Paisley path to peerage in the Lords
THE Rev Ian Paisley's elevation to the House of Lords is the culmination of a long and at times controversial political journey by the former DUP leader and recently retired North Antrim MP. He held the seat for 40 years until recently, when his son Ian was elected to take his place.
Yesterday, Dr Paisley was officially installed in the peerage chamber at Westminster as Lord Bannside of North Antrim and, there, he uniquely joins his wife Eileen, who has carried the baroness title for several years.
Interestingly, the 84-year-old was introduced in the Lords ceremony by his DUP colleague Lord Morrow and by Baroness Boothroyd, the former Speaker of the House of Commons who has been a long-time friend of Dr Paisley.
The Paisley family dynasty now has three family members represented at the Palace of Westminster, where today they would be recognised as part of the political establishment, a far cry from the 1960s when Ian Paisley was leader of militant unionist street protest against the perceived "sell-out" policies of successive British governments, and local politicians at Stormont.
From throwing snowballs at then Irish premier Sean Lemass to sharing power with former IRA 'commander' Martin McGuinness, to being entertained by the president of the Irish Republic Mary McAleese, the Paisley path to the Lordship has taken a mercurial twist.
Dr Paisley's recent comments against the Pope's forthcoming visit to Britain demonstrate that he still adheres to a brand of Protestant fundamentalism conveyed through his Free Presbyterian Church.
However, Ian Paisley, as a public representative at Westminster, in Europe and in various Stormont assemblies, has assiduously worked for and spoken up for people of all persuasions, including many Roman Catholics who can vouch for his unstinting constituency work.
On this record, Lord Bannside of North Antrim deserves to be tangibly recognised.
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Thursday 24 May 2012
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