Jim Allister

Jim Allister QC MLA
Allister in February 2013
Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly for North Antrim
Incumbent
Assumed office 5 May 2011
Preceded by	Declan O'Loan
Leader of Traditional Unionist Voice
Incumbent
Assumed office 7 December 2007
Preceded by	Position created
Member of the European Parliament for Northern Ireland
In office 10 June 2004 – 4 June 2009
Preceded by	Ian Paisley
Succeeded by	Diane Dodds
Personal details
Born	(1953-04-02) 2 April 1953 (age 63) Crossgar, Northern Ireland
Nationality	British
Political party	Traditional Unionist Voice
Other political affiliations	DUP (1971-2007)
Spouse(s)	Ruth Allister
Children	3
Alma mater	Queen's University, Belfast
Occupation	Politician
Profession	Barrister
Religion	Free Presbyterian
Website	Official website

James Hugh "Jim" Allister QC MLA (born 2 April 1953) is an Ulster loyalist politician and senior barrister from Northern Ireland. He is the leader of the Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) political party, serving as the party's sole MLA in the Northern Ireland Assembly, representing North Antrim.

He was formerly a member of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), for which he successfully stood for election in 2004 to the European Parliament, succeeding Ian Paisley. He continued as a member of the European Parliament following his resignation from the DUP and his subsequent establishment of the TUV, but failed to retain his seat at the 2009 European parliamentary elections. In the European Parliament, although an avowed eurosceptic, he is a strong supporter of the Common Agricultural Policy's subsidies.

Allister was born in Crossgar in County Down. After attending Regent House Grammar School in Newtownards, Allister graduated with a Bachelor of Law with Honours in Constitutional Law from Queen's University of Belfast. In 1974 he unsuccessfully stood for the post of President of Queen's University Belfast Students' Union, coming a very close second.