Sylvia Hermon: Difference between revisions
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'''Sylvia Eileen, Lady Hermon''' (née Paisley) (born 11 August 1955) is an [[Ulster Unionist Party]] (UUP) politician and [[Member of Parliament]] for the [[Northern Ireland]] constituency of [[North Down (UK Parliament constituency)|North Down]]. She is the widow of [[Jack Hermon|Sir Jack Hermon]], former [[Chief Constable]] of the [[Royal Ulster Constabulary]]. |
'''Sylvia Eileen, Lady Hermon''' (née Paisley) (born 11 August 1955) is an [[Ulster Unionist Party]] (UUP) politician and [[Member of Parliament]] for the [[Northern Ireland]] constituency of [[North Down (UK Parliament constituency)|North Down]]. She is the widow of [[Jack Hermon|Sir Jack Hermon]], former [[Chief Constable]] of the [[Royal Ulster Constabulary]]. |
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==Early life== |
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Born '''Sylvia Eileen Paisley''' in [[Castlecaulfield]], [[Dungannon]], [[County Tyrone]]. Her father was Robert Paisley, a farmer, and she had 3 sisters. The family saw tragedy when Sylvia's mother died in a drowning accident when she was four. She went to [[Dungannon High School]] before studying Law at the [[University of Wales, Aberystwyth]], obtaining a First and the highest mark in her year.<ref>[http://www.uup.org/elected-representatives/westminster/index.php UUP biography]</ref> Hermon went on to lecture in Law at the [[Queen's University of Belfast]] at the same time as [[David Trimble]]. She did not enter politics until 1998 when she joined the Ulster Unionist Party, having been impressed by the role the UUP played in negotiating the [[Belfast Agreement]].{{Fact|date=June 2008}} She rose to a place on the party Executive by the following year.{{Fact|date=June 2008}} |
Born '''Sylvia Eileen Paisley''' in [[Castlecaulfield]], [[Dungannon]], [[County Tyrone]]. Her father was Robert Paisley, a farmer, and she had 3 sisters. The family saw tragedy when Sylvia's mother died in a drowning accident when she was four. She went to [[Dungannon High School]] before studying Law at the [[University of Wales, Aberystwyth]], obtaining a First and the highest mark in her year.<ref>[http://www.uup.org/elected-representatives/westminster/index.php UUP biography]</ref> Hermon went on to lecture in Law at the [[Queen's University of Belfast]] at the same time as [[David Trimble]]. She did not enter politics until 1998 when she joined the Ulster Unionist Party, having been impressed by the role the UUP played in negotiating the [[Belfast Agreement]].{{Fact|date=June 2008}} She rose to a place on the party Executive by the following year.{{Fact|date=June 2008}} |
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==Parliamentary career== |
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Hermon was chosen as UUP candidate for the [[North Down (UK Parliament constituency)|North Down constituency]] to contest the [[United Kingdom general election, 2001|2001 general election]] and went on to defeat the incumbent [[Robert McCartney (politician)|Robert McCartney]] by over 7,000 votes. During the election she would garner the support of the local branch of the [[Alliance Party of Northern Ireland]] who withdrew their own candidate.{{Fact|date=June 2008}} |
Hermon was chosen as UUP candidate for the [[North Down (UK Parliament constituency)|North Down constituency]] to contest the [[United Kingdom general election, 2001|2001 general election]] and went on to defeat the incumbent [[Robert McCartney (politician)|Robert McCartney]] by over 7,000 votes. During the election she would garner the support of the local branch of the [[Alliance Party of Northern Ireland]] who withdrew their own candidate.{{Fact|date=June 2008}} |
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Lady Hermon received some criticism for the timing of her remarks by the party Leader [[Reg Empey|Sir Reg Empey]] and by [[Jim Nicholson]]. The party was running its Euro-election campaign and she was criticised for the damage her comments could make to the party's polling results on June 4th. |
Lady Hermon received some criticism for the timing of her remarks by the party Leader [[Reg Empey|Sir Reg Empey]] and by [[Jim Nicholson]]. The party was running its Euro-election campaign and she was criticised for the damage her comments could make to the party's polling results on June 4th. |
