Simon Hamilton

Simon Hamilton
Minister for the Economy
Assumed office
25 May 2016
Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly
for Strangford
Assumed office
7 March 2007
Preceded by George Ennis
Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety
In office
11 May 2015  6 May 2016
Preceded by Jim Wells
Succeeded by Michelle O'Neill
Minister of Finance and Personnel
In office
29 July 2013  11 May 2015
Preceded by Sammy Wilson
Succeeded by Arlene Foster
Personal details
Born (1977-03-17) 17 March 1977
Newtownards, Northern Ireland
Nationality British
Political party Democratic Unionist Party
Spouse(s) Nicki
Children Lewis
Kyle
Residence Comber, Northern Ireland
Alma mater Queen's University Belfast
Religion Protestant
Website Official website

Simon Hamilton (born 17 March 1977) is a Unionist politician in Northern Ireland and is the current Economy Minister in the Northern Ireland Executive.[1][2] He was first elected in 2007 to the Northern Ireland Assembly as a Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) member for Strangford.[3]

Education

Hamilton was educated at Regent House School and Queen's University, Belfast holding degrees in history/politics and law.[3] He served as Chairman of the Queen's Unionist Association and as a member of Queen's University Senate.

Career

Hamilton began his career as an auditor with an accountancy firm in Belfast[3] and was employed as a DUP Policy Officer in their Party Headquarters from 2003 until his election to the Northern Ireland Assembly in 2007.[4] He was elected to Ards Borough Council in 2005 but did not stand at the 2011 Election. Hamilton is secretary of Strangford DUP Association and vice-chairman of Newtownards DUP Branch.

He was appointed minister of finance and personnel and replaced Sammy Wilson on 29 June 2013 in a reshuffle.[4][5]

He was later appointed as the Health Minister of Northern Ireland in a further DUP reshuffle on 11th May 2015.[6] He resigned from this post several times during September and October 2015 in the context of a political crisis at Stormont.[1][7]

Personal life

He lives in Comber with his wife Nicki and two sons Lewis and Kyle.[8]

Colleagues

Mr. Hamilton currently serves with two other MLA's from his party, the DUP (Democratic Unionist Party). The two MLA's he serves with are Jonathan Bell and Michelle Mc'Ilveen.

References

    1. 1 2 "Mr Simon Hamilton". Northern Ireland Assembly. Retrieved 17 January 2016.
    2. "Simon Hamilton resigns four times in past three weeks". BBC News. Retrieved 2015-10-24.
    3. 1 2 3 "Hamilton appointed as Northern Ireland's Minister for Finance". Irish Times. 30 July 2013. Retrieved 14 September 2013.
    4. 1 2 "Simon Hamilton appointed new finance minister". BBC. 29 July 2013. Retrieved 14 September 2013.
    5. "DUP reshuffle: Foster, Bell and Hamilton in new jobs". BBC News. Retrieved 2015-10-24.
    6. "DUP reshuffle: Foster, Bell and Hamilton in new jobs". BBC. 11 May 2015.
    7. "Simon Hamilton resigns four times in past three weeks". BBC. 2 October 2015. Retrieved 17 January 2016.
    Northern Ireland Assembly
    Preceded by
    George Ennis
    MLA for Strangford
    2007 -
    Succeeded by
    Vacant (election in process)
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