David Simpson (UK politician)

David Simpson MP

Spokesman for Trade and Industry
Incumbent
Assumed office 9 June 2008
Leader	Peter Robinson
Member of Parliament for Upper Bann
Incumbent
Assumed office 5 May 2005
Preceded by	David Trimble
Majority	3,361 (8.1%)
Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly for Upper Bann
In office 26 November 2003 – 1 July 2010
Preceded by	Mervyn Carrick
Succeeded by	Sydney Anderson
Personal details
Born	16 February 1959 (1959-02-16) (age 53) Moy, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
Nationality	British
Political party	Democratic Unionist
Spouse(s)	Elaine Simpson
Children	3
Residence	Portadown, County Armagh
Alma mater	Belfast Metropolitan College
Religion	Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster (Free Presbyterian)
Website	David Simpson MP

Thomas David Simpson (born 16 February 1959) is a Democratic Unionist politician and proponent of intelligent design^[1] in the United Kingdom.

1 Early life
2 Parliamentary career
- 2.1 Anti-scientific stance
- 2.2 Other Political Achievements
3 Personal life
4 Election history
- 4.1 Westminster Elections
- 4.2 Northern Ireland Assembly Elections
5 References

Early life

He went to Birches Primary School on Clonmacate Road then Killicomaine High School on Upper Church Lane in Portadown, County Armagh. He then studied at the College of Business Studies (now called Belfast Metropolitan College) in Belfast. Although having no political training, he has been a successful politician for many years.

He then worked in the food manufacturing industry, specifically Universal Meat Company in Portadown.

Parliamentary career

He has been the Member of Parliament for Upper Bann since the 2005 general election when he defeated Ulster Unionist Party leader David Trimble.

He was, until 2010, also a Member of the Legislative Assembly for the same seat (resigning after being returned to Westminster in the 2010 general election^[2] and a former Mayor of Craigavon Borough Council which lies within the constituency.

Anti-scientific stance

In addition to being a proponent of creationism, he is a supporter of homeopathy, having signed several early day motion in support of its continued funding on the National Health Service sponsored by Conservative MP David Tredinnick.^[3]

Other Political Achievements

Negotiated fundamental changes to the failed Belfast Agreement.
Made it a requirement that no party can get into government without prior full, verifiable, witnessed and transparent decommissioning and an end to all paramilitary and criminal activity.
Negotiated a testing period in which republican good faith could be proved (this would have caught the Northern Bank robbery and barred SF/IRA from government)
Ensured proper ministerial accountability.
Established the principle that policing and justice powers could not be devolved until unionists were satisfied.
Secured a Victims' Commissioner
Achieved de-rating of Orange Halls.
Achieved an efficiency review of all aspects of government to investigate savings for the tax payer.

Personal life

He is married with a son and two daughters, and lives in Portadown. He is also involved in youth work and drugs rehabilitation programmes. He is also known to enjoy Gopsel Singing, to which he partakes. He is Chairman of the Upper Bann Constituency Association and is Deputy Master Loughgall District Loyal Orange Order.

Election history

Westminster Elections

General Election 2010: Upper Bann^[4]^[5]^[6]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic Unionist	David Simpson	14,000	33.8	-3.8
	Conservatives and Unionists	Harry Hamilton	10,639	25.7	+0.2
	Sinn Féin	John O'Dowd	10,237	24.7	+3.7
	SDLP	Dolores Kelly	5,276	12.8	-0.2
	Alliance	Brendan Heading	1,231	3.0	+0.8
Majority			3,361	8.1
Turnout			41,383	55.3
	Democratic Unionist hold		Swing

General Election 2005: Upper Bann^[6]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic Unionist	David Simpson	16,679	37.6	+8.1
	Ulster Unionist	David Trimble	11,281	25.5	-8.0
	Sinn Féin	John O'Dowd	9,305	21.0	-0.1
	SDLP	Dolores Kelly	5,747	13.0	-1.9
	Alliance	Alan Castle	955	2.2	+2.2
	Workers' Party	Tom French	355	0.8	-0.2
Majority			5,398	12.2
Turnout			44,322	61.2	-9.1
	Democratic Unionist gain from Ulster Unionist		Swing	+8.1

