Denis Watson (politician)

Denis Watson
Leader of the United Unionist Coalition
In office
1998–2012
Preceded byOffice created
Succeeded byOffice abolished
Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly
for Upper Bann
In office
25 June 1998 – 26 November 2003
Preceded byNew Creation
Succeeded byStephen Moutray
Personal details
NationalityBritish
Political partyDemocratic Unionist Party (2000 - present)
Independent Unionist (1998 - 2000)
Other political
affiliations		United Unionist Coalition (1998 - 2012)
SpouseGail
ProfessionFinancial Consultant

Denis Watson is a former Northern Irish unionist politician who was a Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly (MLA) for Upper Bann from 1998 to 2003.

Watson worked as a financial consultant and became the Grand Master of the County Armagh Orange Lodge.[1] He was elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly in 1998 as an independent Unionist representing Upper Bann. With two other anti-agreement Unionists, he formed the United Unionist Coalition, and was registered as its leader.

In 2000, Watson joined the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), but as late as 2006 he remains the officially registered leader of the United Unionist Coalition.[2] In 2001, he failed to be elected as a DUP candidate for Craigavon Borough Council.[3] He also failed to retain his Assembly seat in 2003. As of November 2012 he remains County Grand Master of County Armagh.[4]

  1. ^ "BBC NI - Learning - A State Apart - Governance - Support Article (3aa)". Bbc.co.uk. 26 September 2000. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
  2. ^ "The Electoral Commission : Regulatory issues : Political parties : Registers : Register of political parties". Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 27 March 2007.
  3. ^ Dr Nicholas Whyte. "Craigavon Borough Council, 1993 - 2011". Ark.ac.uk. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
  4. ^ Colin McCusker [@CCMcCusker123] (3 November 2012). "County Grand Master Denis Watson JP reminds the gathering that tomorrow is King William III 's birthday" (Tweet) – via Twitter.