James Kilfedder
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Sir James Alexander Kilfedder (July 16, 1928–March 20, 1995) was a Northern Ireland unionist politician.
Kilfedder was educated at Portora Royal School, Enniskillen and Dublin University. He became a barrister, called to the Irish Bar at King's Inns, Dublin, in 1952 and the English Bar at Gray's Inn in 1958. He practised in London.
At the 1964 general election, Kilfedder was elected as Member of Parliament for West Belfast, but lost his seat at the 1966 election to Gerry Fitt. He was elected again in the 1970 general election for North Down, and held the seat until his death in 1995. Initially a member of the Ulster Unionist Party, he left it in the late 1970s in opposition to the party's new policy of integration, preferring to advocate the restoration of the Stormont Administration. For a time he sat as an Independent Ulster Unionist, then in 1980 he formed the Ulster Popular Unionist Party. The party did not outlive him, and the by-election for his Commons seat won by Robert McCartney.
Sir James died in 1995. The same day the lead story in the Belfast Telegraph reported that an unnamed MP from Northern Ireland had received a letter from the gay rights campaign group Outrage! threatening to expose their sexuality if they did not support gay liberation issues in Parliament. [[1]] He had a heart attack on a train. He died unmarried, survived by two sisters. Any accusations regarding his sexuality remain unproven.
Political offices | ||
---|---|---|
Preceded by Patricia McLaughlin |
Member of Parliament for Belfast West 1964–1966 |
Succeeded by Gerry Fitt |
Preceded by George Currie |
Member of Parliament for North Down 1970–1995 |
Succeeded by Robert McCartney |
Categories: Northern Ireland politician stubs | British MP stubs | 1928 births | 1995 deaths | Members of the United Kingdom Parliament from Northern Ireland constituencies | Members of the United Kingdom Parliament from Belfast constituencies | Ulster Unionist Party politicians | Irish barristers | English barristers | Members of Gray's Inn | UK MPs 1964-1966 | UK MPs 1970-1974 | UK MPs 1974 | UK MPs 1974-1979 | UK MPs 1979-1983 | UK MPs 1983-1987 | UK MPs 1987-1992 | UK MPs 1992-1997