Jonathan Buckley

Last updated

Jill Porter
​
(m. 2022)​
[1]
Jonathan Buckley
MLA
Johnny Buckley, MLA 2024.jpg
Buckley in 2024
Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly
for Upper Bann
Incumbent
Assumed office
3 March 2017
OccupationPolitician

Jonathan Buckley (born 19 July 1991) is a Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) politician who has been a Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly (MLA) for Upper Bann since 2017. He currently serves as the DUP's Spokesman for Economy, Business, and Energy and Trade Union Engagement. [2]

Contents

Early life

Buckley grew up outside Portadown, where he still lives today. [3]

Jonathan was educated at Queens University Belfast studying Modern History and Politics.

Political career

Before entering the Northern Ireland Assembly, Buckley served as a Local Councillor for Portadown DEA within the Armagh, Banbridge & Craigavon Borough Council. During his time in local government, he was a member of various committees, including Economic Development, Governance, and Policy and Planning.

Buckley has been a member of the Northern Ireland Assembly (MLA) for Upper Bann since 2017. He succeeded retiring veteran legislator Sydney Anderson. During the campaign, he publicly exhorted voters in the constituency to vote and to transfer to other Unionist candidates. He was declared the winner on 3 March 2017. [4] [5] [6] This made Buckley the youngest elected representative for the DUP. [3]

Buckley's political journey has been marked by his extensive involvement in legislative committees. He notably chaired the Committee for Infrastructure at the Northern Ireland Assembly, where he played a crucial role in advising, assisting, and scrutinizing the work of the Department for Infrastructure. He has also been a member of the committees for Health and Communities, contributing to the oversight of key government departments.

Beyond his legislative work, Buckley is actively engaged in promoting business and parliamentary collaboration. He serves as a Board Member and Trustee at the Northern Ireland Assembly Business Trust, fostering connections between local businesses and parliamentarians. Additionally, he is an Executive Committee Member at the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), Northern Ireland Branch, where he supports parliamentary democracy across the Commonwealth.

In October 2021, Buckley voted against 'safe zones' outside abortion clinics, saying the move which supporters claim is designed to protect women from physical and verbal harassment was "regressive". [7]

In May 2022, Buckley admitted that he was "surprised" to learn that he had been nominated by Anne Donaghy's office for an MBE for "political and public service". [8]

In addition to his political roles, Buckley has been actively engaged in various leadership and educational programs. He participated in the British Council Future Leaders Connect Programme at Cambridge University, becoming part of a global network of emerging policy leaders. He was also selected by the United States Government for the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP), representing the United Kingdom in the Department of State Exchange Programme Global Economic Cooperation.

In 2023, Buckley stood for the Deputy Leadership of the DUP, losing by one vote to Gavin Robinson, the MP for East Belfast. [9]

On 24 May 2024, Buckley was selected as the Democratic Unionist Party candidate for Lagan Valley in the 2024 United Kingdom general election, following the departure of Sir Jeffrey Donaldson. [10] On standing for election, Buckley said:“I am running in Lagan Valley because I am putting country first. “I am running in Lagan Valley to ensure pro-union voters can unite behind a candidate and ensure Lagan Valley has strong representation at Westminster.” [11] He finished second to Alliance's Sorcha Eastwood, who won the seat with a 2,659 (6.0%) majority compared to Buckley's 15,659 votes (31.9%). [12] [13]

Personal life

Outside of politics, Buckley is passionate about pigeon racing, country sports, and football. [3]

On 1 July 2022, Buckley married Jill Porter in Lisburn. [1]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeffrey Donaldson</span> British politician (born 1962)

Sir Jeffrey Mark Donaldson is a British former politician, who served as leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) from 2021 to 2024, and leader of the DUP in the UK House of Commons from 2019 to 2024. He was the Member of Parliament (MP) for Lagan Valley from 1997 to 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Antrim (UK Parliament constituency)</span> Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 1950 onwards

South Antrim is a parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom House of Commons. The current MP is Robin Swann (UUP)

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Upper Bann (UK Parliament constituency)</span> Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 1983 onwards

Upper Bann is a parliamentary constituency in Northern Ireland, which is represented in the United Kingdom House of Commons. The current MP is Carla Lockhart of the Democratic Unionist Party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Simpson (Northern Ireland politician)</span>

Thomas David Simpson is a Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) politician in Northern Ireland, who was the Member of Parliament (MP) for Upper Bann from 2005 to 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Diane Dodds</span> Northern Ireland politician (born August 1958)

Diane Jean Dodds, Baroness Dodds of Duncairn,, is a Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) politician in Northern Ireland. She served as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for the Northern Ireland constituency from 2009 to 2020. She previously sat in the Northern Ireland Assembly from 2003 to 2007 as MLA for West Belfast. In 2020, Dodds returned to the Assembly as MLA for Upper Bann and is the DUP's Spokesperson for Education and Skills. She is married to Lord Dodds, and as such she is styled as "The Right Honourable The Lady Dodds of Duncairn".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2007 Northern Ireland Assembly election</span>

The 2007 Northern Ireland Assembly election was held on Wednesday, 7 March 2007. It was the third election to take place since the devolved assembly was established in 1998. The election saw endorsement of the St Andrews Agreement and the two largest parties, the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and Sinn Féin, along with the Alliance Party, increase their support, with falls in support for the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) and the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP).

