447:. 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.
442:
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
513:
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
395:. 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.
473:
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
487:, 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,
478:
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
437:
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
794:
1312:
1352:
1048:
687:
92:
28:
1297:
1246:
1214:
514:
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."
1332:
1302:
787:
1327:
491:, resigned citing differences over direction with the leadership. Subsequently, in September 2001 Neeson chose to resign from the leadership, being succeeded by
1317:
1347:
1342:
1337:
1322:
780:
466:
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.
587:
475:
427:
411:
349:
1066:
905:
353:
507:
499:
439:
415:
392:
388:
309:
836:
444:
1307:
630:
626:
503:
470:
373:
369:
365:
357:
691:
659:
313:
285:
181:
97:
1193:
1167:
803:
754:
480:
305:
253:
40:
1198:
613:
329:
1219:
858:
747:
73:
531:
1188:
724:
451:
265:
380:
361:
1081:
332:
before working as a teacher for many years. In the 1970s he joined the
Alliance and in 1977 he was first elected to
1000:
1053:
1030:
674:
459:
384:
1131:
958:
506:. Having increased the party's vote at that election, Neeson was re-elected to the Assembly comfortably at the
325:
982:
964:
893:
870:
830:
764:
492:
423:
85:
1292:
645:
176:
1262:
455:
1287:
1183:
502:
he held his seat and was subsequently selected by his local association to fight East Antrim in the
1178:
463:
1006:
988:
402:. Neeson's election represented a notable geographic shift as his three predecessors (Alderdice,
434:
120:
1146:
1126:
1116:
1061:
917:
301:
1136:
1121:
1096:
1076:
1038:
716:
701:
564:
559:
536:
134:
1071:
970:
852:
462:
fielding candidates hostile to the
Agreement, Alliance sought to gain votes from those
403:
399:
588:"The Belfast Telegraph – Latest: 21:22 Hugo no-go?_ Ex-Alliance leader Neeson to quit"
433:
Neeson's leadership came at a time of crisis for the
Alliance. The negotiation of the
1281:
1111:
994:
941:
846:
826:
772:
419:
407:
333:
1141:
1106:
1091:
923:
911:
488:
61:
484:
1086:
976:
929:
899:
345:
1101:
935:
876:
260:
398:
In 1998 Neeson stood for the leadership of
Alliance upon the resignation of
336:
council and has remained a member ever since, serving as Mayor in 1993–94.
275:
422:, to the north of Belfast. This was continued by Neeson's successor,
352:. The following year he first contested the new constituency of
776:
410:) had all had political bases in the strip incorporating the
418:
constituencies, whereas Neeson's political base was in
16:
Former Leader of the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
348:
Assembly for Northern Ireland for the constituency of
362:
1986 by-election called on the Anglo-Irish Agreement
1255:
1247:
Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Party
1239:
1232:
1207:
1166:
1159:
1047:
1029:
1020:
951:
886:
819:
812:
281:
271:
259:
249:
231:
226:
210:
198:
175:
163:
151:
128:
114:
91:
79:
67:
57:
39:
23:
1313:Leaders of the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
495:, although he remained a member of the Assembly.
379:He was also elected from the constituency to the
41:Leader of the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
1353:Alliance Party of Northern Ireland councillors
788:
8:
450:The first major electoral test came in the
1236:
1163:
1026:
816:
795:
781:
773:
609:
300:(born 9 February 1946) is a politician in
20:
483:against the Democratic Unionists and/or
1333:Alliance Party of Northern Ireland MLAs
1298:People educated at St Malachy's College
523:
310:Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly
1328:Members of the Northern Ireland Forum
7:
1318:Mayors of places in Northern Ireland
1303:Alumni of Queen's University Belfast
532:"Alliance withdraws from five seats"
194:30 May 1996 – 25 April 1998
560:"Northern Ireland chronology: 2001"
1194:Northern Ireland Liberal Democrats
805:Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
445:Northern Ireland Women's Coalition
360:and subsequently fought it in the
344:In 1982 Neeson was elected to the
306:Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
110:25 June 1998 – 5 May 2011
93:Member of the Legislative Assembly
14:
755:Leader of the Alliance Party (NI)
614:Northern Ireland Assembly (1982)
510:, on a party vote share of 16%.
