Alex Attwood facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alex Attwood
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Attwood in 2015
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| Minister of the Environment | |
| In office 6 May 2011 – 16 July 2013 |
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| Preceded by | Edwin Poots |
| Succeeded by | Mark H. Durkan |
| Minister for Social Development | |
| In office 7 February 2010 – 6 May 2011 |
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| Preceded by | Margaret Ritchie |
| Succeeded by | Nelson McCausland |
| Member of the Legislative Assembly for Belfast West |
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| In office 25 June 1998 – 26 January 2017 |
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| Preceded by | Constituency created |
| Succeeded by | Seat abolished |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 26 April 1959 Belfast, Northern Ireland |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Political party | SDLP |
| Spouse | Orla Attwood |
| Alma mater | Queen's University Belfast |
| Profession | Solicitor |
| Website | Alex Attwood SDLP |
Alexander Gerard Attwood (born 26 April 1959) is a politician from Northern Ireland. He was a member of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP). Alex Attwood served as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Belfast West from 1998 to 2017. He also held important government jobs, like Minister for Social Development and Minister for Environment.
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Early Life and Education
Alex Attwood was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, on April 26, 1959. He went to Queen's University Belfast. While there, he was the President of the Students' Union. After finishing university, he became a solicitor, which is a type of lawyer.
Political Career
Alex Attwood started his political journey early. He was a member of the Belfast City Council from 1985 to 2001. He represented the Upper Falls area in West Belfast. He also led the SDLP group within the Belfast City Council.
Working for Peace and Justice
In 1997, a famous politician named John Hume asked Alex Attwood to join the Forum for Peace and Reconciliation in Dublin. This group worked on bringing peace to Ireland. Attwood was also part of the SDLP team that negotiated important issues. These included policing, human rights, and justice.
Serving in the Assembly
In June 1998, Alex Attwood was elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly. This is like the parliament for Northern Ireland. He became the SDLP's spokesperson on policing. He played a big part in talks about the Policing Bill. In 2001, he joined the Northern Ireland Policing Board. This board helps oversee the police force.
Government Minister Roles
Alex Attwood held two important roles as a government minister:
- Minister for Social Development: In May 2010, he became the Minister for Social Development. This job involves looking after things like housing, social security, and community development. He held this role until May 2011.
- Minister for Environment: In May 2011, he became the Minister for Environment. In this role, he was in charge of protecting nature and the environment. He tried to create two national parks in Northern Ireland. However, some groups, like the Ulster Farmers Union, had concerns about this. They worried about new rules and the impact on farming areas.
Later Career
Alex Attwood lost his seat in the Assembly in the 2017 election. After leaving the Assembly, he continued to work in public service. In 2021, he was appointed to the UK Electoral Commission. This group makes sure elections are fair. In 2022, he also became a member of the new Irish Electoral Commission. This commission started its work in February 2023.
