Thomas Passmore

For the South African cyclist, see Thomas Passmore (cyclist).

Thomas Passmore
Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly
for West Belfast
In office
20 October 1982 – 1986
Preceded byAssembly re-established
Succeeded byAssembly abolished
Personal details
Born1931
Belfast, Northern Ireland
Died1989
Political partyUlster Unionist Party

Thomas Passmore (1931–1989) was a Northern Irish unionist politician and salesman.

Background

Born in Belfast, Passmore worked as a salesman. In 1973, he became Grand Master of the City of Belfast Grand Orange Lodge. He also became Chairman of the Woodvale Unionist Association and a Justice of the Peace.[1] In 1976, Irish Republican Army (IRA) members killed his father in an attack which Passmore claimed was aimed at him.[2] In 1977, he gave a speech attacking the United Unionist Action Council and its plans for a general strike, claiming that it had been in discussions with the IRA.[3]

Passmore was the Ulster Unionist Party candidate for Belfast West at the 1979 UK general election, taking second place and almost a quarter of the votes cast. He was then elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly, 1982, representing Belfast West.[4] He stood again for the Westminster seat at the 1983 UK general election, but his share of the vote fell back to only 5.5%.[5]

References

  1. ^ The Times Guide to the House of Common: May 1979, p.49
  2. ^ David McKittrick, Lost Lives, p.673
  3. ^ "A Chronology of the Conflict - 1977", CAIN Web Service
  4. ^ West Belfast 1973-82, Northern Ireland Elections
  5. ^ West Belfast 1983-92, Northern Ireland Elections
Northern Ireland Assembly (1982)
New assembly MPA for West Belfast
1982–1986 		Assembly abolished