Sammy Wilson (politician) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sammy Wilson
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Official portrait, 2017
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| Democratic Unionist Party Chief Whip in the House of Commons | |
| Member of Parliament for East Antrim |
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| Assumed office 17 December 2019 |
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| Leader | Jeffrey Donaldson Gavin Robinson |
| Preceded by | Jeffrey Donaldson |
| Minister of Finance and Personnel | |
| In office 1 July 2009 – 29 July 2013 |
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| First Minister | Peter Robinson |
| Preceded by | Nigel Dodds |
| Succeeded by | Simon Hamilton |
| Minister of the Environment | |
| In office 9 June 2008 – 1 July 2009 |
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| First Minister | Peter Robinson |
| Preceded by | Arlene Foster |
| Succeeded by | Edwin Poots |
| Assumed office 5 May 2005 |
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| Preceded by | Roy Beggs |
| Majority | 1,305 (3.3%) |
| Member of the Legislative Assembly for East Antrim |
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| In office 26 November 2003 – 11 August 2015 |
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| Preceded by | Roger Hutchinson |
| Succeeded by | Gordon Lyons |
| Member of the Legislative Assembly for Belfast East |
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| In office 25 June 1998 – 26 November 2003 |
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| Preceded by | Office established |
| Succeeded by | Robin Newton |
| Northern Ireland Forum Member for Belfast East |
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| In office 30 May 1996 – 25 April 1998 |
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| Preceded by | New forum |
| Succeeded by | Forum dissolved |
| 43rd and 57th Lord Mayor of Belfast | |
| In office 1 June 2000 – 1 June 2001 |
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| Deputy | Frank McCoubrey |
| Preceded by | Bob Stoker |
| Succeeded by | Jim Rodgers |
| In office 1 June 1986 – 1 June 1987 |
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| Deputy | Dixie Gilmore |
| Preceded by | John Carson |
| Succeeded by | J. J. Dixon Gilmore |
| Member of Belfast City Council |
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| In office 15 May 1985 – 1 March 2010 |
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| Preceded by | District created |
| Succeeded by | Gavin Robinson |
| Constituency | Pottinger |
| In office 20 May 1981 – 15 May 1985 |
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| Preceded by | Alasdair McDonnell |
| Succeeded by | District abolished |
| Constituency | Belfast Area A |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Belfast, Northern Ireland |
| Political party | Democratic Unionist Party |
| Alma mater | Queen's University Belfast |
Samuel Wilson is a politician from Northern Ireland. He is currently the Chief Whip for the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) in the House of Commons. He has been a Member of Parliament (MP) for East Antrim since 2005.
Before becoming an MP, Wilson was a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA). He represented Belfast East from 1998 to 2003. Later, he represented East Antrim from 2003 to 2015. He also served as Lord Mayor of Belfast twice. He was the first person from the DUP to hold this important role. Sammy Wilson has also been a minister in the Northern Ireland Executive, serving as Minister of Finance and Personnel and Minister of the Environment.
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About Sammy Wilson
Sammy Wilson was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland. He went to Methodist College in Belfast. After that, he studied economics and politics. He attended both Queen's University of Belfast and Stranmillis University College.
His first job was teaching at Grosvenor Grammar School. He later became the head of economics there. He also helped write exams for A-Level Economics in Northern Ireland.
Political Journey
Early Career
Sammy Wilson started his political work as the Press Officer for the Democratic Unionist Party. He held this role from 1982 to 1996. In 1981, he was elected as a DUP councillor to Belfast City Council. He stayed in this position until 2010.
As a city councillor, Wilson became the first DUP member to be Lord Mayor of Belfast. This happened in 1986 and again in 2000. He first tried to become a Member of Parliament in 1992 for Strangford.
Serving as an MLA
In May 1996, Wilson was elected to the Northern Ireland Forum for East Belfast. He then represented this area in the Northern Ireland Assembly when it was created in 1998. The DUP did not support the Good Friday Agreement.