1348:Northern Ireland MLAs 2007–2011
1343:Northern Ireland MLAs 2003–2007
1338:Northern Ireland MLAs 1998–2003
1323:Northern Ireland MPAs 1982–1986
147:20 October 1982 – 1986
1189:Northern Ireland Peace Process
1:
426:, whose political base is in
330:Queen's University of Belfast
308:between 1998 and 2001, and a
177:Northern Ireland Forum Member
381:Northern Ireland Peace Forum
304:who served as leader of the
1308:Alumni of Ulster University
1369:
266:Queen's University Belfast
1054:Northern Ireland Assembly
761:
752:
744:
739:
731:
721:
713:
708:
698:
685:
680:
675:Northern Ireland Assembly
673:
656:
651:
644:
624:
619:
612:
460:Democratic Unionist Party
385:Northern Ireland Assembly
291:
222:
187:
140:
103:
46:
35:
740:Party political offices
452:South Antrim by-election
440:first Assembly elections
320:Education and early life
594:. The Belfast Telegraph
469:The following year the
454:in 2000. With both the
324:Neeson was educated at
158:Assembly re-established
646:Northern Ireland Forum
500:2003 Assembly election
1263:Liberal International
1172:related organisations
1031:Members of Parliament
592:The Belfast Telegraph
504:2005 general election
471:2001 general election
456:Ulster Unionist Party
435:Good Friday Agreement
374:1997 general election
370:1992 general election
366:1987 general election
358:1983 general election
326:St. Malachy's College
1184:Ulster Liberal Party
1179:New Ulster Movement
952:General Secretaries
639:Assembly abolished
316:from 1998 to 2011.
170:Assembly dissolved
1275:
1274:
1271:
1270:
1228:
1227:
1155:
1154:
1016:
1015:
771:
770:
762:Succeeded by
732:Succeeded by
699:Succeeded by
295:
294:
1360:
1237:
1215:Election results
1164:
1127:Peter McReynolds
1117:Nuala McAllister
1062:Kellie Armstrong
1027:
918:Gordon Mawhinney
842:
817:
806:
797:
790:
783:
774:
745:Preceded by
714:Preceded by
668:Forum dissolved
610:
604:
603:
601:
599:
584:
578:
577:
575:
573:
556:
550:
549:
547:
545:
528:
443:cross-community
383:in 1996 and the
340:Political career
302:Northern Ireland
286:Alliance webpage
245:
241:
239:
227:Personal details
213:
201:
192:
166:
154:
145:
131:
117:
108:
82:
70:
51:
21:
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1359:
1358:
1357:
1278:
1277:
1276:
1267:
1251:
1224:
1203:
1171:
1151:
1137:Sian Mulholland
1122:Andrew McMurray
1097:David Honeyford
1077:Stewart Dickson
1052:
1043:
1039:Sorcha Eastwood
1023:representatives
1022:
1012:
1001:Stephen Douglas
947:
882:
840:
808:
804:
801:
767:
758:
750:
735:
728:
719:
717:Stewart Dickson
704:
702:Stewart Dickson
695:
663:
634:
608:
607:
597:
595:
586:
585:
581:
571:
569:
565:BBC News Online
558:
557:
553:
543:
541:
537:BBC News Online
530:
529:
525:
520:
342:
322:
250:Political party
243:
242:9 February 1946
237:
235:
217:Forum dissolved
211:
199:
193:
188:
179:
164:
152:
146:
141:
135:Stewart Dickson
129:
115:
109:
104:
95:
80:
68:
52:
47:
31:
26:
17:
12:
11:
5:
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1226:
1225:
1223:
1222:
1217:
1211:
1209:
1205:
1204:
1202:
1201:
1199:Alliance Youth
1196:
1191:
1186:
1181:
1175:
1173:
1161:
1157:
1156:
1153:
1152:
1150:
1149:
