458:. The political arrangements of the Assembly placed great stress on the need for a "majority in both communities" and a party that refused to identify as being a part of either found its influence diminished. Under Neeson's leadership Alliance sought to enhance its credentials as a party that was unambiguously in favour of the Agreement.
453:
had seen
Alliance win a mere 6.5% of the vote and just six Assembly seats. The decision by the party's leader, John Alderdice, to resign and take up the position of the Assembly's Speaker deprived Alliance of their most well known figure. Alliance was also in danger of losing further support to the
524:
Seán Neeson stepped down from the assembly to spend more time with his family, saying "It has been an honour and a privilege to serve the people of East Antrim at the
Assembly. It has been very rewarding and at time extremely challenging trying to build peace in Northern Ireland. I want to pay
406:. On several occasions Neeson has been at the head of the single highest vote for Alliance in a province wide election. During this period Neeson emerged as one of the leading Alliance spokespersons, often participating in their delegation to successive talks about the future of the province.
484:
saw a number of misfortunes for
Alliance and Neeson personally. He failed to be selected to fight his own constituency by his local association. An attempt to negotiate an electoral pact with the Ulster Unionists, with the hope of Alliance winning the
498:, instead urging voters to support the pro Agreement candidate best placed for peace. The party lost a number of council seats in the local elections held on the same day. Shortly after the election the party's deputy leader,
489:
seat broke down in negotiations. Subsequently, Alliance took the controversial decision to withdraw from several constituencies which looked likely to be fierce contests between the Ulster
Unionists and/or the
448:
and its subsequent strong endorsement by a referendum had given
Alliance much to hope for, as the party whose longstanding position on the province's future most closely matched that negotiated. However the
1011:
805:
525:
tribute to all those who, during the darkest days of the
Troubles, worked hard from the centre ground to bring this society forward towards a peaceful and shared future."
969:
1323:
1363:
502:, resigned citing differences over direction with the leadership. Subsequently, in September 2001 Neeson chose to resign from the leadership, being succeeded by
1059:
698:
103:
39:
477:
who supported it. In a fierce contest that was clearly always going to be between the two main unionist parties, Alliance instead found its vote squeezed.
1308:
1257:
1225:
598:
1313:
1343:
798:
1338:
1017:
999:
1328:
1358:
1353:
1348:
1333:
51:
791:
296:
486:
438:
422:
360:
1077:
916:
364:
518:
510:
450:
426:
403:
399:
320:
1178:
847:
542:
455:
1318:
641:
637:
514:
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384:
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376:
368:
702:
670:
324:
192:
108:
1204:
814:
765:
491:
316:
264:
1209:
343:
before working as a teacher for many years. In the 1970s he joined the
Alliance and in 1977 he was first elected to
624:
340:
1230:
869:
758:
84:
1199:
517:. Having increased the party's vote at that election, Neeson was re-elected to the Assembly comfortably at the
735:
462:
276:
391:
372:
1092:
17:
1064:
1041:
685:
470:
395:
513:
he held his seat and was subsequently selected by his local association to fight East Antrim in the
1142:
336:
993:
975:
904:
881:
841:
775:
503:
434:
413:. Neeson's election represented a notable geographic shift as his three predecessors (Alderdice,
96:
1303:
656:
187:
1273:
466:
1298:
1194:
570:
8:
1189:
474:
473:
fielding candidates hostile to the
Agreement, Alliance sought to gain votes from those
599:"The Belfast Telegraph – Latest: 21:22 Hugo no-go?_ Ex-Alliance leader Neeson to quit"
444:
Neeson's leadership came at a time of crisis for the
Alliance. The negotiation of the
783:
445:
131:
1137:
1127:
1072:
928:
312:
1157:
1147:
1132:
1107:
1087:
1049:
727:
712:
575:
547:
145:
1082:
981:
863:
414:
410:
1292:
1122:
1005:
952:
857:
837:
430:
418:
344:
409:
In 1998 Neeson stood for the leadership of
Alliance upon the resignation of
1152:
1117:
1102:
934:
922:
499:
347:
council and has remained a member ever since, serving as Mayor in 1993–94.
