Gregory Campbell (politician) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gregory Campbell
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Campbell in 2011
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| Member of Parliament for East Londonderry |
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| Assumed office 7 June 2001 |
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| Preceded by | William Ross |
| Majority | 179 (0.5%) |
| Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure | |
| In office 9 June 2008 – 1 July 2009 |
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| Preceded by | Edwin Poots |
| Succeeded by | Nelson McCausland |
| Member of the Legislative Assembly for East Londonderry |
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| In office 25 June 1998 – 7 May 2016 |
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| Preceded by | Constituency created |
| Succeeded by | Maurice Bradley |
| Member of Derry City Council |
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| In office 15 May 1985 – 5 May 2011 |
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| Preceded by | New district |
| Succeeded by | April Garfield-Kidd |
| Constituency | Waterside |
| In office 20 May 1981 – 15 May 1985 |
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| Preceded by | Herbert Faulkner |
| Succeeded by | District abolished |
| Constituency | Londonderry Area B |
| Northern Ireland Forum Member | |
| In office 30 May 1996 – 25 April 1998 |
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| Preceded by | Forum created |
| Succeeded by | Forum dissolved |
| Constituency | Top-up list |
| Member of the Legislative Assembly for Londonderry |
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| In office 20 October 1982 – 1986 |
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| Preceded by | Assembly reconvened |
| Succeeded by | Assembly abolished |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Gregory Lloyd Campbell
15 February 1953 Waterside, Derry, Northern Ireland |
| Nationality | British |
| Political party | Democratic Unionist Party |
| Spouse | Frances Campbell |
| Children | 4 |
| Alma mater | University of Ulster |
Gregory Lloyd Campbell is a British politician from the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP). He was born on 15 February 1953. Since 2001, he has been a Member of Parliament (MP) for East Londonderry. He is currently Northern Ireland's longest-serving MP. He also serves as the DUP's spokesperson for International Development.
Before becoming an MP, he was a Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly (MLA) for East Londonderry from 1998 to 2016.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Gregory Campbell grew up in the Waterside area of Derry, Northern Ireland. He was an only child. He attended the technical college in Derry. Later, he studied at the University of Ulster.
Political Journey
Campbell joined the DUP in the 1970s. His first election win was in 1981, when he became a member of Londonderry City Council. He served as a councillor for 30 years, stepping down in 2011.
Seeking a Seat in Parliament
Campbell first tried to become an MP in 1983 for the Foyle area. He ran for the same seat again in 1987 and 1992. Each time, he finished second to Social Democratic and Labour Party leader John Hume.
In 1997, he ran for the East Londonderry seat but was not successful. However, in the 2001 general election, he won the East Londonderry seat. He defeated the sitting MP, William Ross. Campbell was re-elected in the 2005 general election with an even larger majority.
Serving in the Northern Ireland Assembly
Besides being an MP, Campbell was also a member of the Northern Ireland Assembly. He represented East Londonderry from 1998 until 2016. He was very popular in his area, topping the poll in the Assembly elections of 1998, 2003, 2007, and 2011.
Government Roles and Activities
In July 2000, Campbell was appointed Minister of Regional Development in the Northern Ireland Executive. This role involved overseeing development in different regions.
Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure
On 9 June 2008, Campbell became the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure. He took over from Edwin Poots. He held this position until 1 July 2009. He was replaced by Nelson McCausland. This change happened because the DUP decided that their politicians should not hold roles in both the Assembly and the UK Parliament at the same time.
Public Statements and Views
Campbell has often spoken out on various topics. In October 2008, he criticized the American cartoon The Simpsons. He felt an episode that showed a fight between different groups was not appropriate.
In December 2008, he also criticized the singer Dido. This was because her song "Let's Do the Things We Normally Do" included lyrics from an older song. Campbell suggested Dido should explain her position on the song's meaning.
In 2011, a person was punished for posting a threatening message about Campbell online. In February 2012, Campbell spoke against changes to electoral borders in Northern Ireland. He believed these changes would negatively affect the north-west region.
Campbell supports several evangelical Protestant groups. This includes a group that believes in creationism, called the Caleb Foundation.
Views on Football and Language
He has also commented on Derry-born footballer James McClean. Campbell criticized McClean's decision not to wear a poppy on his shirt for Remembrance Sunday in 2012. McClean's club later banned him from using Twitter.
In March 2013, Campbell made a successful motion in Parliament. This motion aimed to stop a concept car from being produced. The car was named "Provo," which sounded like a sensitive term in Ireland. Even though the car was just a concept, Campbell wanted to ensure it would not be marketed with that name.
In November 2014, Campbell caused a discussion when he made fun of the Irish language in the Northern Ireland Assembly. He later stated that his party would not agree to an Irish Language Act. However, the Identity and Language (Northern Ireland) Act 2022 was passed. This law officially recognized the Irish language in Northern Ireland.
In February 2021, Campbell was asked to apologize for comments he made on Facebook. He described an episode of Songs of Praise that featured only black people as "the BBC at its ... worst." He questioned why there were no white people featured.
Recent Recognition
In March 2024, Gregory Campbell was awarded the Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE). This honor recognized his service in Parliament and to the public.
In the 2024 general election, Campbell won his seat again. However, his majority was very small, with only 179 votes more than the Sinn Féin candidate.
