Ian James Parsley (born 3 May 1977) is a businessman and former, part-time politician from Northern Ireland. He was the Alliance Party candidate at the 2009 European elections,[1] and served as Deputy Mayor of North Down.

Ian Parsley
Born (1977-05-03) 3 May 1977 (age 47)
EducationMerchant Taylors' School
Alma materNewcastle University
Political partyAlliance
Other political
affiliations
Ulster Conservatives and Unionists
(2009-2010)
Spouse
(m. 2011)
Children2
Websitehttps://ianjamesparsley.wordpress.com/

He attracted considerable criticism and caused much controversy by endorsing the Conservatives and Unionists[2] link-up in 2009, but subsequently rejoined the Alliance Party in 2011. He is an outspoken opponent of Brexit.

Background

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Although of Northern Irish heritage on his mother's side, Parsley was born in Yorkshire and educated at Merchant Taylors' School and Newcastle University, graduating in Modern Languages.[citation needed]

Parsley currently works in public relations and research. He was a Director of Northern Ireland Screen.[3] He was also Chair of the European Movement in Northern Ireland.

Other activities

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Parsley was a writer in and about Ulster Scots[4] and, despite having run against her at the 2010 UK general election, he has campaigned alongside Sylvia Hermon on support for people with dementia and their carers.[5]

Personal life

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Parsley has been married to Alliance MLA for Belfast South Paula Bradshaw since 2011. He is an avid Arsenal FC fan and an expert on Western European languages, a subject about which he often writes.[6]

References

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  1. ^ Devenport, Mark (12 May 2009). "Profile: Ian Parsley". BBC News. Retrieved 29 March 2012.
  2. ^ "Parsley leaves the Alliance Party". BBC News. 11 September 2009. Retrieved 29 March 2012.
  3. ^ "Board Members". Northern Ireland Screen. Archived from the original on 18 May 2011. Retrieved 29 March 2012.
  4. ^ "Ian James Parsley's Ulster-Scots website". BBC NI. 20 March 2002. Archived from the original on 19 April 2013. Retrieved 29 March 2012.
  5. ^ "Parsley quits politics". News Letter. JPI Media. 29 March 2011. Archived from the original on 1 February 2014. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
  6. ^ "Ancient Romans couldn't read… and what that means for language". 30 January 2015.

Further reading

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