Nelson Elder
Encyclopedia
Nelson Elder was a unionist politician
in Northern Ireland
.
Born in Limavady
, Elder worked in a bakery
and joined the Northern Ireland Labour Party
. He then defected to the Ulster Unionist Party
(UUP) and ran the Welfare and Advice Centre of the Ulster Unionist Council. He served as an Ulster Unionist Party
(UUP) member of the Senate of Northern Ireland
from 1966 to 1972. In 1967, he attended the founding meeting of the Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association
as a representative of the UUP, but he walked out of its founding meeting after failing to convince the organisation that the murder of a police officer merited the death penalty.
Following the abolition of the Senate, Elder was elected at the Northern Ireland Assembly election, 1973
, in Belfast South
. On the Assembly, he served as the secretary of the backbench group of Pro-Assembly Unionists.
Elder also served as Secretary of the Unionist Trade Unionist Alliance, and as a member of the B Specials.
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...
.
Born in Limavady
Limavady
Limavady is a market town in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland, with Binevenagh as a backdrop. It lies east of Derry and south west of Coleraine. It had a population of 12,135 people in the 2001 Census, an increase of some 17% compared to 1991...
, Elder worked in a bakery
Bakery
A bakery is an establishment which produces and sells flour-based food baked in an oven such as bread, cakes, pastries and pies. Some retail bakeries are also cafés, serving coffee and tea to customers who wish to consume the baked goods on the premises.-See also:*Baker*Cake...
and joined the Northern Ireland Labour Party
Northern Ireland Labour Party
The Northern Ireland Labour Party was an Irish political party which operated from 1924 until 1987.In 1913 the British Labour Party resolved to give the recently formed Irish Labour Party exclusive organising rights in Ireland...
. He then defected to 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 ran the Welfare and Advice Centre of the Ulster Unionist Council. He served as an 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) member of the Senate of Northern Ireland
Senate of Northern Ireland
The Senate of Northern Ireland was the upper house of the Parliament of Northern Ireland created by the Government of Ireland Act 1920. It was abolished with the passing of the Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973.-Powers:...
from 1966 to 1972. In 1967, he attended the founding meeting of the Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association
Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association
The Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association was an organisation which campaigned for equal civil rights for the all the people in Northern Ireland during the late 1960s and early 1970s...
as a representative of the UUP, but he walked out of its founding meeting after failing to convince the organisation that the murder of a police officer merited the death penalty.
Following the abolition of the Senate, Elder was elected at the Northern Ireland Assembly election, 1973
Northern Ireland Assembly election, 1973
-Seats summary:-Source:* http://www.ark.ac.uk/elections/fa73.htm...
, 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...
. On the Assembly, he served as the secretary of the backbench group of Pro-Assembly Unionists.
Elder also served as Secretary of the Unionist Trade Unionist Alliance, and as a member of the B Specials.