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==Issues with parliamentary expenses== |
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The same day she revealed repaying £2,730 paid in expenses to her for rent on a London flat. This was two months rental overpaid during 2005-2006. She said she only discovered the error when she contacted the Fees Office. "Even though I immediately reimbursed the House of Commons with the £2,730, I remain profoundly upset and embarrassed," she said, adding that she had written on the claim forms that she wanted them to be checked by the office. She told the BBC she had "naively assumed" that the Fees Office would have checked so was relaxed amid the furore over MPs expenses. |
The same day she revealed repaying £2,730 paid in expenses to her for rent on a London flat. This was two months rental overpaid during 2005-2006. She said she only discovered the error when she contacted the Fees Office. "Even though I immediately reimbursed the House of Commons with the £2,730, I remain profoundly upset and embarrassed," she said, adding that she had written on the claim forms that she wanted them to be checked by the office. She told the BBC she had "naively assumed" that the Fees Office would have checked so was relaxed amid the furore over MPs expenses. |
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She also expressed outrage that the Fees Office had paid other MPs for food, swimming pools and chandeliers when she was unable to claim for a Heathrow Express ticket to get to her place of work. |
She also expressed outrage that the Fees Office had paid other MPs for food, swimming pools and chandeliers when she was unable to claim for a Heathrow Express ticket to get to her place of work. |
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"So when I learned other MPs have claimed for bags of manure and been paid for them and paid for swimming pools, I am furious," she said. Asked about the claims of some Conservative MPs with whom her party is now affiliated for electoral purposes, Lady Hermon said claims for some items were "indefensible, immoral, cringe-making and outrageous." |
"So when I learned other MPs have claimed for bags of manure and been paid for them and paid for swimming pools, I am furious," she said. Asked about the claims of some Conservative MPs with whom her party is now affiliated for electoral purposes, Lady Hermon said claims for some items were "indefensible, immoral, cringe-making and outrageous." |
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==Charity work== |
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She is a longstanding supporter of the [[Alzheimer's Research Trust]] and helped launch its Northern Ireland network centre. <ref>[http://www.alzheimers-research.org.uk/news/article.php?id=200&type=News Latest news - The leading UK research charity for dementia<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> |
She is a longstanding supporter of the [[Alzheimer's Research Trust]] and helped launch its Northern Ireland network centre. <ref>[http://www.alzheimers-research.org.uk/news/article.php?id=200&type=News Latest news - The leading UK research charity for dementia<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> |
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Revision as of 22:58, 23 February 2010
Sylvia, Lady Hermon | |
|---|---|
| Spokesperson for Home Affairs | |
| Member of Parliament for North Down | |
| Assumed office 7 June 2001 | |
| Preceded by | Robert McCartney |
| Majority | 4,944 (15.3%) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 11 August 1955 Castlecaulfield, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland |
| Nationality | British |
| Political party | Ulster Unionist Party |
| Spouse | Sir Jack Hermon |
| Alma mater | University of Wales, Aberystwyth |
Sylvia Eileen, Lady Hermon (née Paisley) (born 11 August 1955) is an Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) politician and Member of Parliament for the Northern Ireland constituency of North Down. She is the widow of Sir Jack Hermon, former Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary.
