Mervyn Storey | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member ofCauseway Coast and Glens Borough Council | |
| Assumed office 25 August 2022 | |
| Preceded by | John Finlay |
| Constituency | Ballymoney |
| Minister for Finance & Personnel | |
| In office 13 January 2016 – 30 March 2016 | |
| Preceded by | Arlene Foster |
| Succeeded by | Máirtín Ó Muilleoir |
| Minister for Social Development | |
| In office 24 September 2014 – 12 January 2016 | |
| Preceded by | Nelson McCausland |
| Succeeded by | Lord Morrow |
| Member of theNorthern Ireland Assembly forNorth Antrim | |
| In office 26 November 2003 – 28 March 2022 | |
| Preceded by | James Leslie |
| Succeeded by | Patricia O'Lynn |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1964-09-04)4 September 1964 (age 61) Armoy,County Antrim, Northern Ireland |
| Political party | Democratic Unionist Party |
| Spouse | Christine Storey |
| Children | 3 |
Robert Mervyn Storey (born 4 September 1964), usually known asMervyn Storey, is aDemocratic Unionist Party (DUP) politician, serving as aCauseway Coast and Glens Councillor for theBallymoney DEA since 2022. Storey previously served in theNorthern Ireland Executive, where he was Minister for Social Development from 2014 to 2016, and then Minister for Finance between January and March 2016. He was aMember of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) forNorth Antrim from2003 to2022.[1][2]
Robert Mervyn Storey was born inArmoy, County Antrim on 4 September 1964. His father Nat was a founder member of theProtestant Unionist Party and an election worker forIan Paisley.[3] Storey was educated at Armoy Primary School and atBallymoney High School. On leaving school in 1980 he worked in a bacon factory, rising to production manager. In 2000 he left the company and joined Ian Paisley's constituency office in Ballymena.[3]
Storey is married to Christine and has three children.[3]
Storey is a former member of the Fire Authority for Northern Ireland. Storey was elected toBallymoney council in 2001 and again in 2005. He is a member of the Ballymoney Local Strategy Partnership and Regional Partnership for Northern Ireland. In 2000 he served as campaign manager forWilliam McCrea's by-election forSouth Antrim and also in 2001 forGregory Campbell and Ian Paisley's elections inEast Londonderry andNorth Antrim respectively. All three campaigns were successful.[citation needed]
Storey was elected to theNorthern Ireland Assembly in the2003 elections. From 2008 to 2014 he was chairman of the Northern Ireland AssemblyCommittee for Education.[4] He lost his Assembly seat inthe election held on 5 May 2022, thus ceasing to be an MLA.[2]
From September 2014 to January 2016 Storey wasMinister for Social Development. He resigned from this post several times during September and October 2015 in the context of a political crisis.[4][5]
In January 2016 Storey was appointedMinister for Finance & Personnel.[3][4]
As ayoung earth creationist,[3] and a member of the "Council of Reference" of the creationistCaleb Foundation,[6] he petitioned the then Northern Irish education minister,Caitríona Ruane, to haveintelligent design taught in schools in Northern Ireland, as well as objecting to an exhibition on evolution in theUlster Museum and signs at theGiants Causeway in his North Antrim constituency.[7][8][9]
| Northern Ireland Assembly | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | MLA forNorth Antrim 2003–2022 | Succeeded by |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Minister for Social Development 2014–2016 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Minister for Finance & Personnel 2016 | Succeeded by |