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Alex Easton

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Alex Easton
MP
Easton in 2013
Member of Parliament
forNorth Down
Assumed office
4 July 2024
Preceded byStephen Farry
Majority7,305 (16.8%)
Member of theNorthern Ireland Assembly
forNorth Down
In office
26 November 2003 – 5 July 2024
Preceded byJane Morrice
Succeeded byPeter Martin
Member ofNorth Down Borough Council
In office
7 June 2001 – 22 May 2014
Preceded byElizabeth Roche
Succeeded byCouncil abolished
ConstituencyBallyholme and Groomsport
Personal details
Born
Alexander Easton

(1969-05-19)19 May 1969(age 55)
Bangor,Northern Ireland
NationalityBritish
Political partyIndependent Unionist(2021–present)
Other political
affiliations		Democratic Unionist Party(2000–2021)
Websitealexeastonmla.org

Alexander Easton(born 19 May 1969) is a Northern Irish politician who has served asMember of Parliament(MP) forNorth Downsince 2024. He previously served as aMember of the Legislative Assembly(MLA) forNorth Downfrom 2003 to 2024.

Originally a member of theDemocratic Unionist Party(DUP), Easton representedBallyholme and Groomsporton theNorth Down Borough Councilfrom 2001 to 2014, and became an MLA in 2003. He left the party, then led byJeffrey Donaldson,in July 2021 following disagreements over the party's leadership and has since stood as anindependent unionist.

Easton won theHouse of Commonsseat ofNorth Downat the2024 United Kingdom general electionas anindependent,having failed to win the seat as the DUP candidate in three previous elections. He defeated the incumbentAlliance Partydeputy leaderStephen Farrywith a majority of 7,305 (16.8 per cent).[1]

Early life

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Easton is ofSouth Africandescent through his South African father.[2]He grew up inBangor,before moving several times and returning to Bangor when he was 10.[2]Easton was educated at Gransha Boys High School and Bangor Technical College. He worked in the accident and emergency department in theNewtownardsand then theUlster Hospitalas a clerical officer.[2]

Political career

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As aDemocratic Unionist Partypolitician, he was first elected toNorth Down Borough Councilin the2001 local elections,and was re-elected to Council in the2005and2011elections.

He was elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly in the2003 election,for the constituency ofNorth Down,and returned again in2007,2011,2016and again in2017,when he topped the poll for North Down, having increased his vote each election.

Easton stood inNorth Downin the2017 General Electionand polled 14,940 votes, nearly unseating the sitting MPLady Sylvia Hermon.In the2019 General Election,he stood once again in the constituency but was defeated by 2968 votes.

Easton is opposed to a border poll, and has said those politically backing a backstop throughBrexitcould potentially lead to a border poll and is a threat to the Union, which must be opposed. Easton is also opposed to theNorthern Ireland protocol.

In May 2020 Easton apologised "unreservedly" after being caught on camera shopping online for shoes during a meeting of Stormont's health committee about the COVID-19 crisis.[3]

He announced his resignation from the DUP on 1 July 2021, stating that he saw no "respect, discipline or decency" in the party's recent behaviour.[4]

He was re-elected as an independent candidate in the2022 Northern Ireland Assembly election,topping the poll in the constituency for the fifth consecutive time.[5][6]

Member of Parliament

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He was elected as an independent inNorth Downat the2024 United Kingdom general election.[7]On 24 May 2024Traditional Unionist VoiceandReform UKannounced that they were supporting his candidature and would not stand a candidate in the constituency.[8]His campaign was also supported by loyalist activistJamie Brysonand was not supported by Sinn Féin.[9]

Personal life

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He is a member of theOrange Orderand theChurch of Ireland.He served on the North Down Policing Partnership.[10]He married his wife Denise, who worked part time for him as an MLA, in 1999. He has one step-daughter.[2]

In January 2023, his parents, both in their 80s, were killed in a fire at their home in Bangor, County Down.[11]

References

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  1. ^Marsh, Michael (5 July 2024)."MP holds back tears as he pays tribute to parents following election victory".Belfast Live.Retrieved5 July2024.
  2. ^abcdMcNeilly, Claire (21 May 2018)."DUP MLA Alex Easton: 'I was badly bullied at school and had my face bashed in when I was 12. It affected me for years until I bumped into the guy who did it.'".BelfastTelegraph.co.uk.ISSN0307-1235.Retrieved5 July2024.
  3. ^"Alex Easton: DUP MLA filmed shopping online at Stormont".BBC News.7 May 2020.
  4. ^Breen, Suzanne (1 July 2021)."Fresh DUP crisis as MLA Alex Easton quits accusing party of having 'no respect, discipline or decency'".Belfast Telegraph.Retrieved1 July2021.
  5. ^Breen, Suzanne (21 April 2022)."Alex Easton: Four ex-DUP councillors back independent candidate in North Down for Assembly election".Belfast Telegraph.ISSN0307-1235.Retrieved6 May2022.
  6. ^"North Down result - Northern Ireland Assembly Elections 2022".BBC News.Retrieved6 May2022.
  7. ^"I am the only unionist who can oust Stephen Farry in North Down, insists MLA Alex Easton".30 April 2024.ISSN0307-1235.Retrieved15 May2024.
  8. ^"TUV and Reform UK to support Alex Easton in North Down".Belfast Telegraph.24 May 2024.
  9. ^"Jamie Bryson not running in General Election but backing TUV in race for East Belfast".Belfast Telegraph.28 May 2024.
  10. ^Profile,nddup.org.uk; accessed 3 March 2017.
  11. ^"Bangor: Parents of MLA Alex Easton die in house fire".23 January 2023 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
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Wikimedia Commons has media related toAlex Easton.
Northern Ireland Assembly
Preceded by Member of the Legislative Assembly
forNorth Down
2003–2024 		Succeeded by
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Member of Parliament
forNorth Down
2024–present 		Incumbent
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