Harold McCusker

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Harold McCusker MP

Member of Parliament for Upper Bann
In office 9 June 1983 – 12 February 1990
Preceded by	Position created
Succeeded by	David Trimble
Personal details
Born	(1940-02-07)7 February 1940 Lurgan, United Kingdom
Died	12 February 1990(1990-02-12) (aged 50) Portadown, United Kingdom
Nationality	British
Political party	Ulster Unionist
Spouse(s)	Jennifer McCusker
Children	Moore James Colin
Alma mater	Stranmillis University College
Occupation	Teacher
Religion	Anglican

James Harold McCusker (7 February 1940 — 12 February 1990) was a Northern Ireland Ulster Unionist Party politician who served as his party's deputy leader.

Educated at Lurgan College and Stranmillis University College, before qualifying as a teacher. He represented the Armagh constituency, and was first returned to the British House of Commons at the February 1974 general election. He was returned again in October 1974 and in the 1979 election. In 1982 he topped the poll in Armagh in the Assembly election.

At the 1983 general election, McCusker was returned for the new seat of Upper Bann. Alongside other Unionist MPs, he resigned his seat in protest at the Anglo-Irish Agreement in 1985, in order to contest his seat again at the ensuing by-election. He was returned again at the 1987 general election, which was to prove his last — he died of cancer in 1990, causing another by-election, which was won by future Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble.

Personal life

McCusker was an Orangeman and staunch Unionist. He was married, with 3 children. A son Colin, ran for the Northern Ireland Assembly in 2011 and is currently a Craigavon Councillor (also Ulster Unionist). Prior to his death, he was expected to rise further in Ulster Unionist and British political scenes, due to his ability and popularity.

Election history

General Election 1987: Upper Bann
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	UUP	Harold McCusker	25,137	61.5	4.6
	SDLP	Brid Rodgers	8,676	20.5	3.7
	Sinn Féin	Brendan Curran	3,126	7.4	-2.0
	Alliance	Fionnuala Cook	2,487	5.9	N/A
	Workers' Party	Tom French	2,004	4.7	-0.8
Majority			16,461
Turnout				66.0	-6.0
	UUP hold		Swing

Upper Bann by-election, 1986
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	UUP	Harold McCusker	29,311
	Workers' Party	Tom French	6,978
Majority			22,333
Turnout
	UUP hold		Swing

General Election 1983: Upper Bann
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	UUP	Harold McCusker	24,888	56.9	N/A
	SDLP	James McDonald	7,807	17.9	N/A
	DUP	Jim Wells	4,547	10.4	N/A
	Sinn Féin	Brendan Curran	4,110	9.4	N/A
	Workers' Party	Tom French	2,392	5.5	N/A
Majority			17,081		N/A
Turnout				72.0	N/A
	UUP hold		Swing

External links

Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Harold McCusker

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by John Maginnis	Member of Parliament for Armagh Feb 1974 – 1983	Constituency abolished
New constituency	Member of Parliament for Upper Bann 1983 – 1990	Succeeded by David Trimble
Party political offices
Preceded by ?	Deputy Leader of the Ulster Unionist Party 1982–1990	Succeeded by ?

Authority control	VIAF: 11829589

Persondata
Name	McCusker, Harold
Alternative names
Short description	British politician
Date of birth	7 February 1940
Place of birth	Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
Date of death	12 February 1990
Place of death	United Kingdom

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