David Cook (politician)
Encyclopedia
David Cook is a former politician
in Northern Ireland
.
Cook works as a solicitor
, eventually becoming a senior partner at Sheldon and Stewart Solicitors.
In 1970, Cook was a founder member of the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
(APNI), while he was elected to the party's Central Executive in 1971. He was elected to Belfast City Council
in 1973, a position he held until 1985. In 1978, he became the first non-unionist Lord Mayor of Belfast
since partition (the pro-Home Rule
Liberal
William James Pirrie having held the post in the 1890s).
He stood for APNI in Belfast South
in the February 1974 general election
, taking just under 10% of the vote. He was able to improve to 27% of the vote at the Belfast South by-election, 1982
. Following this, he won a seat on the Northern Ireland Assembly
representing Belfast South. In the 1983 general election
, 1986 by-election and 1987 general election
, he consistently won over 20% of the votes cast in Belfast South. He also stood for Alliance in the European Parliament election, 1984
, but took only 4% of the vote.
From 1980 until 1984, Cook served as the Deputy Leader of APNI.
In 1994, Cook became the Chairman of the Police Authority of Northern Ireland, but he was sacked from this role in 1996 after losing a vote of confidence. After a critical account of his role appeared in 1998, he undertook a lengthy libel case, ultimately settled out of court. He subsequently sat on the Craigavon Health and Social Services Trust.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
.
Cook works as a solicitor
Solicitor
Solicitors are lawyers who traditionally deal with any legal matter including conducting proceedings in courts. In the United Kingdom, a few Australian states and the Republic of Ireland, the legal profession is split between solicitors and barristers , and a lawyer will usually only hold one title...
, eventually becoming a senior partner at Sheldon and Stewart Solicitors.
In 1970, Cook was a founder member of the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
The Alliance Party of Northern Ireland is a liberal and nonsectarian political party in Northern Ireland. It is Northern Ireland's fifth-largest party overall, with eight seats in the Northern Ireland Assembly and one in the House of Commons....
(APNI), while he was elected to the party's Central Executive in 1971. He was elected to Belfast City Council
Belfast City Council
Belfast City Council is the local authority with responsibility for the city of Belfast, the capital and largest city of Northern Ireland. The Council serves an estimated population of , the largest of any district council in Northern Ireland, while also being the fourth smallest by area...
in 1973, a position he held until 1985. In 1978, he became the first non-unionist Lord Mayor of Belfast
Lord Mayor of Belfast
The Lord Mayor of Belfast is the leader and chairman of Belfast City Council, elected annually from and by the City's 51 councillors.The Lord Mayor is Niall Ó Donnghaile of Sinn Féin, while the Deputy Lord Mayor is Ruth Patterson of the Democratic Unionist Party, who were elected in May 2011.The...
since partition (the pro-Home Rule
Home rule
Home rule is the power of a constituent part of a state to exercise such of the state's powers of governance within its own administrative area that have been devolved to it by the central government....
Liberal
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
William James Pirrie having held the post in the 1890s).
He stood for APNI in Belfast South
Belfast South (UK Parliament constituency)
Belfast South is a Parliamentary Constituency in the United Kingdom House of Commons.-Boundaries:The seat was created in 1922 when, as part of the establishment of the devolved Stormont Parliament for Northern Ireland, the number of MPs in the Westminster Parliament was drastically cut...
in the February 1974 general election
United Kingdom general election, February 1974
The United Kingdom's general election of February 1974 was held on the 28th of that month. It was the first of two United Kingdom general elections held that year, and the first election since the Second World War not to produce an overall majority in the House of Commons for the winning party,...
, taking just under 10% of the vote. He was able to improve to 27% of the vote at the Belfast South by-election, 1982
Belfast South by-election, 1982
The Belfast South by-election was held on 4 March 1982 following the death of Robert Bradford, Ulster Unionist Party Member of Parliament for Belfast South....
. Following this, he won a seat on the Northern Ireland Assembly
Northern Ireland Assembly, 1982
The Northern Ireland Assembly established in 1982 represented an ultimately unsuccessful attempt to restore the devolution to Northern Ireland which had been suspended 10 years previously. The Assembly was abolished in 1986.-Origins:...
representing Belfast South. In the 1983 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1983
The 1983 United Kingdom general election was held on 9 June 1983. It gave the Conservative Party under Margaret Thatcher the most decisive election victory since that of Labour in 1945...
, 1986 by-election and 1987 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1987
The United Kingdom general election of 1987 was held on 11 June 1987, to elect 650 members to the British House of Commons. The election was the third consecutive election victory for the Conservative Party under the leadership of Margaret Thatcher, who became the first Prime Minister since the 2nd...
, he consistently won over 20% of the votes cast in Belfast South. He also stood for Alliance in the European Parliament election, 1984
European Parliament election, 1984 (UK)
The European Parliament Election, 1984 was the second European election to be held in the United Kingdom. It was held on 14 June. The electoral system was First Past the Post in England, Scotland and Wales and Single Transferable Vote in Northern Ireland. The turnout was again the lowest in Europe...
, but took only 4% of the vote.
From 1980 until 1984, Cook served as the Deputy Leader of APNI.
In 1994, Cook became the Chairman of the Police Authority of Northern Ireland, but he was sacked from this role in 1996 after losing a vote of confidence. After a critical account of his role appeared in 1998, he undertook a lengthy libel case, ultimately settled out of court. He subsequently sat on the Craigavon Health and Social Services Trust.