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1139:
1134:
1129:
1124:
1119:
1114:
1109:
1104:
1099:
1094:
1089:
1084:
1082:Danny Donnelly
1079:
1074:
1072:Paula Bradshaw
1069:
1064:
1058:
1056:
1045:
1044:
1042:
1041:
1035:
1033:
1024:
1018:
1017:
1014:
1013:
1011:
1010:
1009:(2011–present)
1004:
998:
992:
986:
980:
974:
971:John Cushnahan
968:
962:
955:
953:
949:
948:
946:
945:
944:(2016–present)
939:
933:
927:
921:
915:
909:
903:
897:
890:
888:
887:Deputy Leaders
884:
883:
881:
880:
879:(2016–present)
874:
868:
862:
859:John Alderdice
856:
853:John Cushnahan
850:
844:
837:Phelim O'Neill
834:
823:
821:
814:
810:
809:
802:
800:
799:
792:
785:
777:
769:
768:
763:
760:
751:
748:John Alderdice
746:
742:
741:
737:
736:
733:
730:
720:
715:
711:
710:
709:Civic offices
706:
705:
700:
697:
684:
678:
677:
671:
670:
665:
655:
649:
648:
642:
641:
636:
623:
617:
616:
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605:
579:
568:. 9 April 2003
551:
540:. 2 April 2001
522:
521:
519:
516:
404:John Cushnahan
400:John Alderdice
393:2003 elections
341:
338:
321:
318:
293:
292:
289:
288:
283:
279:
278:
273:
269:
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257:
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100:
89:
88:
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77:
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74:John Alderdice
71:
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55:
54:
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43:
37:
36:
33:
32:
27:
24:
15:
13:
10:
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6:
4:
3:
2:
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1293:Living people
1291:
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1256:International
1254:
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1190:
1187:
1185:
1182:
1180:
1177:
1176:
1174:
1169:
1165:
1162:
1158:
1148:
1147:Eóin Tennyson
1145:
1143:
1140:
1138:
1135:
1133:
1130:
1128:
1125:
1123:
1120:
1118:
1115:
1113:
1112:Nick Mathison
1110:
1108:
1105:
1103:
1100:
1098:
1095:
1093:
1090:
1088:
1085:
1083:
1080:
1078:
1075:
1073:
1070:
1068:
1065:
1063:
1060:
1059:
1057:
1055:
1050:
1046:
1040:
1037:
1036:
1034:
1032:
1028:
1025:
1019:
1008:
1005:
1002:
999:
996:
995:Stephen Farry
993:
990:
987:
984:
981:
978:
975:
972:
969:
966:
963:
960:
957:
956:
954:
950:
943:
942:Stephen Farry
940:
937:
934:
931:
928:
925:
922:
919:
916:
913:
910:
907:
904:
901:
898:
895:
892:
891:
889:
885:
878:
875:
872:
869:
866:
863:
860:
857:
854:
851:
848:
847:Oliver Napier
845:
838:
835:
832:
828:
827:Oliver Napier
825:
824:
822:
818:
815:
811:
807:
798:
793:
791:
786:
784:
779:
778:
775:
766:
757:
756:
749:
743:
738:
727:
726:
725:Carrickfergus
718:
712:
707:
703:
694:
693:
689:
683:
679:
676:
672:
669:
666:
662:
661:
654:
650:
647:
643:
640:
637:
633:
632:
628:
622:
618:
615:
611:
593:
589:
583:
580:
567:
566:
561:
555:
552:
539:
538:
533:
527:
524:
517:
515:
511:
509:
508:2007 election
505:
501:
496:
494:
490:
486:
482:
477:
472:
467:
465:
461:
457:
453:
448:
446:
441:
436:
431:
429:
425:
421:
420:County Antrim
417:
413:
409:
408:Oliver Napier