72:
495:
1097:
987:
940:
910:
356:
1112:
946:
887:
271:
433:, to the north of Belfast. This was continued by Neeson's successor,
286:
363:. The following year he first contested the new constituency of
421:) had all had political bases in the strip incorporating the
429:
constituencies, whereas Neeson's political base was in
27:
Former Leader of the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
813:
359:
Assembly for Northern Ireland for the constituency of
591:
373:
1986 by-election called on the Anglo-Irish Agreement
1258:
Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Party
1324:Leaders of the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
506:, although he remained a member of the Assembly.
390:He was also elected from the constituency to the
1290:
52:Leader of the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
1364:Alliance Party of Northern Ireland councillors
799:
461:The first major electoral test came in the
330:
806:
792:
311:(born 9 February 1946) is a politician in
563:
535:
494:against the Democratic Unionists and/or
1344:Alliance Party of Northern Ireland MLAs
1309:People educated at St Malachy's College
321:Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly
14:
1291:
1339:Members of the Northern Ireland Forum
787:
1329:Mayors of places in Northern Ireland
1314:Alumni of Queen's University Belfast
543:"Alliance withdraws from five seats"
205:30 May 1996 – 25 April 1998
571:"Northern Ireland chronology: 2001"
350:
24:
1205:Northern Ireland Liberal Democrats
816:Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
456:Northern Ireland Women's Coalition
371:and subsequently fought it in the
355:In 1982 Neeson was elected to the
317:Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
121:25 June 1998 – 5 May 2011
104:Member of the Legislative Assembly
25:
1375:
766:Leader of the Alliance Party (NI)
625:Northern Ireland Assembly (1982)
521:, on a party vote share of 16%.
1359:Northern Ireland MLAs 2007–2011
1354:Northern Ireland MLAs 2003–2007
1349:Northern Ireland MLAs 1998–2003
1334:Northern Ireland MPAs 1982–1986
158:20 October 1982 – 1986
1200:Northern Ireland Peace Process
13:
1:
528:
437:, whose political base is in
341:Queen's University of Belfast
319:between 1998 and 2001, and a
188:Northern Ireland Forum Member
392:Northern Ireland Peace Forum
315:who served as leader of the
7:
1319:Alumni of Ulster University
10:
1380:
277:Queen's University Belfast
1266:
1250:
1243:
1218:
1177:
1170:
1065:Northern Ireland Assembly
1058:
1040:
1031:
962:
897:
830:
823:
772:
763:
755:
750:
742:
732:
724:
719:
709:
696:
691:
686:Northern Ireland Assembly
684:
667:
662:
655:
635:
630:
623:
471:Democratic Unionist Party
396:Northern Ireland Assembly
302:
292:
282:
270:
260:
242:
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162:
151:
139:
125:
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90:
78:
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57:
50:
46:
34:
751:Party political offices
463:South Antrim by-election
451:first Assembly elections
331:Education and early life
605:. The Belfast Telegraph
480:The following year the
465:in 2000. With both the
335:Neeson was educated at
169:Assembly re-established
657:Northern Ireland Forum
511:2003 Assembly election
1274:Liberal International
1183:related organisations
1042:Members of Parliament
603:The Belfast Telegraph
515:2005 general election
482:2001 general election
467:Ulster Unionist Party
446:Good Friday Agreement
385:1997 general election
381:1992 general election
377:1987 general election
369:1983 general election
337:St. Malachy's College
1195:Ulster Liberal Party
1190:New Ulster Movement
963:General Secretaries
650:Assembly abolished
327:from 1998 to 2011.
