Jim Allister

About

This Traditional Unionist Voice political leader served from 1982-1987 as a Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly for North Antrim and was re-elected to the Assembly in 2011. In addition, from 2004 to 2009, he served as a Member of the European Parliament for Northern Ireland.

Before Fame

A few years after completing his honors bachelor's degree in law from Queen's University, Belfast, he was elected for the first time to the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Trivia

A staunch social conservative, he supported an evangelical lobby organization called the Caleb Foundation.

Family Life

He spent his youth in Crossgar, County Down, Northern Ireland. His marriage to Ruth Allister produced three children.

Associated With

A 1987 clash with fellow Northern Irish politician Ian Paisley brought about Allister's nearly two-decade departure from politics. In 2004, however, he re-entered the political arena.