Dawn Purvis | |
|---|---|
 Purvis in 2007 | |
| Leader of the Progressive Unionist Party | |
| In office 23 January 2007 – 2 June 2010 | |
| Deputy | Andy Park |
| Preceded by | David Ervine |
| Succeeded by | John Kyle (acting) Brian Ervine |
| Member of theNorthern Ireland Assembly forBelfast East | |
| In office 7 March 2007 – May 2011 | |
| Preceded by | David Ervine |
| Succeeded by | Judith Cochrane |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1966-10-22)22 October 1966 (age 58)[1] Donegall Pass,Belfast, Northern Ireland |
| Political party | Independent (2010 - present) |
| Other political affiliations | PUP (1994 - 2010) |
| Website | Official website |
Dawn Purvis (born 22 October 1966) is a Northern Irish company executive and former unionist politician, who was aMember of the Northern Ireland Assembly (MLA) for Belfast East from 2007 to 2011. She was previously the leader of theProgressive Unionist Party (PUP) from 2007 to 2010.
Born in theDonegall Pass area ofBelfast, Purvis joined the PUP in 1994.[2] She stood for the party in the 1996Northern Ireland Forum election inBelfast South[3] and then in the1998 Northern Ireland Assembly election inBelfast South, here taking 271 votes.[4] She served as director of theMarie Stopes clinic in Belfast.
In November 2014, Bernadette Smyth, founder of the Precious Life organisation, was found guilty of the harassment of Purvis,[5] but the verdict was later quashed.[6]
By 1999, Purvis was the PUP's Spokesperson on Women's Affairs.[7] She took a degree in Women's Studies, Social Policy and Social Anthropology and began working full-time for the party.[8]
Purvis stood inBelfast South in the2001 UK general election, finishing in sixth place with a total of 1112 votes (2.9%).[9]
In 2006, Purvis was appointed to theNorthern Ireland Policing Board. Her appointment was later criticised by theDemocratic Unionist Party, because of the PUP's links with the paramilitaryUlster Volunteer Force (UVF).[2]
In January 2007, Purvis succeeded the lateDavid Ervine as leader of the PUP and MLA for Belfast East. Commenting on her new role she said:
I am deeply honoured to have been made the leader of the PUP. However this is also tinged with sadness given the huge loss of David. It is a huge challenge to step into this role, especially after the good work he did. But this gives us an opportunity to rebuild and continue to serve working class loyalists and unionist communities.[10]
In her maiden speech in the Assembly she said "As long as there is poverty, and as long as there is inequality in education, health and gender, it will be my duty to articulate the needs of the working and workless classes in East Belfast."[citation needed]
Purvis was re-elected in the constituency at the2007 Assembly election on the tenth and final round of counting. She polled 3045 votes (10.3%)[11]
In 2011 Dawn left politics and became the Northern Ireland Programme Director withMarie Stopes International(MSI).[12]
In June 2010, Purvis resigned as leader, and as a member, of the PUP because of its relationship with the UVF and the murder of Bobby Moffet which was attributed to that group by theIndependent Monitoring Commission.[13][14][15]
In the2011 Assembly election Purvis defended her seat as an independent candidate with PUP leaderBrian Ervine running against her. In the end neither candidate was elected and instead theAlliance Party of Northern Ireland gained a second East Belfast seat. Purvis polled 1702 votes (5.2%)[16]
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)| Northern Ireland Assembly | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | MLA forBelfast East 2007–2011 | Succeeded by |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Leader of the Progressive Unionist Party 2007–2010 | Succeeded by John Kyle (Acting) |