Steve Aiken
Steve Aiken | |
---|---|
Leader of the Ulster Unionist Party | |
In office 9 November 2019 – 27 May 2021 | |
Deputy | Doug Beattie |
Preceded by | Robin Swann |
Succeeded by | Doug Beattie |
Ulster Unionist Chief Whip | |
In office 8 April 2017 – 2019 | |
Leader | Robin Swann |
Preceded by | Robin Swann |
Succeeded by | Robbie Butler |
Member of the Legislative Assembly for South Antrim | |
Assumed office May 2016 | |
Preceded by | Adrian Cochrane-Watson |
Personal details | |
Born | Stephen Ronald Aiken 16 June 1962 Ballyclare, Northern Ireland |
Nationality | British |
Political party | Ulster Unionist Party |
Alma mater | Britannia Royal Naval College King's College London University of Cambridge |
Profession | Royal Navy Commander, Submarine Warfare |
Military service | |
Allegiance | United Kingdom |
Branch/service | Royal Navy |
Years of service | 1980–2011 |
Rank | Commander |
Unit | Submarine Service |
Stephen Ronald "Steve" Aiken OBE MLA (born 16 June 1962) is a Northern Irish politician, who serves as a Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly for South Antrim (MLA) and was first elected in the 2016 election.
Soon thereafter he was appointed as the Chief Whip of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) (2017-2019) and then served as Party Leader (2019-21).
Early life and education[]
Steve was born in South Antrim, attended Thompson Primary School, Ballyrobert, and then was educated at Belfast High School. During his naval career he undertook further study at King's College London (MA Defence Studies, 2001) and the University of Cambridge (MPhil, 2013; PhD, 2016 Queens' College).[1] He joined the Sea Cadets in 1982 based at HMS Caroline (1914), which remains in its original dock as a Museum Ship.
Military career[]
Aiken served for 32 years in the Royal Navy as a submariner, ultimately in many senior operational roles, including commanding two nuclear-powered submarines, being Joint Plans Officer for operations in the Middle-East in 2002-04 (for which he was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)). At the end of his service in the Royal Navy, following a weekend of 'retirement', he became the founding CEO of the British Irish Chamber of Commerce, a post he held for three years during which time he lived in Dublin with his young family.[2][3]
Political career[]
When Robin Swann MLA announced his sudden resignation as leader of the Ulster Unionist Party in 2019, Aiken stood for the leadership. He was elected unopposed as leader in November 2019 and led the party through difficult periods addressing concerns about Brexit, the Protocol and pandemic. He promptly opted for the UUP to take the Ministry of Health Department, when no other party would take it, and appointed Mr Swann MLA as Minister.[4]
In October 2021 Aiken was reselected to be a UUP candidate for South Antrim in the next Northern Ireland Assembly election, due in May 2022, alongside Paul Michael.[5]
Current Positions[]
- Chairperson, Committee for Finance of the Northern Ireland Assembly
- Chairperson, All Party Group for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics)
- Chairperson, All Party Group for Ethnic Minorities
- Member, All Party Group for Climate Action
- Board member, Christian Aid Ireland[6]
References[]
- ^ "About Me". Steve Aiken.
- ^ Aiken, Steve (31 January 2013). "Speech by Steve Aiken British Irish Chamber". issuu. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
- ^ Maguire, Patrick (25 November 2019). "Can Steve Aiken save the Ulster Unionist Party". The New Statesman. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
- ^ "Steve Aiken takes over as new leader of Ulster Unionist Party". BBC News. 9 November 2019. Retrieved 25 November 2019.
- ^ "Stormont election: UUP candidates announced for South Antrim". Newtownabbey Times. 20 October 2021.
- ^ McBride, Sam (29 October 2019). "Steve Aiken: 'Aspects of Stormont governance are institutionally corrupt and require radical reform'". www.newsletter.co.uk. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
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External links[]
- 1962 births
- Living people
- Royal Navy officers
- People educated at Belfast High School
- Alumni of King's College London
- Alumni of Queens' College, Cambridge
- Ulster Unionist Party MLAs
- Northern Ireland MLAs 2016–2017
- Northern Ireland MLAs 2017–2022
- Officers of the Order of the British Empire
- Northern Ireland Assembly member stubs