William Humphrey (Northern Ireland politician)

William Humphrey MBE
Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly for Belfast North
In office 14 September 2010 – 28 March 2022
Preceded by	Nigel Dodds
Succeeded by	Brian Kingston
Deputy Lord Mayor of Belfast
In office June 2010 – June 2011
Preceded by	Danny Lavery
Succeeded by	Ruth Patterson
High Sheriff of Belfast
In office January 2006 – January 2007
Preceded by	David Browne
Succeeded by	Jim Kirkpatrick
Member of Belfast City Council
In office 5 May 2005 – 27 September 2013
Preceded by	Chris McGimpsey
Succeeded by	Nicola Verner
Constituency	Court
Personal details
Born	(1967-10-17) October 17, 1967 (age 57) [1] Woodvale, Belfast, Northern Ireland
Nationality	British
Political party	Democratic Unionist Party
Occupation	Politician

William Joseph Humphrey MBE (born 17 October 1967) is a former Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) politician who was a Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly (MLA) for North Belfast from 2010 to 2022. He was a Belfast City Councillor for the Court DEA from 2005 to 2013.

Background

Born in the Woodvale area of Belfast, Humphrey studied at the Boys' Model School. A member of the Woodvale Residents' Association, he joined the Democratic Unionist Party, becoming its chairman in North Belfast, and a member of the party's executive.^[2] He was elected to Belfast City Council in the Court district at the 2005 Northern Ireland local elections,^[3] then served as High Sheriff of Belfast in 2006.^[4]

At the 2007 Northern Ireland Assembly election, Humphrey stood in North Belfast, but was not elected.^[5] He moved to contest West Belfast at the UK general election, 2010, but took only 7.6% of the votes cast.^[6] In June, he became Deputy Lord Mayor of Belfast.^[7]

In September 2010, he was selected to replace Nigel Dodds in the Northern Ireland Assembly, representing North Belfast^[2] and was elected at the 2011 Assembly election. Referencing his predecessor, Humphrey said, "Nigel has a proven track record of dedicated hard work on the ground, making a difference in peoples' lives within the Constituency...That will be the record I will strive to emulate."^[8]

Humphrey was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2021 New Year Honours for public service, particularly during the COVID-19 response.^[9]

In 2022, Humphrey announced that he would not contest the 2022 Assembly election.^[10]

References

1. Profile, niassembly.gov.uk; accessed 28 July 2016./
2. "Humphrey chosen to replace Dodds", Belfast Telegraph, 14 September 2010
3. Belfast City Council Elections 1993-2005, Northern Ireland Elections
4. New High Sheriff of Belfast to be sworn in, Belfast City Council
5. North Belfast, Northern Ireland Elections
6. West Belfast profile, Northern Ireland Elections website; accessed 28 July 2016.
7. Deputy Lord Mayor profile, Belfast City Council website; accessed 28 July 2016.
8. "BBC News - Humphrey chosen as Dodds North Belfast successor". BBC News. BBC News. 13 September 2010. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
9. "No. 63218". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 December 2020. p. N20.
10. "DUP's William Humphrey announces he will not contest upcoming Stormont election". belfasttelegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 18 April 2022.

Northern Ireland Assembly
Preceded by Nigel Dodds	MLA for Belfast North 2010–2022	Succeeded by Brian Kingston
Civic offices
Preceded by David Browne	High Sheriff of Belfast 2006	Succeeded by Jim Kirkpatrick
Preceded by Danny Lavery	Deputy Lord Mayor of Belfast 2010–2011	Succeeded by Ruth Patterson