Sammy Wilson was first elected as the DUP MP for East Antrim in 2005, being reelected in 2019 with a majority of 6,616.
The constituency of East Antrim is found in the north east of Northern Ireland. It is quite a thin constituency that stretches along a large portion of the coast, and includes the towns of Larne and Carrickfergus. This is a strongly Unionist area, where the DUP gained this seat from the UUP in 2005, holding it continuously ever since. However, the Alliance Party almost doubled their vote here in the 2019 General Election, achieving a 12% swing from the DUP.
Wilson is currently the DUP Chief Whip at Westminster.
Sammy Wilson was born in Belfast in April 1953 and was educated at Methodist College Belfast. After studying Economics and Politics at Queens University Belfast, he attended Stranmillis Teaching College. He subsequently taught economics at Grosvenor Grammar School. He also worked as the Assistant Chief Examiner for A-Level Economics in Northern Ireland.
Wilson was first elected to Belfast City Council in 1981 and served on the council for nearly thirty years until 2010. He was twice Lord Mayor of Belfast, in 1986/87 and 2000/01.
He was a member of the Northern Ireland Assembly between 1998 and 2015, and served as the minister of finance in the Northern Ireland Executive between 2009 and 2013.
In June 2021, he attacked the then DUP Leader Edwin Poots suggesting that it was not possible to ‘lead’ without ‘followers’.
In late 2021, Mr Wilson led a campaign to ban trophy hunters bringing their trophies, the likes of severed animal heads and skins, back to the UK.
Sammy Wilson enjoys motorcycling and is Vice Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Motorcycling. He is also Vice Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Groups on the Commonwealth; Fair Business Banking; Fair Fuel for UK Motorists and UK Hauliers; Gambling Related Harm; and Loan Charges.
Wilson supported Brexit in the 2016 EU referendum. In the past he has also been opposed to inclusive LGBT sex education, and critical of the ‘green’ movement.
Twitter: @sammywilsonmp
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/SammyWilsonMP
