Jonathan Bell (politician) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jonathan Bell
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| Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment | |
| In office 11 May 2015 – 5 May 2016 |
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| Preceded by | Arlene Foster |
| Succeeded by | Simon Hamilton |
| Junior Minister at the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister | |
| In office 16 May 2011 – 11 May 2015 |
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| Preceded by | Robin Newton |
| Succeeded by | Michelle McIlveen |
| Member of the Legislative Assembly for Strangford |
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| In office 22 January 2010 – 26 January 2017 |
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| Preceded by | Iris Robinson |
| Succeeded by | Peter Weir |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Jonathan Fergus Bell
5 March 1970 Belfast, Northern Ireland |
| Nationality | British |
| Political party | Independent DUP (suspended 2016) UUP (until 2000) |
| Spouse | Lisa Bell |
| Children | 2 |
| Residence | Conlig, County Down |
| Alma mater | Queen's University Belfast |
| Profession | Social worker |
Jonathan Fergus Bell (born 5 March 1970) is a former Unionist politician from Northern Ireland representing the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP).
He previously served as a Member of the Legislative Assembly for Strangford in the Northern Ireland Assembly, following the resignation of Iris Robinson, which he represented from 2010 to 2017.
He served as a Junior Minister in the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister from May 2011 until May 2015, before he served as Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment from May 2015 until May 2016.
In January 2017, Bell spoke publicly on the BBC Nolan Show, bringing to light the Renewable Heat Incentive scandal, which ultimately led to a Public Inquiry that same month. He was suspended from the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP). He sat as an Independent Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly until losing his seat in the 2017 Assembly Elections.
Early life
Bell was the youngest of three children of Fergus Bell, a minister in the Free Methodist Church, and his wife Nora, a secretary. At three months old he survived a bout of whooping cough.
Political career
He sat on Craigavon Borough Council from 1997 until 2005, where he served as both deputy mayor and mayor. Bell was originally elected for the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) but dissatisfied with the leadership of David Trimble, quit the party in March 2000. In 1999 he was the organiser and spokesperson of a demonstration in favour of Protestant/Unionist rights called "The Long March".
By the time of the 2001 local elections he had joined the DUP. When he was appointed as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA), he was a councillor for the DUP in Ards. On accepting the invitation to replace Robinson as an MLA he resigned his position as a member of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, as the Northern Ireland Act 1998 stipulated that membership of the Commission was incompatible with Assembly membership. Bell had, with UUP member Daphne Trimble, been one of two Commissioners to publicly oppose the Commission's stance on a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland.
Following his election to the Assembly in May 2011, and his appointment shortly thereafter as a junior minister, Bell worked alongside his Sinn Féin counterpart Martina Anderson to support the diarchy operated by the First Minister and deputy First Minister.
In May 2015, Bell was appointed Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment in a re-shuffle of offices held by DUP MLAs which saw Arlene Foster, the previous DETI minister, move to Finance and Personnel. Following the Northern Ireland Assembly election on 5 May 2016, when Bell was elected as MLA for Strangford, DETI was renamed the Department for the Economy. Simon Hamilton became its minister, and Bell left the Executive.
Personal life
Bell graduated from Queen's University Belfast, with a degree in psychology, and obtained a postgraduate diploma and a master's degree in social work. He worked until 2010 in child care social work. His wife, Lisa Bell, is a nurse. The couple have two children and live in Conlig, County Down.
