Jonathan Stephenson

Jonathan Stephenson
Chair of the
Social Democratic and Labour Party
In office
1995–1998
LeaderJohn Hume
Preceded byMark Durkan
Succeeded byJim Lennon
Northern Ireland Forum Member
In office
30 May 1996 – 25 April 1998
Preceded byNew forum
Succeeded byForum dissolved
ConstituencyTop-up list
Member of
Belfast City Council
In office
19 May 1993 – 21 May 1997
Preceded byTom Campbell
Succeeded byTom Campbell
ConstituencyCastle
Personal details
Born2 November 1950
England
Died21 December 2011
NationalityIrish
Political partySocial Democratic and Labour
EducationWinchester College, Stanbridge Earls School, Queen's University Belfast

Jonathan Stephenson (2 November 1950 – 21 December 2011) was an Irish nationalist politician in Northern Ireland who was the chairman of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) from 1995 to 1998, and a Belfast City Councillor for Castle from 1993 until 1997.

Additionally, Stephenson was a member of the Northern Ireland Forum, as a regional list representative, between 1996 and 1998.

Background

A Protestant born in England and educated at Winchester College and Stanbridge Earls School, Stephenson moved to Northern Ireland, where he studied History and Politics at Queen's University Belfast. He joined the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) in the early 1980s, and became its first official press officer.[1]

Stephenson was elected to Belfast City Council at the 1993 Northern Ireland local elections, representing the SDLP in the Castle area.[2] He also became Deputy Chairperson of the SDLP,[3] serving from 1995 to 1998.[1]

In 1995, he became the party's Chairperson, serving until 1998.[4] At the Northern Ireland Forum election in 1996, he did not stand in a constituency, but was elected as one of two regional list candidates for the SDLP,[5] but he lost his council seat in 1997.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b "Alasdair McDonnell pays tribute to ex-chairman Jonathan Stephenson", BBC News, 23 December 2011
  2. ^ a b Belfast City Council Elections 1993-2005 Archived 26 July 2018 at the Wayback Machine, Northern Ireland Elections
  3. ^ Politics 97: Social Democratic and Labour Party, BBC
  4. ^ Political Leaders: Northern Ireland Archived 26 September 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ The 1996 Forum Elections and the Peace Process Archived 25 October 2018 at the Wayback Machine, Northern Ireland Elections
Northern Ireland Forum
New forum Regional Member
1996–1998 		Forum dissolved
Party political offices
Preceded by Chairperson of the Social Democratic and Labour Party
1995–1998 		Succeeded by