Sylvia Hermon
Encyclopedia
Sylvia Eileen Hermon, Lady Hermon (née Paisley; born 11 August 1955) is a Northern Irish
politician. Since 2001, she has been the Member of Parliament
for the constituency of North Down
, first elected for the Ulster Unionist Party
(UUP), but now an independent
. She is the widow of Sir Jack Hermon, former Chief Constable
of the Royal Ulster Constabulary
.
On 25 March 2010, Lady Hermon announced that she was quitting the Ulster Unionist Party, and would fight the next general election as an Independent candidate. Her decision was triggered by the UUP's alliance
with the Conservative Party
. She successfully retained her seat at the May 2010 election with a large gain in her share of the vote, increasing her majority.
, Dungannon
, County Tyrone
. Her father was Robert Paisley, a farmer, and she had three sisters. The family saw tragedy when Sylvia's mother accidentally drowned when Sylvia was four. She went to Dungannon High School before studying Law at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth
, obtaining a First and the highest mark in her year.
She went on to lecture in Law at the Queen's University of Belfast
at the same time as David Trimble
. She did not enter politics until 1998 when she joined the Ulster Unionist Party, having been impressed by the role the UUP played in negotiating the Belfast Agreement
. She rose to a place on the party Executive by the following year.
On 6 November 2008 her husband Jack Hermon died. Shortly afterward, her father also died.
She is a longstanding supporter of the Alzheimer's Research Trust
and helped launch its Northern Ireland network centre.
to contest the 2001 general election
and went on to defeat the incumbent Robert McCartney
by over 7,000 votes. During the election she garnered the support of the local branch of the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
who withdrew their own candidate.
Hermon became Chair of the North Down
branch of the UUP in 2001 and held this position until 2003. In 2001 she was also appointed UUP Spokesperson for Youth and Women's Issues, Home Affairs and Trade and Industry. She subsequently lost the Trade and Industry portfolio and took responsibility for Culture, Media and Sport in 2002. Outside of the UUP, Hermon has also been involved in policing support and pensioners' rights campaigns. In Parliament, she has established herself as an independently minded politician, in some instances voting against the prevalent beliefs of fellow unionist MPs, including her decision to vote against the replacement of the Trident Nuclear Weapons System
and also to repeal Section 28
, legislation that prevented the promotion of homosexuality in English schools. She also voted for identity cards and 90-day detention. Her votes were generally in support of the Labour
government.
Hermon was the only Ulster Unionist to be returned to Westminster in the 2005 general election
and as a result figured in consideration for who would succeed David Trimble
as party leader. Initially considered to be amongst the frontrunners, Hermon eventually declined the opportunity, feeling that she could not combine it with her care duties for her husband, who suffered from Alzheimer's disease
, and instead supported the unsuccessful bid of Alan McFarland
.
In Westminster, Hermon largely supported the Labour Party
government much to the chagrin of the UUP leader Sir Reg Empey, who had been seeking an alliance with the Conservative Party. On 13 May 2009, Lady Hermon ended months of speculation over her supposed opposition to the Ulster Unionist link-up with the Conservative Party
. She declared, in an unplanned announcement, during an interview in her constituency office, "At the present time, I can’t see myself standing under a Conservative banner.... If my party chooses to move to call themselves by a different name, I'm terribly sorry and terribly disappointed by that but I remain an Ulster Unionist. That was certainly my mandate and I’ve loved serving the people of North Down. They have stood by me through the most difficult of times and if they choose and wish me to serve them I would do my very best to do that." She was criticised for the timing of her remarks by the party Leader Sir Reg Empey
and by Jim Nicholson
, as the party was running its European Parliament election campaign.
On 23 February 2010, Lady Hermon confirmed that she would not be seeking the nomination as a Conservative and Unionist candidate. On 6 May 2010 standing as an Independent candidate she was re-elected with a majority of over 21,000 votes ahead of the UCUNF candidate. She continues to caucus with the Labour Party.
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...
politician. Since 2001, she has been the Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for the constituency of North Down
North Down (UK Parliament constituency)
North Down is a Parliamentary Constituency in the United Kingdom House of Commons. The current MP is Sylvia Hermon, elected as an Independent in the 2010 General Election. -Boundaries:The county constituency was first created in 1885 from the northern part of Down...
, first elected for 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), but now an independent
Independent (politician)
In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...
