Frank Millar Jr
Encyclopedia
Frank Millar is a Northern Irish
journalist
and former unionist politician
.
The son of Frank Millar
, also a unionist politician, he was known as "Frank Millar Jr" during his early political career. He joined the Ulster Unionist Party
(UUP), and remained a member when his father left the organisation to sit as an independent Unionist
.
Millar was the Press Officer of the UUP during the early 1980s. He stood unsuccessfully for 1982 Northern Ireland Assembly in South Antrim
. However, he was elected to that body in 1984 in an uncontested by-election in Belfast South
caused by the IRA murder of Edgar Graham
.
In 1983, Millar became the General Secretary of the UUP. At the 1987 UK general election
, he stood in Belfast West
, receiving 18.7% of the votes cast. The same year, he worked with UUP MP Harold McCusker
and the DUP's Peter Robinson
to produce a report on power sharing, following a positive report on the topic by the Ulster Political Research Group
. The Task Force Report gave serious consideration to the idea, and called for a strategic unionist rethink in the wake of the Anglo-Irish Agreement. It was rejected by their respective leaders, Ian Paisley and James Molyneaux. Millar then resigned from his party post.
Millar subsequently became a journalist
and has long been the London Editor of the Irish Times. In 1998, he was named the Irish Print Journalist of the Year. In 2004, he wrote a biography of UUP leader David Trimble
, entitled David Trimble: The Price of Peace.
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...
journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
and former unionist politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
.
The son of Frank Millar
Frank Millar
Frank Millar was a Northern Irish unionist politician.Millar worked in the shipyards, where he became a shop steward, before becoming a founder member of Ulster Protestant Action in 1956....
, also a unionist politician, he was known as "Frank Millar Jr" during his early political career. He joined the Ulster Unionist Party
Ulster Unionist Party
The Ulster Unionist Party – sometimes referred to as the Official Unionist Party or, in a historic sense, simply the Unionist Party – is the more moderate of the two main unionist political parties in Northern Ireland...
(UUP), and remained a member when his father left the organisation to sit as an independent Unionist
Independent Unionist
See also Independent .Independent Unionist has been a label sometimes used by candidates in elections in the United Kingdom, indicating a support for Unionism, retaining the unity of the British state....
.
Millar was the Press Officer of the UUP during the early 1980s. He stood unsuccessfully for 1982 Northern Ireland Assembly in South Antrim
South Antrim (Assembly constituency)
South Antrim is a constituency in the Northern Ireland Assembly.The seat was first used for a Northern Ireland-only election for the Northern Ireland Assembly, 1973...
. However, he was elected to that body in 1984 in an uncontested by-election in Belfast South
Belfast South (Assembly constituency)
Belfast South is a constituency in the Northern Ireland Assembly.The seat was first used for a Northern Ireland-only election for the Northern Ireland Assembly, 1973...
caused by the IRA murder of Edgar Graham
Edgar Graham
Edgar Samuel David Graham, MPA, BL , was an Ulster Unionist Party politician and academic from Northern Ireland. He was perceived as a rising star of both legal studies and Unionism until he was killed on 7 December 1983 by the Provisional Irish Republican Army .-Career:A graduate of the Queen's...
.
In 1983, Millar became the General Secretary of the UUP. At the 1987 UK 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 stood in Belfast West
Belfast West (UK Parliament constituency)
Belfast West is a parliamentary constituency in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom.-Boundaries:The seat was restored 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...
, receiving 18.7% of the votes cast. The same year, he worked with UUP MP Harold McCusker
Harold McCusker
James Harold McCusker was a Northern Ireland Ulster Unionist Party politician who served as his party's deputy leader....
and the DUP's Peter Robinson
Peter Robinson (politician)
Peter David Robinson is the current First Minister of Northern Ireland and leader of the Democratic Unionist Party...
to produce a report on power sharing, following a positive report on the topic by the Ulster Political Research Group
Ulster Political Research Group
The Ulster Political Research Group is an advisory body connected to the Ulster Defence Association , providing advice to them on political matters...
. The Task Force Report gave serious consideration to the idea, and called for a strategic unionist rethink in the wake of the Anglo-Irish Agreement. It was rejected by their respective leaders, Ian Paisley and James Molyneaux. Millar then resigned from his party post.
Millar subsequently became a journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
and has long been the London Editor of the Irish Times. In 1998, he was named the Irish Print Journalist of the Year. In 2004, he wrote a biography of UUP leader David Trimble
David Trimble
William David Trimble, Baron Trimble, PC , is a politician from Northern Ireland. He served as Leader of the Ulster Unionist Party , was the first First Minister of Northern Ireland , and was a Member of the British Parliament . He is currently a life peer for the Conservative Party...
, entitled David Trimble: The Price of Peace.