Wilson served as Lord Mayor of Belfast again from June 2000 to June 2001.
MLA and MP for East Antrim
In the 2003 Assembly election, Wilson was elected in the East Antrim constituency. In the 2005 UK general election, he won the seat for East Antrim. He defeated Roy Beggs to become the Member of Parliament.
Wilson has also been a member of the Northern Ireland Policing Board. He was also part of the Northern Ireland Housing Council.
He was a strong critic of plans to change the education system in Northern Ireland. He disagreed with removing academic selection in schools.
In March 2016, Wilson was part of a discussion about leaving the European Union. He was criticized for some comments made during this discussion. In July 2016, he shared his views on breastfeeding in the House of Commons.
Minister for the Environment (2008–2009)
On 9 June 2008, Wilson became the Minister of the Environment.
Some environmental groups criticized his appointment. Wilson has different views on climate change. He has said that man-made climate change is a "myth" and that we should focus on adapting to changes. The Green Party criticized his views. They said his message was "deeply irresponsible".
In February 2009, he stopped climate change advertisements from being shown on TV. He called them an "insidious propaganda campaign". He also stated that future environmental messages in Northern Ireland would need his permission.
Minister for Finance and Personnel (2009–2013)
In June 2009, Wilson became the Minister of Finance and Personnel. First Minister Peter Robinson praised him. He said Wilson was very qualified for the role.
In August 2009, Wilson was criticized for saying that jobs should go to people born in Northern Ireland first. He also made comments about charges of racism. However, complaints against him were dismissed.
His time as Finance Minister was during a difficult economic period. He was praised for stopping bonuses for civil servants during the recession. In July 2013, he was replaced by Simon Hamilton in a planned change.
Chief Whip Role
In December 2019, Sammy Wilson was chosen as the Chief Whip for the DUP in Westminster. He took over from Jeffrey Donaldson.
In February 2024, Wilson stepped down from this role. He explained in March 2024 that he did so because he disagreed with some party policies. He felt it was wrong to ask others to follow party rules when he himself had different views.
In October 2024, he returned to his role as the party's Chief Whip in Westminster.
Views on Brexit
On 9 February 2016, Wilson supported the UK holding a referendum on leaving the European Union. He said he wanted to "break down the walls of the prison" of the EU. Soon after, the Democratic Unionist Party officially decided to campaign to "Leave" the EU.
When a report said leaving the EU would harm Northern Ireland's economy, Wilson disagreed. He said it was "totally dishonest" to predict the economy so far into the future.
As the DUP's Brexit spokesperson, Wilson believed a new agreement could be made. This agreement would remove the Northern Ireland backstop.
In January 2019, during a debate, Wilson made a comment about food shortages after a "no-deal Brexit". He suggested people could "Go to the chippy" instead. This remark caused some discussion.
However, in January 2021, Wilson complained about empty supermarket shelves in Northern Ireland. He said this was a direct result of Brexit.
Views on LGBT+ Rights
Wilson has voted against laws that would allow same-sex marriage. He voted against it in the UK in 2013 and in Northern Ireland in 2019.
In November 2016, he responded to a letter about World AIDS Day. He said the government spent too much on AIDS compared to other illnesses. He felt other illnesses "deserve higher priorities". The UK National AIDS Trust said his response was "misinformed".
In March 2021, Wilson shared his views on gay conversion therapy. He stated that people who want to use or practice it should be allowed to. A DUP spokesperson later clarified his comments. They said he would not support the practice himself. However, he would not tell others what services they should seek.
Views on Climate Change
Sammy Wilson has served as the Environment Minister for Northern Ireland. Despite this, he has called environmentalism a "hysterical pseudo-religion". In 2009, he stopped TV and radio adverts about reducing carbon use. He called them "insidious New Labour propaganda".
He also wrote to the UK Department of Energy and Climate Change. He said the campaign was "not welcome" in Northern Ireland. He did not want climate change messages promoted by other government departments there. He warned that future environmental messages would need his permission.
Images for kids
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Official portrait, 2017