181:Assembly dissolved
1286:
1285:
1282:
1281:
1239:
1238:
1166:
1165:
1027:
1026:
782:
781:
773:Succeeded by
743:Succeeded by
710:Succeeded by
306:
305:
16:(Redirected from
1371:
1248:
1247:
1226:Election results
1175:
1174:
1138:Peter McReynolds
1128:Nuala McAllister
1073:Kellie Armstrong
1038:
1037:
929:Gordon Mawhinney
853:
828:
827:
817:
808:
801:
794:
785:
784:
756:Preceded by
725:Preceded by
679:Forum dissolved
621:
620:
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614:
612:
610:
595:
589:
588:
586:
584:
567:
561:
560:
558:
556:
539:
454:cross-community
394:in 1996 and the
351:Political career
313:Northern Ireland
297:Alliance webpage
256:
252:
250:
238:Personal details
224:
212:
203:
177:
165:
156:
142:
128:
119:
93:
81:
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32:
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21:
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1289:
1288:
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1278:
1262:
1235:
1214:
1182:
1162:
1148:Sian Mulholland
1133:Andrew McMurray
1108:David Honeyford
1088:Stewart Dickson
1063:
1054:
1050:Sorcha Eastwood
1034:representatives
1033:
1023:
1012:Stephen Douglas
958:
893:
851:
819:
815:
812:
778:
769:
761:
746:
739:
730:
728:Stewart Dickson
715:
713:Stewart Dickson
706:
674:
645:
619:
618:
608:
606:
597:
596:
592:
582:
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576:BBC News Online
569:
568:
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548:BBC News Online
541:
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536:
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353:
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261:Political party
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253:9 February 1946
248:
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228:Forum dissolved
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146:Stewart Dickson
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37:
28:
23:
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15:
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5:
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1213:
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1210:Alliance Youth
1207:
1202:
1197:
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1125:
1120:
1115:
1110:
1105:
1100:
1095:
1093:Danny Donnelly
1090:
1085:
1083:Paula Bradshaw
1080:
1075:
1069:
1067:
1056:
1055:
1053:
1052:
1046:
1044:
1035:
1029:
1028:
1025:
1024:
1022:
1021:
1020:(2011–present)
1015:
1009:
1003:
997:
991:
985:
982:John Cushnahan
979:
973:
966:
964:
960:
959:
957:
956:
955:(2016–present)
950:
944:
938:
932:
926:
920:
914:
908:
901:
899:
898:Deputy Leaders
895:
894:
892:
891:
890:(2016–present)
885:
879:
873:
870:John Alderdice
867:
864:John Cushnahan
861:
855:
848:Phelim O'Neill
845:
834:
832:
825:
821:
820:
811:
810:
803:
796:
788:
780:
779:
774:
771:
762:
759:John Alderdice
757:
753:
752:
748:
747:
744:
741:
731:
726:
722:
721:
720:Civic offices
717:
716:
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695:
689:
688:
682:
681:
676:
666:
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628:
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616:
590:
579:. 9 April 2003
562:
551:. 2 April 2001
533:
532:
530:
527:
415:John Cushnahan
411:John Alderdice
404:2003 elections
352:
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332:
329:
304:
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85:John Alderdice
82:
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55:
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26:
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1304:Living people
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1267:International
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1176:
1173:
1169:
1159:
1158:Eóin Tennyson
1156:
1154:
1151:
1149:
1146:
1144:
1141:
1139:
1136:
1134:
1131:
1129:
1126:
1124:
1123:Nick Mathison
1121:
1119:
1116:
1114:
1111:
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1106:
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1101:
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1094:
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1048:
