Sammy Wilson

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Sammy Wilson

Sammy Wilson (born April 4, 1953, Belfast) is a politician in Northern Ireland and both Member of Parliament and a Member of the Legislative Assembly for East Antrim.

A member of the Democratic Unionist Party, Wilson graduated from the Queen's University of Belfast with an economics degree, and has taught at various schools including Glenola College, Bangor Grammar School, both in Bangor and at Grosvenor Grammar School, and Methodist College in Belfast. He was elected to Belfast City Council in 1981 and has since served twice as Lord Mayor. He was elected MP for East Antrim at the 2005 general election, defeating the incumbent Roy Beggs with a 13.6% swing to the DUP.

He has frequently courted controversy, particularly when a series of candid holiday photographs showing Wilson nude were published by the Sunday World. After the incident Martin McGuinness of Sinn Féin addressed the Northern Ireland Assembly by saying "It is also very good to come across someone like Mr Sammy Wilson, whom I have never met, and it is great to see him today with his clothes on." ^[1] He has also come in for criticism for his recent stance against the Pride parade that now takes place in Belfast.

Wilson is also seen by many as an anti-Catholic bigot. Over the years he has made numerous sectarian quotes:

"Irish is a leprechaun language." Irish News, 3 Nov 1987

"Leadbelly" Sunday World 17 January 1988. A comment about fellow Belfast councillor Alex Maskey after he was shot in the stomach by a loyalist paramilitary group.

"Our message to the perverts who voted for them [Sinn Féin] is that they will not get anything through this council." Andersonstown News 5 March 1988

"I have no regret that someone openly identified with terrorist organisations and activities meets his death the same way." Irish Times 24 Sept 1988 after the loyalist killing of Gerard Slane.

"The GAA is the sporting wing of the IRA" Irish News 6 Sept 1989

"Would this council be prepared to congratulate all those who have done a good job on two sides of the border." Sunday World 15 June 1991 reference to the loyalist murder of Sinn Féin Donegal councillor Eddie Fullerton

"5,000 sub human animals." News Letter 3 Sept 1991 voters who returned Sinn Féin's Joe Austin to City Hall

"They are poofs. I don't care if they are ratepayers. As far as I am concerned they are perverts." Daily Express 1 June 1992 after gay rights activists had requested the use of City Hall

"Taigs don't pay rates." Irish Times 12 January 2000

His widest exposure on a UK-wide stage came on The Eleven O'Clock Show, when he participated in an interview with comedy character Ali G.^[2]

Sammy Wilson MP is the DUP's Education and Policing spokesperson.

Preceded by Roy Beggs	Member of Parliament for Antrim East 2005-	Succeeded by Incumbent
Preceded by ????	Lord Mayor of Belfast 1986 — 1987	Succeeded by ????
Preceded by Bob Stoker	Lord Mayor of Belfast 2000 - 2001	Succeeded by Jim Rodgers