John Carson | |
|---|---|
| Lord Mayor of Belfast | |
| In office 1980–1981 | |
| Preceded by | Billy Bell |
| Succeeded by | Grace Bannister |
| In office 1985–1986 | |
| Preceded by | Alfie Ferguson |
| Succeeded by | Sammy Wilson |
| Member of Belfast City Council | |
| In office 15 May 1985 –21 May 1997 | |
| Preceded by | District created |
| Succeeded by | Danny Lavery |
| Constituency | Castle |
| In office 30 May 1973 –15 May 1985 | |
| Preceded by | District created |
| Succeeded by | District abolished |
| Constituency | Belfast Area H |
| Member of Parliament for North Belfast | |
| In office 28 February 1974 –3 May 1979 | |
| Preceded by | Stratton Mills |
| Succeeded by | John McQuade |
| Personal details | |
| Born | July 31,1933 Belfast,Northern Ireland |
| Political party | Ulster Unionist |
John Carson CBE (born 31 July 1933) [1] is a former Northern Irish businessman and Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) politician.
A draper who owned a shop in the interface area of the Duncairn Gardens in north Belfast,Carson was elected to Belfast City Council in 1973. [2] At the February 1974 general election,he was elected as a member of the United Ulster Unionist Coalition as the Member of Parliament for Belfast North. At the October 1974 general election,Carson was re-elected with a substantial increase in his majority.[ citation needed ]
However,he was de-selected in 1979,after voting in favour of the Labour government in the crucial vote of confidence,which they lost. [3] In that year's general election,Belfast North was gained by Johnny McQuade of the Democratic Unionist Party,with Cecil Walker coming second for the UUP. [4]
Despite this,Carson retained his popularity,topping the local government poll in the electoral area 'H', [2] which included over half of the parliamentary seat. He also topped the poll in North Belfast at the 1982 Assembly elections. [3]
Carson was twice Lord Mayor of Belfast first 1980-81 and second from 1985 to 1986,and in his capacity as a councillor,was sometimes at odds with his party colleagues. For example,he attended a City Hall lunch attended by the then Secretary of State Tom King,despite the Unionist policy of boycotting meetings with Government ministers in protest at the Anglo-Irish Agreement. [5] For this,he was threatened with expulsion from the UUP,which never happened. [5]
Carson remained a member of Belfast City Council until 1997,when he lost his seat after 24 consecutive years on the council. [2] [6] [7]
Carson married Martha in 1953 and had two daughters. They celebrated their Diamond Anniversary in 2013. [8]
Carson was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 1981 Birthday Honours. [9]
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