General Election 2001: Upper Bann^[6]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Ulster Unionist	David Trimble	17,095	33.5	-10.1
	Democratic Unionist	David Simpson	15,037	29.5	+18.0
	Sinn Féin	Dara O'Hagan	10,771	21.1	+9.0
	SDLP	Dolores Kelly	7,607	14.9	-9.3
	Workers' Party	Tom French	527	1.0	-0.1
Majority			2,058	4.0
Turnout			51,037	70.3	+2.4
	Ulster Unionist hold		Swing

Northern Ireland Assembly Elections

Northern Ireland Assembly election, 2007
Party		Candidate	1st Pref	Result	Count
	Sinn Féin	John O'Dowd	7,733	Elected	1
	Democratic Unionist	David Simpson	6,828	Elected	1
	Ulster Unionist	Sam Gardiner	5,135	Elected	9
	SDLP	Dolores Kelly	4,689	Elected	8
	Democratic Unionist	Stephen Moutray	3,663	Elected	11
	Sinn Féin	Dessie Ward	3,118	Not elected	12
	Democratic Unionist	John McCrum	2,975	Not elected	10
	Ulster Unionist	George Savage	2,167	Elected	12
	Ulster Unionist	Arnold Hatch	1,815	Not elected	8
	Independent (Unionist)	Davy Calvert	1,332	Not elected	7
	Green (NI)	Helen Corry	1,156	Not elected	7
	Alliance	Sheila McQuaid	798	Not elected	5
	SDLP	Patrick McAleenan	761	Not elected	4
	(Republican Sinn Féin)	Barry Toman	386	Not elected	3
	Conservative	David Fry	248	Not elected	3
	Independent (Unionist)	Suzanne Peeples	78	Not elected	3

Northern Ireland Assembly election, 2003
Party		Candidate	1st Pref	Result	Count
	Ulster Unionist	David Trimble	9,158	Elected	1
	Democratic Unionist	David Simpson	5,933	Elected	5
	Sinn Féin	John O'Dowd	5,524	Elected	11
	Democratic Unionist	Stephen Moutray	4,697	Elected	6
	Sinn Féin	Dara O'Hagan	3,970	Not elected
	SDLP	Dolores Kelly	3,661	Elected	11
	SDLP	Kieran Corr	3,157	Not elected
	Ulster Unionist	Sam Gardiner	2,359	Elected	9
	Democratic Unionist	Denis Watson	1,770	Not elected
	Ulster Unionist	George Savage	1,269	Not elected
	Independent	David Jones	585	Not elected
	Independent	Sidney Anderson	581	Not elected
	Alliance	Francis McQuaid	571	Not elected
	Workers' Party	Tom French	247	Not elected

References

General

Specific

^ Lesley-Anne Henry (2007-09-26). "Tussle of Biblical proportions over creationism in Ulster classrooms – Education – News – Belfast Telegraph". Belfast Telegraph. http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/education/tussle-of-biblical-proportions-over-creationism-in-ulster-classrooms-13479246.html. Retrieved 2009-04-26.
^ NI Assembly membersip, note 13
^ Tredinnick, David (2010-06-29). "Early Day Motion No. 284 British Medical Association Motions on Homeopathy". http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=41216&SESSION=905.
^ Statement of Persons Nominated Electoral Office for Northern Ireland
^ General Election 2010 – Upper Bann BBC News
^ ^a ^b ^c Upper Bann ARK – Access Research Knowledge

Political offices
Preceded by Ignatius Fox	Mayor of Craigavon 2004–2005	Succeeded by George Savage
Northern Ireland Assembly
Preceded by Mervyn Carrick	MLA for Upper Bann 2003–2010	Succeeded by Sidney Anderson
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by David Trimble	Member of Parliament for Upper Bann 2005–	Succeeded by Incumbent

Parliamentarians of Northern Ireland

UK Parliament	Gregory Campbell · Nigel Dodds · Pat Doherty · Jeffrey Donaldson · Mark Durkan · Michelle Gildernew · Sylvia Hermon · Naomi Long · Paul Maskey · Willie McCrea · Alasdair McDonnell · Martin McGuinness · Conor Murphy · Ian Paisley Jr. · Margaret Ritchie · David Simpson · Sammy Wilson

European Parliament	Bairbre de Brún · Diane Dodds · Jim Nicholson

Persondata
Name	Simpson, David
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	16 February 1959
Place of birth	Moy, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. UK
Date of death
Place of death