Jonathan Bell (politician)

Jonathan Bell
Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment
In office
11 May 2015[note 1] – 5 May 2016
Preceded byArlene Foster
Succeeded bySimon Hamilton
Junior Minister at the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister
In office
16 May 2011 – 11 May 2015
Preceded byRobin Newton
Succeeded byMichelle McIlveen
Member of the Legislative Assembly
for Strangford
In office
22 January 2010 – 26 January 2017
Preceded byIris Robinson
Succeeded byPeter Weir
Member of
Ards Borough Council
In office
5 May 2005 – 5 May 2011
Preceded byLinda Cleland
Succeeded byTom Smith
ConstituencyArds East
Mayor of Craigavon
In office
2002–2003
Preceded bySam Gardiner
Succeeded byIgnatius Fox
Member of
Craigavon Borough Council
In office
21 May 1997 – 5 May 2005
Preceded byDonald Mackay
Succeeded byMark Russell
ConstituencyLurgan
Personal details
Born
Jonathan Fergus Bell

(1970-03-05) 5 March 1970 (age 54)
Belfast, Northern Ireland
NationalityBritish
Political partyIndependent (2016-2017)
DUP (2000-2016)
UUP (until 2000)
SpouseLisa Bell
Children2
ResidenceConlig, County Down
Alma materQueen's University Belfast
ProfessionSocial worker

Jonathan Fergus Bell (born 5 March 1970)[1] is a former Northern Irish unionist politician.

As a Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) politician, Bell served as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Strangford from 2010 to 2017.

He served as a Junior Minister in the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister from May 2011 until May 2015, before he served as Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment from May 2015 until May 2016.[2]

In January 2017, Bell spoke publicly on the BBC Nolan Show, bringing to light the Renewable Heat Incentive scandal, which ultimately led to a Public Inquiry that same month. He was suspended from the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP). He sat as an Independent Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly until losing his seat in the 2017 Assembly Elections.[citation needed]


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  1. ^ NI Assembly Profile, niassembly.gov.uk; accessed 5 March 2017.
  2. ^ "DUP reshuffle: Foster, Bell and Hamilton in new jobs". BBC News Online. 11 May 2015. Retrieved 19 June 2015.