Trevor Clarke

This article is about the politician. For the footballer, see Trevor Clarke (footballer).

Trevor Clarke MLA
Clarke in 2021
Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly for South Antrim
Incumbent
Assumed office 28 June 2017
Preceded by	Paul Girvan
In office 7 March 2007 – 2 March 2017
Preceded by	multiple members
Succeeded by	multiple members
Member of Antrim Borough Council
In office 5 May 2005 – 22 May 2014
Preceded by	Wilson Clyde
Succeeded by	Council abolished
Constituency	Antrim North West
Personal details
Born	(1967-07-28) 28 July 1967 (age 57) Antrim, Northern Ireland
Nationality	British
Political party	Democratic Unionist Party

Trevor Clarke MLA (born 28 July 1967) is a Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) politician, serving as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for South Antrim since June 2017, having previously served from 2007 to March 2017. Clarke is the DUP's Spokesperson for Policing. ^[1]

Political career

Clarke was first elected in 2007 to the Northern Ireland Assembly as a Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) member for South Antrim. Clarke lost his seat at the 2017 Assembly election, but was later co-opted by the DUP after Paul Girvan was elected in the 2017 general election to represent South Antrim in the House of Commons.

Controversies

Speaking in the Assembly in November 2016, he confessed to not knowing that heterosexual individuals could contract HIV, which was criticised by Elton John.^[2]

In 2020, Clarke apologised for liking a social media post suggesting that the COVID-19 pandemic was "God's punishment" for the legalization of same-sex marriage and abortion.^[3]

In 2021, Clarke defended meeting with loyalist paramilitaries, stating that "examples like that" showed "leadership".^[4]

Personal life

Clarke is active in the Orange Order.^[3] His wife Linda is a DUP councillor.^[5]

References

1. "Trevor Clarke MLA". DUP. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
2. "Sir Elton John criticises Trevor Clarke Aids comments". BBC News. 2 December 2016. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
3. "Coronavirus: DUP man in apology after claiming pandemic God's wrath for abortion and same-sex marriage in Northern Ireland". belfasttelegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
4. "DUP MLA Trevor Clarke defiant over meeting with loyalist paramilitaries". belfasttelegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
5. Hughes, Brendan (19 November 2019). "DUP's Trevor Clarke in U-turn over unauthorised triple garage". The Irish News. Retrieved 13 May 2022.

Links

• Profile, dup.org.uk; accessed 15 May 2016.

Northern Ireland Assembly
Preceded by multiple members	MLA for South Antrim 2007–2017	Succeeded by multiple members
Preceded by Paul Girvan	MLA for South Antrim 2017–present	Incumbent