Michael Copeland (politician)

Michael Copeland (born 23 June 1954) is a former unionist MLA from Northern Ireland. He is a member of the Ulster Unionist Party.

Michael Copeland
Member of the Legislative Assembly
for Belfast East
In office
5 May 2010  7 September 2015
Preceded bySir Reg Empey
Succeeded byAndy Allen
In office
26 November 2003  7 March 2007
Preceded byIan Adamson
Succeeded byWallace Browne
Personal details
Born (1954-06-23) 23 June 1954
Belfast, Northern Ireland
NationalityBritish
Political partyUlster Unionist Party
ChildrenSarah and Matthew
ResidenceCherryvalley, Belfast
Alma materSandhurst
OccupationPolitician
ProfessionMilitary Officer
Military service
Allegiance United Kingdom
Branch/serviceBritish Army
RankLieutenant
UnitUlster Defence Regiment
Battles/warsThe Troubles

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.

Political career

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.

He stepped down from the Assembly due to health reasons was replaced by Andy Allen.[1][2]

Views

Copeland has spoken in favour of same-sex marriage, saying he "backed the change."[3]

Personal

His wife Sonia was elected to Belfast City Council in the 2014 Northern Ireland local elections.[4] She represents the Titanic ward. They have two children and he is a member of the Church of Ireland.

References

  1. McBride, Sam. "Maginnis blasts UUP colleague in gay row". News Letter. Retrieved 23 August 2012.
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
2011–2015
Succeeded by
Andy Allen
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.