Michael Copeland
| Michael Copeland MLA | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly for Belfast East | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 5 May 2010 | |
| Preceded by | Reg Empey |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 23 June 1954 Belfast, Northern Ireland |
| Nationality | British |
| Political party | Ulster Unionist Party |
| Spouse(s) | Sonia Copeland |
| Children | Sarah Matthew |
| Residence | Cherryvalley, Belfast |
| Alma mater | Sandhurst |
| Occupation | Politician |
| Profession | Military Officer |
| Religion | Anglican |
Michael Copeland MLA (born 23 June 1954) is a Unionist politician from Northern Ireland, United Kingdom.
Copeland was born in Belfast and was educated at Lisnasharragh Primary School, Lisnasharragh Secondary School, Castlereagh College and the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst becoming a lieutenant of the Ulster Defence Regiment, HM Armed Forces.
Copeland was first elected to Castlereagh Borough Council in 2001 and in May 2002 was elected Deputy Mayor of Castlereagh.
In 2002, he was elected chairman of Castlereagh District Policing Partnership. He later resigned in protest at the treatment of the RUC full-time Reserve. He also served as Director of Castlereagh Local Strategy Partnership.
After defeating incumbent MLA Ian Adamson for the East Belfast UUP nomination for the 2003 Assembly Election he was elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly. He was re-selected to stand for the constituency in the elections in 2007 but lost his seat. Copeland remains an extremely active figure in local governmental politics within Northern Ireland: maintaining a keen interest in domestic, socioeconomic and housing problems. He was re-elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly as MLA for East Belfast in the Assembly Elections in May 2011.
A member of the Orange Order and the Royal Black Institution, Copeland has served as the party's Parades spokesman.
Copeland has come out in favor of gay marriage, saying he "backed the change."[1]
His wife Sonia was elected to Belfast City Council in the Northern Ireland local elections, 2014. [2]
References
- ↑ McBride, Sam. "Maginnis blasts UUP colleague in gay row". News Letter. Retrieved August 23, 2012.
- ↑
External links
- Michael Copeland MLA - Official Website as at 4 January 2014
- NI Assembly biography
- Stratagem biography
- Castlereagh Council biography as at 28 August 2008
| Northern Ireland Assembly | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Ian Adamson |
MLA for Belfast East 2003 - 2007 |
Succeeded by Wallace Browne |
| Preceded by Reg Empey |
MLA for Belfast East 2011–present |
Incumbent |