Simon Hamilton (born 17 March 1977) is a Northern Irish businessman, consultant and former Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) politician. Hamilton served as the Economy Minister in the Northern Ireland Executive from 2016, until its collapse in January 2017.[2][3] He was a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Strangford from 2007 to 2019.
Simon Hamilton | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Economy Minister of Northern Ireland | |
| In office 25 May 2016 – 26 January 2017 | |
| First Minister | Arlene Foster |
| Preceded by | Jonathan Bell |
| Succeeded by | Diane Dodds (2020) |
| Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety | |
| In office 11 May 2015 – 6 May 2016 | |
| Preceded by | Jim Wells |
| Succeeded by | Michelle O'Neill |
| Minister of Finance and Personnel | |
| In office 29 July 2013 – 11 May 2015 | |
| Preceded by | Sammy Wilson |
| Succeeded by | Arlene Foster |
| Member of the Legislative Assembly for Strangford | |
| In office 7 March 2007 – 2 September 2019 | |
| Preceded by | George Ennis |
| Succeeded by | Harry Harvey[1] |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 17 March 1977 Newtownards, Northern Ireland |
| Political party | Democratic Unionist Party (until 2019) |
| Spouse | Nicki |
| Children | Lewis Kyle |
| Residence(s) | Comber, Northern Ireland |
| Alma mater | Queen's University Belfast |
| Website | Official website |
Education edit
Hamilton was educated at Regent House School and Queen's University, Belfast holding degrees in history/politics and law.[4] He served as Chairman of the Queen's Unionist Association and as a member of Queen's University Senate.
Career edit
Hamilton began his career as an auditor with an accountancy firm in Belfast[4] and was employed as a DUP Policy Officer in their Party Headquarters from 2003 until his election to the Northern Ireland Assembly in 2007.[5] He was elected to Ards Borough Council in 2005 but did not stand at the 2011 Election. Hamilton was secretary of Strangford DUP Association and vice-chairman of Newtownards DUP Branch.
He was appointed minister of finance and personnel and replaced Sammy Wilson on 29 June 2013 in a reshuffle.[5][6]
He was later appointed as the Health Minister of Northern Ireland in a further DUP reshuffle on 11 May 2015.[7] He resigned from this post several times during September and October 2015 in the context of a political crisis at Stormont.[2][8]
In June 2019, Hamilton announced he was standing down from front line politics to become CEO of Belfast Chamber of Commerce. He also resigned from the DUP to take this role.[9]
References edit
- ^ "New MLA - Strangford Constituency". The Electoral Office of Northern Ireland. 28 August 2019. Retrieved 4 November 2019.
- ^ a b "Mr Simon Hamilton". Northern Ireland Assembly. Retrieved 17 January 2016.
- ^ "Simon Hamilton resigns four times in past three weeks". BBC News. 2 October 2015. Retrieved 24 October 2015.
- ^ a b "Hamilton appointed as Northern Ireland's Minister for Finance". Irish Times. 30 July 2013. Retrieved 14 September 2013.
- ^ a b "Simon Hamilton appointed new finance minister". BBC News. 29 July 2013. Retrieved 14 September 2013.
- ^ "DUP reshuffle: Foster, Bell and Hamilton in new jobs". BBC News. Retrieved 24 October 2015.
- ^ "DUP reshuffle: Foster, Bell and Hamilton in new jobs". BBC News. 11 May 2015.
- ^ "Simon Hamilton resigns four times in past three weeks". BBC News. 2 October 2015. Retrieved 17 January 2016.
- ^ "DUP's Simon Hamilton quits politics to become Belfast Chamber boss". 28 June 2019. Retrieved 2 September 2019.
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