. She is the widow of Sir Jack Hermon, former Chief Constable
Chief Constable
Chief constable is the rank used by the chief police officer of every territorial police force in the United Kingdom except for the City of London Police and the Metropolitan Police, as well as the chief officers of the three 'special' national police forces, the British Transport Police, Ministry...
of the Royal Ulster Constabulary
Royal Ulster Constabulary
The Royal Ulster Constabulary was the name of the police force in Northern Ireland from 1922 to 2000. Following the awarding of the George Cross in 2000, it was subsequently known as the Royal Ulster Constabulary GC. It was founded on 1 June 1922 out of the Royal Irish Constabulary...
.
On 25 March 2010, Lady Hermon announced that she was quitting the Ulster Unionist Party, and would fight the next general election as an Independent candidate. Her decision was triggered by the UUP's alliance
Ulster Conservatives and Unionists – New Force
The Ulster Conservatives and Unionists, officially registered as the Ulster Conservatives and Unionists – New Force , is a bipartisan electoral alliance in Northern Ireland between the Ulster Unionist Party and the Northern Ireland branch of the Conservative Party, the latter party also being...
with the Conservative Party
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
. She successfully retained her seat at the May 2010 election with a large gain in her share of the vote, increasing her majority.
Background
Born Sylvia Eileen Paisley in GalballyGalbally
Galbally may refer to:*Galbally, County Limerick, Republic of Ireland*Galbally, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland...
, Dungannon
Dungannon
Dungannon is a medium-sized town in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It is the third-largest town in the county and a population of 11,139 people was recorded in the 2001 Census. In August 2006, Dungannon won Ulster In Bloom's Best Kept Town Award for the fifth time...
, County Tyrone
County Tyrone
Historically Tyrone stretched as far north as Lough Foyle, and comprised part of modern day County Londonderry east of the River Foyle. The majority of County Londonderry was carved out of Tyrone between 1610-1620 when that land went to the Guilds of London to set up profit making schemes based on...
. Her father was Robert Paisley, a farmer, and she had three sisters. The family saw tragedy when Sylvia's mother accidentally drowned when Sylvia was four. She went to Dungannon High School before studying Law at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth
University of Wales, Aberystwyth
Aberystwyth University is a university located in Aberystwyth, Wales. Aberystwyth was a founding Member Institution of the former federal University of Wales. As of late 2006, the university had over 12,000 students spread across seventeen academic departments.The university was founded in 1872 as...
, obtaining a First and the highest mark in her year.
She went on to lecture in Law at the Queen's University of Belfast
Queen's University of Belfast
Queen's University Belfast is a public research university in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The university's official title, per its charter, is the Queen's University of Belfast. It is often referred to simply as Queen's, or by the abbreviation QUB...
at the same time as 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...
. She did not enter politics until 1998 when she joined the Ulster Unionist Party, having been impressed by the role the UUP played in negotiating the Belfast Agreement
Belfast Agreement
The Good Friday Agreement or Belfast Agreement , sometimes called the Stormont Agreement, was a major political development in the Northern Ireland peace process...
. She rose to a place on the party Executive by the following year.
On 6 November 2008 her husband Jack Hermon died. Shortly afterward, her father also died.
She is a longstanding supporter of the Alzheimer's Research Trust
Alzheimer's Research Trust
Alzheimer's Research UK is the United Kingdom's leading dementia research charity, founded in 1992 as the Alzheimer’s Research Trust.In February 2011 Alzheimer's Research Trust renamed as the Alzheimer's Research UK...
and helped launch its Northern Ireland network centre.
Parliamentary career
Within the UUP Hermon was regarded as being on the more liberal and social democratic wing of the party along with Ken Maginnis. Hermon was chosen as UUP candidate for the North Down constituencyNorth Down (UK Parliament constituency)
North Down is a Parliamentary Constituency in the United Kingdom House of Commons. The current MP is Sylvia Hermon, elected as an Independent in the 2010 General Election. -Boundaries:The county constituency was first created in 1885 from the northern part of Down...
to contest the 2001 general election
United Kingdom general election, 2001
The United Kingdom general election, 2001 was held on Thursday 7 June 2001 to elect 659 members to the British House of Commons. It was dubbed "the quiet landslide" by the media, as the Labour Party was re-elected with another landslide result and only suffered a net loss of 6 seats...
and went on to defeat the incumbent Robert McCartney
Robert McCartney (politician)
Robert Law McCartney QC is a Northern Ireland barrister and former leader of the UK Unionist Party.He was initially a member of the Ulster Unionist Party but was expelled in June 1987 when he refused to withdraw from the general election of that year...
by over 7,000 votes. During the election she garnered the support of the local branch 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....
who withdrew their own candidate.
