William James McClure MBE is a Unionist politician based in Coleraine, Northern Ireland. He is President of the Democratic Unionist Party[1]
McClure was first elected in 1975 to the Northern Ireland Constitutional Convention representing Londonderry. [2] He was elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly in 1982 for the same constituency.
In 1977 he was elected to Coleraine Borough Council and has remained a member since then, [3] serving as Mayor from 1983-1984 and from 1997-1999. He also held the post of Deputy Mayor from 1982-1983, 1985-1993 and 2004-2005. He also currently serves on the Coleraine district policing partnership. [4]
McClure is a fundamentalist Protestant and a member of the Independent Orange Order. He is an opponent of commercial trading, gambling and football games being played on Sundays, arguing that: "The Christian Sabbath is a day for God not for gambling. It is a day for worshipping the Saviour, not for sport."[5]
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by G. A. McIlraith |
Mayor of Coleraine 1983–1984 |
Succeeded by William King |
| Preceded by Pauline Armitage |
Mayor of Coleraine 1997–1999 |
Succeeded by Norman Hillis |
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded by William Beattie |
Chairman of the Democratic Unionist Party 1981?–2000? |
Succeeded by Maurice Morrow |
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