Michael Copeland
Encyclopedia
Alderman Michael Copeland (born 23 June 1954 in Belfast
) is a Unionist politician from Northern Ireland
, United Kingdom
.
Copeland was educated at Lisnasharragh Primary School, Lisnasharragh Secondary School, Castlereagh College and the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
becoming a lieutenant of the Ulster Defence Regiment
, HM Armed Forces.
Copeland was first elected to Castlereagh Borough Council in 2001 and in May 2002 was elected Deputy Mayor
of Castlereagh.
In 2002, he was elected chairman of Castlereagh District Policing Partnership. He later he resigned in protest at the treatment of the RUC
full-time Reserve. He also served as Director of Castlereagh Local Strategy Partnership.
After defeating incumbent MLA Ian Adamson
for the East Belfast UUP nomination for the 2003 Assembly Election he was elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly
. He was re-selected to stand for the constituency in the forthcoming elections in 2007 but lost his seat. Copeland remains an extremely active figure in local governmental politics within Northern Ireland: maintaining a keen interest in domestic, socioeconomic and housing problems. He was re-elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly as MLA for East Belfast in the Assembly Elections in May 2011.
A member of the Orange Order and the Royal Black Institution, Alderman Copeland is the party's Parades spokesman.
Belfast
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...
) is a Unionist politician from Northern Ireland
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...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
Copeland was educated at Lisnasharragh Primary School, Lisnasharragh Secondary School, Castlereagh College and the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst , commonly known simply as Sandhurst, is a British Army officer initial training centre located in Sandhurst, Berkshire, England...
becoming a lieutenant of the Ulster Defence Regiment
Ulster Defence Regiment
The Ulster Defence Regiment was an infantry regiment of the British Army which became operational in 1970, formed on similar lines to other British reserve forces but with the operational role of defence of life or property in Northern Ireland against armed attack or sabotage...
, HM Armed Forces.
Copeland was first elected to Castlereagh Borough Council in 2001 and in May 2002 was elected Deputy Mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Castlereagh.
In 2002, he was elected chairman of Castlereagh District Policing Partnership. He later he resigned in protest at the treatment of the RUC
Royal Ulster Constabulary
The Royal Ulster Constabulary was the name of the police force in Northern Ireland from 1922 to 2000. Following the awarding of the George Cross in 2000, it was subsequently known as the Royal Ulster Constabulary GC. It was founded on 1 June 1922 out of the Royal Irish Constabulary...
full-time Reserve. He also served as Director of Castlereagh Local Strategy Partnership.
After defeating incumbent MLA Ian Adamson
Ian Adamson
Cllr Ian Adamson OBE is a former Lord Mayor of Belfast. He is a member of the Ulster Unionist Party and is a retired medical doctor.A serving Councillor on Belfast City Council from 1989 until 2011, Adamson was Lord Mayor in 1996....
for the East Belfast UUP nomination for the 2003 Assembly Election he 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...
. He was re-selected to stand for the constituency in the forthcoming elections in 2007 but lost his seat. Copeland remains an extremely active figure in local governmental politics within Northern Ireland: maintaining a keen interest in domestic, socioeconomic and housing problems. He was re-elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly as MLA for East Belfast in the Assembly Elections in May 2011.
A member of the Orange Order and the Royal Black Institution, Alderman Copeland is the party's Parades spokesman.