Early life
Born Sylvia Eileen Paisley in Castlecaulfield, Dungannon, County Tyrone. Her father was Robert Paisley, a farmer, and she had 3 sisters. The family saw tragedy when Sylvia's mother died in a drowning accident when she was four. She went to Dungannon High School before studying Law at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth, obtaining a First and the highest mark in her year.[1] Hermon went on to lecture in Law at the Queen's University of Belfast at the same time as David Trimble. She did not enter politics until 1998 when she joined the Ulster Unionist Party, having been impressed by the role the UUP played in negotiating the Belfast Agreement.[citation needed] She rose to a place on the party Executive by the following year.[citation needed]
Parliamentary career
Hermon was chosen as UUP candidate for the North Down constituency to contest the 2001 general election and went on to defeat the incumbent Robert McCartney by over 7,000 votes. During the election she would garner the support of the local branch of the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland who withdrew their own candidate.[citation needed]
Hermon became Chair of the North Down branch of the UUP in 2001 and held this position until 2003. In 2001 she was also appointed UUP Spokesperson for Youth and Women's Issues, Home Affairs and Trade and Industry. She subsequently lost the Trade and Industry portfolio and took responsibility for Culture, Media and Sport in 2002. Outside of the UUP, Hermon has also been involved in policing support and pensioners' rights campaigns. In Parliament, she has established herself as an independently minded politician, in some instances voting against the prevalent beliefs of fellow unionist MPs, including her decision to vote against the replacement of the Trident Nuclear Weapons System and also to repeal Section 28, legislation that prevented public discussion of homosexuality in English schools. However she did vote for identity cards and 90-day detention.[2] Her votes are generally in support of the Labour government.[3]
Hermon was the only Ulster Unionist to be returned to Westminster in the 2005 general election and as a result figured in consideration for who would succeed David Trimble as party leader.[citation needed]
Initially considered to be amongst the frontrunners, Hermon eventually declined the opportunity, feeling that she could not combine it with her care duties for her husband, who suffered from Alzheimer's disease, and instead supported the unsuccessful bid of Alan McFarland.[4]
On November 6, 2008 her husband Jack Hermon died. Shortly afterward her father also died and she lost two family pets in quick succession.[5]
On May 13, 2009 Lady Hermon ended months of speculation over her supposed opposition to the Ulster Unionist link-up with the Conservative Party. She declared, in an unplanned announcement, during an interview in her constituency office that “At the present time, I can’t see myself standing under a Conservative banner". She further added “If my party chooses to move to call themselves by a different name, I’m terribly sorry and terribly disappointed by that but I remain an Ulster Unionist. That was certainly my mandate and I’ve loved serving the people of North Down. They have stood by me through the most difficult of times and if they choose and wish me to serve them I would do my very best to do that.” [6]
Lady Hermon received some criticism for the timing of her remarks by the party Leader Sir Reg Empey and by Jim Nicholson. The party was running its Euro-election campaign and she was criticised for the damage her comments could make to the party's polling results on June 4th.
Issues with parliamentary expenses
The same day she revealed repaying £2,730 paid in expenses to her for rent on a London flat. This was two months rental overpaid during 2005-2006. She said she only discovered the error when she contacted the Fees Office. "Even though I immediately reimbursed the House of Commons with the £2,730, I remain profoundly upset and embarrassed," she said, adding that she had written on the claim forms that she wanted them to be checked by the office. She told the BBC she had "naively assumed" that the Fees Office would have checked so was relaxed amid the furore over MPs expenses.
But when she phoned the office she said she was shocked to learn that there had been an error. She also complained that the Fees Office had failed to apologise to her. She said she didn't claim for dog food, chandeliers or any other weird and exotic items. "I've never bought property nor had a mortgage in London; I didn't have a television at any stage, didn't watch DVDs of any nature, didn't claim for food in London, furnishings, security or cleaning, didn't claim for dog food, chandeliers or for any other weird and exotic items...There can, however, be no excuses. The mistakes were mine, which I have rectified and for which I am extremely sorry."
She also expressed outrage that the Fees Office had paid other MPs for food, swimming pools and chandeliers when she was unable to claim for a Heathrow Express ticket to get to her place of work. "So when I learned other MPs have claimed for bags of manure and been paid for them and paid for swimming pools, I am furious," she said. Asked about the claims of some Conservative MPs with whom her party is now affiliated for electoral purposes, Lady Hermon said claims for some items were "indefensible, immoral, cringe-making and outrageous."
Charity work
She is a longstanding supporter of the Alzheimer's Research Trust and helped launch its Northern Ireland network centre. [7]
References
- ^ UUP biography
- ^ Lady Hermon MP, North Down (TheyWorkForYou.com)
- ^ "Cameron shines at UUP conference". BBC News. 2008-12-06. Retrieved 2008-12-10.
- ^ BBC NEWS | UK | Northern Ireland | Profile: Sir Reg Empey
- ^ Lady Sylvia: Part 2, by James O'Fee - Impala Publishers Blog Page
- ^ Hermon: why she rejected Tory deal - Politics, News - Belfasttelegraph.co.uk
- ^ Latest news - The leading UK research charity for dementia
External links
- 1955 births
- Living people
- Academics of Queen's University Belfast
- British legal academics
- Alumni of Aberystwyth University
- Female members of the United Kingdom Parliament for Northern Irish constituencies
- People from County Tyrone
- UK MPs 2001-2005
- UK MPs 2005-
- Ulster Unionist Party politicians
- Alumni of the Royal School Dungannon