Ivan Davis was a Northern Irish unionist politician. Davis was an Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly (MLA) for Lagan Valley from 1998 to 2003.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul Givan</span> Northern Irish politician (born 1981)

Paul Jonathan Givan is a Northern Irish unionist politician who served as First Minister of Northern Ireland from 2021 to 2022. A member of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), he has served as Minister of Education since 3 February 2024. Givan has been a Member of the Legislative Assembly for Lagan Valley since 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sydney Anderson (Northern Ireland politician)</span> Northern Ireland politician

Alderman Sydney Alexander Anderson is a former Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) politician who was an Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Councillor for the Portadown DEA from 2019 to 2023. He previously served as a Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly (MLA) for Upper Bann from 2010 to 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016 Northern Ireland Assembly election</span>

The 2016 Northern Ireland Assembly election was held on Thursday, 5 May 2016. It was the fifth election to take place since the devolved assembly was established in 1998. 1,281,595 individuals were registered to vote in the election. Turnout in the 2016 Assembly election was 703,744 (54.9%), a decline of less than one percentage point from the previous Assembly Election in 2011, but down 15 percentage points from the first election to the Assembly held in 1998.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2005 United Kingdom general election in Northern Ireland</span>

The 2005 United Kingdom general election in Northern Ireland was held on 5 May 2005 and all 18 seats in Northern Ireland were contested. 1,139,993 people were eligible to vote, down 51,016 from the 2001 general election. 63.49% of eligible voters turned out, down 5.1 percentage points from the last general election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Doug Beattie</span> Politician in Northern Ireland

Douglas Ricardo Beattie is a Northern Irish politician and former member of the British Army, who was leader of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) between 27 May 2021 and 28 September 2024. He has been a Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly (MLA) for Upper Bann since 2016. He is characterised as a 'progressive' and 'liberal' unionist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emma Little-Pengelly</span> Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland since 2024

Emma Little-Pengelly is a Northern Irish barrister and Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) politician serving as the deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland since February 2024. She has been a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Lagan Valley since May 2022, when she was co-opted (appointed) to replace then-DUP party leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, who declined to take up his seat following the 2022 election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carla Lockhart</span> Northern Irish politician (born 1985)

Carla Rebecca Lockhart is a Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) politician who has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for Upper Bann since the 2019 general election. She currently serves as the DUP spokesperson for environment, food and rural affairs. She was previously a member of the Northern Ireland Assembly for Upper Bann from 2016 to 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robbie Butler</span> Politician from Northern Ireland

Robbie Butler is a Northern Irish unionist politician, serving as Deputy Leader of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) since May 2021, and a Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly (MLA) for Lagan Valley since 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 Northern Ireland Assembly election</span> Election held in Northern Ireland

The 2022 Northern Ireland Assembly election was held on 5 May 2022. It elected 90 members to the Northern Ireland Assembly. It was the seventh assembly election since the establishment of the assembly in 1998. The election was held three months after the Northern Ireland Executive collapsed due to the resignation of the First Minister, Paul Givan of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), in protest against the Northern Ireland Protocol.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sorcha Eastwood</span> Northern Irish politician former MLA current MP (born 1985)

Sorcha-Lucy Eastwood is a Northern Irish politician who has served as Member of Parliament (MP) for Lagan Valley since 2024. A member of the Alliance Party, she previously served as a member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Lagan Valley from 2022 until her election to the House of Commons in 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Honeyford</span> Alliance Party of Northern Ireland MLA

David Honeyford is an Alliance Party politician, serving as a Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly (MLA) for Lagan Valley since 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eóin Tennyson</span> Alliance party MLA for Upper Bann Deputy leader of Alliance Party (born 1998)

Eóin Tennyson is a Northern Irish politician who has been the deputy leader of the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland since October 2024. He succeeded former deputy leader Stephen Farry who resigned from the position in 2024. He has been a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Upper Bann since 2022, where he defeated former Social Democratic and Labour Party incumbent Dolores Kelly to become the youngest MLA for the constituency.

Michelle Guy is an Alliance Party politician who has been a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Lagan Valley since July 2024, as well as a member of the Alliance Party Executive, currently serving as Chair.

References

  1. 1 2 Martin, Valerie (2 July 2022). "MLA Jonathan Buckley and his bride Jill Porter marry in Lisburn". Northern Ireland World. Retrieved 3 July 2022.
  2. ↑ "Jonathan Buckley MLA". DUP. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 McNeilly, Claire (7 May 2018). "DUP MLA Jonathan Buckley: 'My great-grandfather won a bravery medal after he picked up an IRA bomb and carried it outside so that the Army could defuse it'". Belfast Telegraph. ISSN   0307-1235 . Retrieved 18 April 2022.
  4. ↑ "Jonathan Buckley to run for DUP in tight Upper Bann election race". News Letter. 25 January 2017. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
  5. ↑ "Upper Bann - predicted winner: Jonathan Buckley (DUP)". Bet Breaking News. Archived from the original on 4 March 2017. Retrieved 8 May 2017.
  6. ↑ "Buckley urges Upper Bann to vote for strong Unionist representation". Northern Ireland World. 24 February 2017. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
  7. ↑ McCormack, Jayne (12 October 2021). "Buckley Opposes Safe Zones". BBC News. Retrieved 3 July 2022.
  8. ↑ Hughes, Brendan (3 May 2022). "DUP man 'surprised' to learn of Queen's honour nomination from council boss". BelfastLive. Retrieved 3 July 2022.
  9. ↑ Hughes, Brendan (7 June 2023). "DUP's Robinson and Buckley tipped for deputy leader role". Belfast Live. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  10. ↑ "Jonathan Buckley to stand in Lagan Valley for DUP". BBC News. BBC. 24 May 2024. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  11. ↑ "DUP announces Jonathan Buckley as candidate in Lagan Valley". The Independent. 24 May 2024. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
  12. ↑ "UK Parliament election results: Election for the constituency of Lagan Valley on 4 July 2024". UK Parliament. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
  13. ↑ "Lagan Valley - General election results 2024 - BBC News". BBC News. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
Northern Ireland Assembly
Preceded by MLA for Upper Bann
2017–present		Incumbent


This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.