405:
401:
396:
394:
390:
386:
382:
377:
375:
371:
367:
363:
359:
355:
351:
347:
339:
337:
335:
334:Carrickfergus
331:
328:and then the
327:
319:
317:
315:
311:
307:
303:
299:
290:
287:
284:
280:
277:
274:
270:
267:
264:
262:
258:
255:
252:
248:
244:(age 78)
234:
230:
225:
221:
218:
215:
209:
206:
203:
197:
191:
186:
183:
178:
174:
171:
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162:
159:
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133:
127:
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119:
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107:
102:
99:
94:
90:
87:
84:
78:
75:
72:
66:
63:
60:
56:
50:
45:
42:
38:
34:
30:
22:
19:
1208:Other topics
1142:Kate Nicholl
1107:Chris Lyttle
1092:Michelle Guy
1007:Sharon Lowry
989:Richard Good
959:Grace Wilson
924:Seamus Close
912:Addie Morrow
864:
753:
722:
686:
682:New assembly
681:
667:
657:
652:
638:
631:North Antrim
625:
621:New assembly
620:
596:. Retrieved
591:
582:
570:. Retrieved
563:
554:
542:. Retrieved
535:
526:
512:
497:
489:Seamus Close
476:East Belfast
468:
449:
432:
428:South Antrim
412:East Belfast
397:
387:in both the
378:
350:North Antrim
343:
323:
297:
296:
216:
212:Succeeded by
204:
189:
169:
165:Succeeded by
157:
142:
130:Succeeded by
122:New Creation
121:
105:
81:Succeeded by
62:Seamus Close
48:
18:
1288:1946 births
1132:Andrew Muir
1087:Connie Egan
1003:(2010–2011)
997:(2000–2007)
991:(1998–2000)
985:(1990–1998)
979:(1986–1990)
977:Eileen Bell
973:(1974–1982)
967:(1972–1974)
961:(1970–1972)
938:(2006–2016)
932:(2001–2006)
930:Eileen Bell
926:(1991–2001)
920:(1987–1991)
914:(1984–1987)
908:(1980–1984)
902:(1976–1980)
900:Basil Glass
896:(1974–1976)
873:(2001–2016)
867:(1998–2001)
865:Séan Neeson
861:(1987–1998)
855:(1984–1987)
849:(1973–1984)
833:(1970–1972)
692:Antrim East
660:East Antrim
658:Member for
354:East Antrim
314:East Antrim
298:Seán Neeson
200:Preceded by
182:East Antrim
153:Preceded by
116:Preceded by
98:Antrim East
69:Preceded by
25:Seán Neeson
1282:Categories
1102:Naomi Long
1067:John Blair
983:David Ford
965:Bob Cooper
936:Naomi Long
906:David Cook
894:Bob Cooper
877:Naomi Long
871:David Ford
831:Bob Cooper
813:Leadership
765:David Ford
759:1998–2001
729:1993–1994
696:1998–2011
664:1996–1998
635:1982–1986
518:References
493:David Ford
424:David Ford
416:North Down
312:(MLA) for
272:Profession
261:Alma mater
238:1946-02-09
86:David Ford
1233:Alliances
723:Mayor of
653:New forum
598:30 August
485:Sinn Féin
464:unionists
205:New forum
190:In office
143:In office
106:In office
53:1998–2001
49:In office
1240:European
1021:Elected
734:J. Crowe
572:24 March
544:24 March
458:and the
372:and the
254:Alliance
1168:History
1160:History
1049:Members
839:(1972,
820:Leaders
498:In the
356:in the
282:Website
276:Teacher
1051:of the
841:acting
829:&
368:, the
364:, the
58:Deputy
346:Prior
690:for
629:for
600:2012
574:2010
546:2010
481:SDLP
414:and
406:and
391:and
389:1998
232:Born
180:for
96:for
1220:MPs
1170:and
688:MLA
627:MPA
29:MLA
1284::
590:.
562:.
534:.
430:.
376:.
240:)
843:)
796:e
789:t
782:v
602:.
576:.
548:.
236:(
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