Jonathan Stephenson Explained

Jonathan Stephenson
Office:Chair of the
Social Democratic and Labour Party
Leader:John Hume
Term Start:1995
Term End:1998
Predecessor:Mark Durkan
Successor:Jim Lennon
Office1:Northern Ireland Forum Member
Constituency1:Top-up list
Term Start1:30 May 1996
Term End1:25 April 1998
Predecessor1:New forum
Successor1:Forum dissolved
Office2:Member of
Belfast City Council
Constituency2:Castle
Term Start2:19 May 1993
Term End2:21 May 1997
Predecessor2:Tom Campbell
Successor2:Tom Campbell
Birth Date:2 November 1950
Birth Place:England
Death Date:21 December 2011
Nationality:Irish
Education:Winchester College, Stanbridge Earls School, Queen's University Belfast
Party:Social Democratic and Labour

Jonathan Stephenson (2 November 1950 – 21 December 2011) was an Irish nationalist politician in Northern Ireland who was the chairman of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) from 1995 to 1998, and a Belfast City Councillor for Castle from 1993 until 1997.

Additionally, Stephenson was a member of the Northern Ireland Forum, as a regional list representative, between 1996 and 1998.

Background

A Protestant born in England and educated at Winchester College and Stanbridge Earls School, Stephenson moved to Northern Ireland, where he studied History and Politics at Queen's University Belfast. He joined the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) in the early 1980s, and became its first official press officer.[1]

Stephenson was elected to Belfast City Council at the 1993 Northern Ireland local elections, representing the SDLP in the Castle area.[2] He also became Deputy Chairperson of the SDLP,[3] serving from 1995 to 1998.

In 1995, he became the party's Chairperson, serving until 1998.[4] At the Northern Ireland Forum election in 1996, he did not stand in a constituency, but was elected as one of two regional list candidates for the SDLP,[5] but he lost his council seat in 1997.

Notes and References

  1. "Alasdair McDonnell pays tribute to ex-chairman Jonathan Stephenson", BBC News, 23 December 2011
  2. http://www.ark.ac.uk/elections/lgbelfast.htm Belfast City Council Elections 1993-2005
  3. http://www.bbc.co.uk/politics97/parties/pasdlp.shtml Politics 97: Social Democratic and Labour Party
  4. http://www.terra.es/personal2/monolith/ulster.htm Political Leaders: Northern Ireland
  5. http://www.ark.ac.uk/elections/ff96.htm The 1996 Forum Elections and the Peace Process