Hermon became Chair of the North Down
North Down
North Down can refer to:*North Down Borough Council in Northern Ireland.*North Down in Northern Ireland.*North Down in Northern Ireland....
branch of the UUP in 2001 and held this position until 2003. In 2001 she was also appointed UUP Spokesperson for Youth and Women's Issues, Home Affairs and Trade and Industry. She subsequently lost the Trade and Industry portfolio and took responsibility for Culture, Media and Sport in 2002. Outside of the UUP, Hermon has also been involved in policing support and pensioners' rights campaigns. In Parliament, she has established herself as an independently minded politician, in some instances voting against the prevalent beliefs of fellow unionist MPs, including her decision to vote against the replacement of the Trident Nuclear Weapons System
UK Trident programme
The UK Trident programme is the United Kingdom's Trident missile-based nuclear weapons programme. Under the programme, the Royal Navy operates 58 nuclear-armed Trident II D-5 submarine-launched ballistic missiles and around 200 nuclear warheads on 4 Vanguard-class ballistic missile submarines from...
and also to repeal Section 28
Section 28
Section 28 of the Local Government Act 1988 caused the controversial addition of Section 2A to the Local Government Act 1986 , enacted on 24 May 1988 and repealed on 21 June 2000 in Scotland, and on 18 November 2003 in the rest of Great Britain by section 122 of the Local Government Act 2003...
, legislation that prevented the promotion of homosexuality in English schools. She also voted for identity cards and 90-day detention. Her votes were generally in support of the Labour
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
government.
Hermon was the only Ulster Unionist to be returned to Westminster in the 2005 general election
United Kingdom general election, 2005
The United Kingdom general election of 2005 was held on Thursday, 5 May 2005 to elect 646 members to the British House of Commons. The Labour Party under Tony Blair won its third consecutive victory, but with a majority of 66, reduced from 160....
and as a result figured in consideration for who would succeed David Trimble
Ulster Unionist Party leadership election, 2005
The 2005 Ulster Unionist Party leadership election began on 7 May 2005 when David Trimble resigned as leader of the Ulster Unionist Party following his party's poor performance in the 2005 general election when it lost all but one of its seats, including Trimble's own...
as party leader. Initially considered to be amongst the frontrunners, Hermon eventually declined the opportunity, feeling that she could not combine it with her care duties for her husband, who suffered from Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease also known in medical literature as Alzheimer disease is the most common form of dementia. There is no cure for the disease, which worsens as it progresses, and eventually leads to death...
, and instead supported the unsuccessful bid of Alan McFarland
Alan McFarland
Major Robert Alan McFarland, MLA was an Independent Unionist politician and MLA for North Down in Northern Ireland. He lost his Assembly seat in the 2011 election....
.
In Westminster, Hermon largely supported the Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
government much to the chagrin of the UUP leader Sir Reg Empey, who had been seeking an alliance with the Conservative Party. On 13 May 2009, Lady Hermon ended months of speculation over her supposed opposition to the Ulster Unionist link-up with the Conservative Party
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
. She declared, in an unplanned announcement, during an interview in her constituency office, "At the present time, I can’t see myself standing under a Conservative banner.... If my party chooses to move to call themselves by a different name, I'm terribly sorry and terribly disappointed by that but I remain an Ulster Unionist. That was certainly my mandate and I’ve loved serving the people of North Down. They have stood by me through the most difficult of times and if they choose and wish me to serve them I would do my very best to do that." She was criticised for the timing of her remarks by the party Leader Sir Reg Empey
Reg Empey
Reginald Norman Morgan Empey, Baron Empey of Shandon, OBE, – known as Sir Reg Empey prior to 2011 – is a former Leader of the Ulster Unionist Party and Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly for East Belfast...
and by Jim Nicholson
Jim Nicholson
James Nicholson or Jim Nicholson may refer to:*James Nicholson , United States navy captain*Jim Nicholson , former United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and chairman of the Republican National Committee*James Nicholson , politician in Prince Edward Island, Canada*Jim...
, as the party was running its European Parliament election campaign.
On 23 February 2010, Lady Hermon confirmed that she would not be seeking the nomination as a Conservative and Unionist candidate. On 6 May 2010 standing as an Independent candidate she was re-elected with a majority of over 21,000 votes ahead of the UCUNF candidate. She continues to caucus with the Labour Party.