William Joseph Humphrey MBE (born 17 October 1967) is a former Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) politician who was a Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly (MLA) for North Belfast from 2010 to 2022. He was a Belfast City Councillor for the Court DEA from 2005 to 2014.
William Humphrey | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly for Belfast North | |
| In office 14 September 2010 – 28 March 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Nigel Dodds |
| Succeeded by | Brian Kingston |
| Deputy Lord Mayor of Belfast | |
| In office 2010–2011 | |
| Preceded by | Danny Lavery |
| Succeeded by | Ruth Patterson |
| High Sheriff of Belfast | |
| In office 2006–2007 | |
| Preceded by | David Browne |
| Succeeded by | Jim Kirkpatrick |
| Member of Belfast City Council | |
| In office 5 May 2005 – 22 May 2014 | |
| Preceded by | Chris McGimpsey |
| Succeeded by | Jolene Bunting |
| Constituency | Court |
| Personal details | |
| Born | October 17, 1967 [1] Woodvale, Belfast, Northern Ireland |
| Nationality | British |
| Political party | Democratic Unionist Party |
| Occupation | Politician |
Background
editBorn in the Woodvale area of Belfast, Humphrey studied at the Boys' Model School. A member of the Woodvale Residents' Association, he joined the Democratic Unionist Party, becoming its chairman in North Belfast, and a member of the party's executive.[2] He was elected to Belfast City Council in the Court district at the 2005 Northern Ireland local elections,[3] then served as High Sheriff of Belfast in 2006.[4]
At the 2007 Northern Ireland Assembly election, Humphrey stood in North Belfast, but was not elected.[5] He moved to contest West Belfast at the UK general election, 2010, but took only 7.6% of the votes cast.[6] In June, he became Deputy Lord Mayor of Belfast.[7]
In September 2010, he was selected to replace Nigel Dodds in the Northern Ireland Assembly, representing North Belfast[2] and was elected at the 2011 Assembly election. Referencing his predecessor, Humphrey said, "Nigel has a proven track record of dedicated hard work on the ground, making a difference in peoples' lives within the Constituency...That will be the record I will strive to emulate."[8]
Humphrey was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2021 New Year Honours for public service, particularly during the COVID-19 response.[9]
In 2022, Humphrey announced that he would not contest the 2022 Assembly election.[10]
References
edit- ^ Profile, niassembly.gov.uk; accessed 28 July 2016./
- ^ a b "Humphrey chosen to replace Dodds", Belfast Telegraph, 14 September 2010
- ^ Belfast City Council Elections 1993-2005, Northern Ireland Elections
- ^ New High Sheriff of Belfast to be sworn in, Belfast City Council
- ^ North Belfast, Northern Ireland Elections
- ^ West Belfast profile, Northern Ireland Elections website; accessed 28 July 2016.
- ^ Deputy Lord Mayor profile, Belfast City Council website; accessed 28 July 2016.
- ^ "BBC News - Humphrey chosen as Dodds North Belfast successor". BBC News. BBC News. 13 September 2010. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
- ^ "No. 63218". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 December 2020. p. N20.
- ^ "DUP's William Humphrey announces he will not contest upcoming Stormont election". belfasttelegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 18 April 2022.