Basil McCrea
| Basil McCrea | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Leader of NI21 | |
|
In office 6 June 2013 – November 2016 |
|
| Deputy |
John McCallister Johnny McCarthy Vacant |
| Preceded by | Office created |
|
Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly for Lagan Valley |
|
|
In office 7 March 2007 – 5 May 2016 |
|
| Preceded by | Billy Bell |
| Succeeded by | Robbie Butler |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
13 November 1959 Ramelton, County Donegal, Ireland |
| Political party |
NI21 (2013-2016) Independent (2013) Ulster Unionist (before 2013) |
| Alma mater |
University of Birmingham University of Ulster |
| Profession | Chemical Engineer |
Basil McCrea (born 13 November 1959) is a politician. He was the party leader of NI21 from 2013 until it disbanded in 2016. He was also a Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly from 2007 to 2016.
McCrea unsuccessfully contested the 2005 general election in Lagan Valley for the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP). He was elected in 2007 to the Northern Ireland Assembly as a UUP member for Lagan Valley. He has been a UUP Councillor on Lisburn City Council and was, until his election to the Assembly, a Party officer and spokesman for the Northern Ireland Manufacturers' Focus Group. He has served as a member of the Northern Ireland Policing Board and UUP spokesman on Education. He was formerly a member of the Assembly Committee for the Department for Employment and Learning.
He stood for leader of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) against Tom Elliott in the contest after the UK 2010 General Election. He was widely seen as the candidate of the UUP's "liberal" wing, while Elliott was seen as the candidate of the "conservative" wing. He lost the election by 643 votes to 296. In 2012 McCrea attended a Sinn Féin event on 'uniting Ireland' and said unionism should not be afraid to put its case.
In October 2012, he was one of three unionist assembly members to vote in favour of same-sex marriage being introduced in Northern Ireland.
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Wikipedia