Alexander Easton (born 19 May 1969) is a Northern Irish politician who has served as Member of Parliament (MP) for North Down since 2024. He previously served as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for North Down from 2003 to 2024.
Originally a member of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), Easton represented Ballyholme and Groomsport on the North Down Borough Council from 2001 to 2014, and became an MLA in 2003. He left the party, then led by Jeffrey Donaldson, in July 2021 following disagreements over the party's leadership and has since stood as an independent unionist.
Easton won the House of Commons seat of North Down at the 2024 United Kingdom general election as an independent, having failed to win the seat as the DUP candidate in three previous elections. He defeated the incumbent Alliance Party deputy leader Stephen Farry with a majority of 7,305 (16.8 per cent).[1]
Early life
Easton is of South African descent through his South African father.[2] He grew up in Bangor, before moving several times and returning to Bangor when he was 10.[2] Easton was educated at Gransha Boys High School and Bangor Technical College. He worked in the accident and emergency department in the Newtownards and then the Ulster Hospital as a clerical officer.[2]
Political career
As a Democratic Unionist Party politician, he was first elected to North Down Borough Council in the 2001 local elections, and was re-elected to Council in the 2005 and 2011 elections.
He was elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly in the 2003 election, for the constituency of North Down, and returned again in 2007, 2011, 2016 and again in 2017, when he topped the poll for North Down, having increased his vote each election.
Easton stood in North Down in the 2017 General Election and polled 14,940 votes, nearly unseating the sitting MP Lady Sylvia Hermon. In the 2019 General Election, he stood once again in the constituency but was defeated by 2968 votes.
Easton is opposed to a border poll, and has said those politically backing a backstop through Brexit could potentially lead to a border poll and is a threat to the Union, which must be opposed. Easton is also opposed to the Northern Ireland protocol.
In May 2020 Easton apologised "unreservedly" after being caught on camera shopping online for shoes during a meeting of Stormont's health committee about the COVID-19 crisis.[3]
He announced his resignation from the DUP on 1 July 2021, stating that he saw no "respect, discipline or decency" in the party's recent behaviour.[4]
He was re-elected as an independent candidate in the 2022 Northern Ireland Assembly election, topping the poll in the constituency for the fifth consecutive time.[5][6]
Member of Parliament
He was elected as an independent in North Down at the 2024 United Kingdom general election.[7] On 24 May 2024 Traditional Unionist Voice and Reform UK announced that they were supporting his candidature and would not stand a candidate in the constituency.[8] His campaign was also supported by loyalist activist Jamie Bryson and was not supported by Sinn Féin.[9]
Personal life
He is a member of the Orange Order and the Church of Ireland. He served on the North Down Policing Partnership.[10] He married his wife Denise, who worked part time for him as an MLA, in 1999. He has one step-daughter.[2]
In January 2023, his parents, both in their 80s, were killed in a fire at their home in Bangor, County Down.[11]
References
- ^ Marsh, Michael (5 July 2024). "MP holds back tears as he pays tribute to parents following election victory". Belfast Live. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
- ^ a b c d McNeilly, Claire (21 May 2018). "DUP MLA Alex Easton: 'I was badly bullied at school and had my face bashed in when I was 12. It affected me for years until I bumped into the guy who did it.'". BelfastTelegraph.co.uk. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
- ^ "Alex Easton: DUP MLA filmed shopping online at Stormont". BBC News. 7 May 2020.
- ^ Breen, Suzanne (1 July 2021). "Fresh DUP crisis as MLA Alex Easton quits accusing party of having 'no respect, discipline or decency'". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
- ^ Breen, Suzanne (21 April 2022). "Alex Easton: Four ex-DUP councillors back independent candidate in North Down for Assembly election". Belfast Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
- ^ "North Down result - Northern Ireland Assembly Elections 2022". BBC News. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
- ^ "I am the only unionist who can oust Stephen Farry in North Down, insists MLA Alex Easton". 30 April 2024. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 15 May 2024.
- ^ "TUV and Reform UK to support Alex Easton in North Down". Belfast Telegraph. 24 May 2024.
- ^ "Jamie Bryson not running in General Election but backing TUV in race for East Belfast". Belfast Telegraph. 28 May 2024.
- ^ Profile, nddup.org.uk; accessed 3 March 2017.
- ^ "Bangor: Parents of MLA Alex Easton die in house fire". 23 January 2023 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
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