Ian Parsley

Ian James Parsley (born 3 May 1977) is a businessman and former, part-time politician from Northern Ireland. He was the Alliance Party candidate at the 2009 European elections,[1] and served as Deputy Mayor of North Down.

He attracted considerable criticism and caused much controversy by endorsing the Conservatives and Unionists[2] and standing as a parliamentary candidate for North Down in the 2010 General Election, but later that same year he left the Conservative Party having completed a year-long project with the Centre for Social Justice and subsequently rejoined the Alliance Party. He is an outspoken opponent of Brexit.

Background

Although of Northern Irish heritage on his mother’s side, Parsley was born in Yorkshire and educated at Merchant Taylors' School and Newcastle University, graduating in Modern Languages.

Parsley currently works in public relations, as a media commentator on languages, welfare reform and football, and is a Director of Northern Ireland Screen.[3] He was also Chair of the European Movement in Northern Ireland.

Other

Parsley is a writer in and about Ulster Scots[4] and, despite having run against her at the 2010 General Election, he has campaigned alongside Lady Hermon on support for people with dementia and their carers.[5]

He has been married to South Belfast Alliance MLA Paula Bradshaw since 2011. He is an avid Arsenal FC fan and a keen linguist, a subject about which he often writes.

References

  1. ↑ Devenport, Mark (12 May 2009). "Profile: Ian Parsley". BBC News. Retrieved 29 March 2012.
  2. ↑ "Parsley leaves the Alliance Party". BBC News. 11 September 2009. Retrieved 29 March 2012.
  3. ↑ "Board Members". Northern Ireland Screen. Archived from the original on 18 May 2011. Retrieved 29 March 2012.
  4. ↑ "Ian James Parsley's Ulster-Scots website". BBC. 20 March 2002. Retrieved 29 March 2012.
  5. ↑ http://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/politics/latest/parsley-quits-politics-1-2542362

Further reading

  • "Alliance star jumps ship to join the Tories". http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk Belfast Telegraph]. 12 September 2009. Retrieved 29 March 2012. External link in |publisher= (help)
  • "Hermon no garnish for Ian Parsley". The Irish Times. 4 April 2010. Retrieved 29 March 2012. External link in |publisher= (help) (subscription required)
  • "Tories threaten to go it alone in assembly poll". Belfast Newsletter. 10 June 2010. Retrieved 29 March 2012. External link in |publisher= (help)
  • "Ian Parsley leaves the Tories". Belfast Telegraph. 22 November 2010. Retrieved 29 March 2012. External link in |publisher= (help)



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