David Simpson (Northern Ireland politician) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
David Simpson
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| Member of Parliament for Upper Bann |
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| In office 5 May 2005 – 6 November 2019 |
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| Preceded by | David Trimble |
| Succeeded by | Carla Lockhart |
| Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly for Upper Bann |
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| In office 26 November 2003 – 1 July 2010 |
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| Preceded by | Mervyn Carrick |
| Succeeded by | Sydney Anderson |
| Mayor of Craigavon | |
| In office 2004–2005 |
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| Preceded by | Ignatius Fox |
| Succeeded by | George Savage |
| Member of Craigavon Borough Council |
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| In office 7 June 2001 – 5 May 2011 |
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| Preceded by | James Gillespie |
| Succeeded by | Gladys McCullough |
| Constituency | Portadown |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Thomas David Simpson
16 February 1959 Moy, Northern Ireland |
| Nationality | British |
| Political party | Democratic Unionist |
| Spouse | Elaine Simpson |
| Residence | Annaghmore, County Armagh |
| Alma mater | College of Business Studies |
| Occupation | Politician |
| Profession | Businessman |
| Website | David Simpson MP |
Thomas David Simpson, born on 16 February 1959, is a politician from the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) in Northern Ireland. He served as a Member of Parliament (MP) for the area of Upper Bann from 2005 to 2019.
Before becoming an MP, David Simpson was a Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly (MLA) for Upper Bann. He held this position from 2003 to 2010.
Contents
Political Journey
David Simpson began his political career at a local level. He was first elected to the Craigavon Borough Council in 2001. During his time on the council, he also served as the Mayor of Craigavon from 2004 to 2005.
From Local to National Politics
In the 2001 general election, David Simpson ran for a seat in the UK Parliament. Although he was not successful that year, he continued his political work. In 2003, he was elected as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Upper Bann in Northern Ireland.
He later won the parliamentary seat for Upper Bann in the 2005 general election. This meant he became a Member of Parliament (MP) in the UK Parliament. He was re-elected as an MP in the 2010 general election. After this, he resigned from his roles in the Northern Ireland Assembly and the Craigavon Borough Council to focus on his work in Westminster.
Key Roles and Interests
As an MP, David Simpson was involved in various important committees. He was a member of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments and the Commons Committee on Statutory Instruments from 2006 to 2009. He also served on the Transport Select Committee from 2007 to 2009. In 2009, he joined the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee.
Spokesperson Roles
David Simpson held several spokesperson roles for the DUP. These roles meant he spoke on behalf of his party on different topics. He was the DUP Spokesperson for Trade and Industry (2005–2007) and Transport (2007–2009). He also spoke on issues related to Young People (2007–2010) and International Development (2007–2010). Later, he became the spokesperson for Business, Innovation and Skills (from 2009) and Communities and Local Government (from 2010). From 2012, he was also the spokesperson for Education.
Tackling Cyberbullying
In his role as DUP Spokesperson on Communities and Local Government, David Simpson focused on important issues. He called on the government to take action against cyberbullying. He suggested that new laws might be needed to make cyberbullying a specific offense.
Other Interests and Views
David Simpson was a former member of the Orange Order, a cultural and religious organization. He was also interested in creationism, which is the belief that the universe and life originated from specific acts of divine creation. He also supported homeopathy, a system of alternative medicine. He signed several documents in Parliament to support its continued funding by the National Health Service.
On 6 November 2019, David Simpson announced that he would not be seeking re-election in the 2019 general election. This marked the end of his time as an MP.
Personal Life and Education
David Simpson grew up in Northern Ireland. He attended The Birches Primary School and then Killicomaine Junior High School in Portadown. He later studied at the College of Business Studies in Belfast, which is now known as Belfast Metropolitan College. Before becoming a full-time politician, he worked at the Universal Meat Company in Portadown.
David Simpson is married and has a son and two daughters. He lives in Portadown. .....