1047:
1045:
1043:
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1036:
1030:
1019:
1016:
1013:
1010:
1007:
1006:Stephen Farry
1004:
1001:
998:
995:
992:
989:
986:
983:
980:
977:
974:
971:
968:
967:
965:
961:
954:
953:Stephen Farry
951:
948:
945:
942:
939:
936:
933:
930:
927:
924:
921:
918:
915:
912:
909:
906:
903:
902:
900:
896:
889:
886:
883:
880:
877:
874:
871:
868:
865:
862:
859:
858:Oliver Napier
856:
849:
846:
843:
839:
838:Oliver Napier
836:
835:
833:
829:
826:
822:
818:
809:
804:
802:
797:
795:
790:
789:
786:
777:
768:
767:
760:
754:
749:
738:
737:
736:Carrickfergus
729:
723:
718:
714:
705:
704:
700:
694:
690:
687:
683:
680:
677:
673:
672:
665:
661:
658:
654:
651:
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633:
629:
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622:
604:
600:
594:
578:
577:
572:
566:
550:
549:
544:
538:
534:
526:
522:
520:
519:2007 election
516:
512:
507:
505:
501:
497:
493:
488:
483:
478:
476:
472:
468:
464:
459:
457:
452:
447:
442:
440:
436:
432:
431:County Antrim
428:
424:
420:
419:Oliver Napier
416:
412:
407:
405:
401:
397:
393:
388:
386:
382:
378:
374:
370:
366:
362:
358:
348:
346:
345:Carrickfergus
342:
339:and then the
338:
328:
326:
322:
318:
314:
310:
301:
298:
295:
291:
288:
285:
281:
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275:
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266:
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259:
255:(age 78)
245:
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236:
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197:
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56:
53:
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45:
41:
33:
30:
19:
1219:Other topics
1153:Kate Nicholl
1118:Chris Lyttle
1103:Michelle Guy
1018:Sharon Lowry
1000:Richard Good
970:Grace Wilson
935:Seamus Close
923:Addie Morrow
875:
764:
733:
697:
693:New assembly
692:
678:
668:
663:
649:
642:North Antrim
636:
632:New assembly
631:
607:. Retrieved
602:
593:
581:. Retrieved
574:
565:
553:. Retrieved
546:
537:
523:
508:
500:Seamus Close
487:East Belfast
479:
460:
443:
439:South Antrim
423:East Belfast
408:
398:in both the
389:
361:North Antrim
354:
334:
308:
307:
227:
223:Succeeded by
215:
200:
180:
176:Succeeded by
168:
153:
141:Succeeded by
133:New Creation
132:
116:
92:Succeeded by
73:Seamus Close
59:
29:
1299:1946 births
1143:Andrew Muir
1098:Connie Egan
1014:(2010–2011)
1008:(2000–2007)
1002:(1998–2000)
996:(1990–1998)
990:(1986–1990)
988:Eileen Bell
984:(1974–1982)
978:(1972–1974)
972:(1970–1972)
949:(2006–2016)
943:(2001–2006)
941:Eileen Bell
937:(1991–2001)
931:(1987–1991)
925:(1984–1987)
919:(1980–1984)
913:(1976–1980)
911:Basil Glass
907:(1974–1976)
884:(2001–2016)
878:(1998–2001)
876:Séan Neeson
872:(1987–1998)
866:(1984–1987)
860:(1973–1984)
844:(1970–1972)
703:Antrim East
671:East Antrim
669:Member for
365:East Antrim
325:East Antrim
309:Seán Neeson
211:Preceded by
193:East Antrim
164:Preceded by
127:Preceded by
109:Antrim East
80:Preceded by
36:Seán Neeson
18:Sean Neeson
1293:Categories
1113:Naomi Long
1078:John Blair
994:David Ford
976:Bob Cooper
947:Naomi Long
917:David Cook
905:Bob Cooper
888:Naomi Long
882:David Ford
842:Bob Cooper
824:Leadership
776:David Ford
770:1998–2001
740:1993–1994
707:1998–2011
675:1996–1998
646:1982–1986
529:References
504:David Ford
435:David Ford
427:North Down
323:(MLA) for
283:Profession
272:Alma mater
249:1946-02-09
97:David Ford
1244:Alliances
734:Mayor of
664:New forum
609:30 August
496:Sinn Féin
475:unionists
216:New forum
201:In office
154:In office
117:In office
64:1998–2001
60:In office
1251:European
1032:Elected
745:J. Crowe
583:24 March
555:24 March
469:and the
383:and the
265:Alliance
1179:History
1171:History
1060:Members
850:(1972,
831:Leaders
509:In the
367:in the
293:Website
287:Teacher
1062:of the
852:acting
840:&
379:, the
375:, the
69:Deputy
357:Prior
701:for
640:for
611:2012
585:2010
557:2010
492:SDLP
425:and
417:and
402:and
400:1998
243:Born
191:for
107:for
1231:MPs
1181:and
699:MLA
638:MPA
40:MLA
1295::
601:.
573:.
545:.
441:.
387:.
251:)
854:)
807:e
800:t
793:v
613:.
587:.
559:.
247:(
20:)
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