities with Lord Mayors: Adelaide, Brisbane, Darwin, Hobart, Melbourne, Newcastle, Parramatta, Perth, Sydney, and Wollongong...
of Belfast for 2005–6, and Eileen Paisley, a vice-president of the DUP and wife of the Leader of the DUP, 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...
. All are to become "working" life peers. At the same time, it was announced that David Trimble
David Trimble
William David Trimble, Baron Trimble, PC , is a politician from Northern Ireland. He served as Leader of the Ulster Unionist Party , was the first First Minister of Northern Ireland , and was a Member of the British Parliament . He is currently a life peer for the Conservative Party...
, former MP
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,...
and former leader of the Ulster Unionists, was also being appointed as a working life peer.
Morrow is married and has two daughters. He maintains an interest in rural development.
External links
- Maurice Morrow MLA, DUP website
- List of Members, House of Lords
- Notice of Lord Morrow's Introduction, House of Lords – Minute
- Four new unionist peers appointed, BBC NewsBBC NewsBBC News is the department of the British Broadcasting Corporation responsible for the gathering and broadcasting of news and current affairs. The department is the world's largest broadcast news organisation and generates about 120 hours of radio and television output each day, as well as online...
, 11 April 2006