Christopher Stalford (17 January 1983 – 19 February 2022) was a Northern Irish politician who was a Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly (MLA) for South Belfast from the 2016 election until his death in 2022.
Christopher Stalford | |
|---|---|
| Principal Deputy Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly | |
| In office 14 January 2020 – 19 February 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Catríona Ruane |
| Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly for Belfast South | |
| In office May 2016 – 19 February 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Michael McGimpsey |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 17 January 1983 Belfast, Northern Ireland |
| Died | 19 February 2022 (aged 39) Belfast, Northern Ireland |
| Nationality | British |
| Political party | Democratic Unionist Party |
| Spouse | Laura Stalford |
| Children | 4 |
| Alma mater | Queen's University Belfast |
| Website | Profile, mydup.com; accessed 4 March 2017 |
Biography
Stalford was born in the Annadale Flats in south Belfast, on 17 January 1983.[1] He studied nearby at Wellington College Belfast and Queen's University Belfast.[2] After graduation he worked in the European office of Jim Allister three days a week, and the office of Peter Weir two days a week. He then moved to the DUP press office for six years and then onto the policy unit.[3]
At the 2005 local elections, he was elected to Belfast City Council, representing the Laganbank area[4]
At the 2014 local elections, Laganbank was abolished and he was re-elected for the Balmoral area.[5]
Stalford served as High Sheriff of Belfast in 2010. Aged only 27, the Belfast Telegraph described him as the youngest ever High Sheriff of the city.[1] He was elected as Deputy Lord Mayor for the 2013–14 term.[6]
In 2008 he was selected as the chairman of the Belfast District Policing Partnership.[7]
At the 2016 Northern Ireland Assembly election, he was one of two DUP candidates elected in South Belfast.[8]
Stalford died suddenly on 19 February 2022, at the age of 39.[9][10]
References
- ^ a b Youngest High Sheriff is sworn in at Belfast City Hall, Belfast Telegraph, 19 January 2010 Archived 3 September 2012 at archive.today
- ^ "Christopher Stalford MLA". DUP – Our Team. Archived from the original on 24 October 2016. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
- ^ McNeilly, Claire (14 August 2017). "Christopher Stalford: 'I don't see myself as a future DUP leader. I'm an Arlene 'ultra'". Belfast Telegraph. Belfast. ISSN 0307-5664. Archived from the original on 17 July 2021. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
- ^ Belfast City Council Elections 1993-2011 - Lagan Bank Archived 26 July 2018 at the Wayback Machine, Ark - Northern Ireland Elections
- ^ "Fly-tipping fine notices appear at loyalist bonfire in Belfast" Archived 29 April 2016 at the Wayback Machine, The Irish News, 26 April 2016
- ^ Belfast Deputy Lord Mayor Christopher Stalford told of threat Archived 29 December 2018 at the Wayback Machine, BBC News, 29 November 2013
- ^ Stalford gets Belfast DPP chairman post Archived 5 June 2016 at the Wayback Machine, belfasttelegraph.co.uk, 8 October 2008.
- ^ Bell, Jonny (8 May 2016). "Ruth Patterson to quit politics after disappointing South Belfast Assembly election result". Belfast Telegraph. Archived from the original on 8 May 2016.
- ^ Kearney, Vincent (20 February 2022). "Tributes paid after death of DUP's Christopher Stalford". RTÉ News. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
- ^ Quinn, Ben (20 February 2022). "Tributes paid to DUP politician Christopher Stalford, who has died at 39". The Observer. Retrieved 20 February 2022.