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18/09/2002
Foster and Gorman to stand down at next election
Senior Ulster Unionist assembly members, Sir John Gorman and Sam Foster, have announced their decision not to run in the next assembly election.
Sir John, acknowledged by members as the 'Father of the House', said that he was making way for a younger generation to take the reins.
Announcing his decision, he said: "After long deliberation I have decided not to contest the next Assembly election though it will be my continued privilege to serve the people of North Down until then. The next Assembly needs more from the younger generation and more women in it and some of us will have to make way for them."
Sir John first came to public political prominence in 1996 as Chairman of the Northern Ireland Forum. Two years later, he was elected to the assembly – coming second to the then sitting MP, Robert McCartney.
A former RUC District Inspector and Chief Executive of the Housing Executive, Sir John has been deputy speaker in the assembly since January 2000. He was knighted in the Queen's Birthday List in 1998.
Sir John hailed the "forward-thinking, liberal leadership given by David Trimble" and said that, while he would not be attending Saturday's Ulster Unionist Council meeting, he believed opposition to David Trimble "merely had a wish-list and the desire for an easier life".
The former Environment Minister Sam Foster has also announced his intention to stand down at the end of the present Assembly.
Mr Foster, who is an MLA for Fermanagh and South Tyrone, cited health reasons for his decision. He was Northern Ireland Environment Minister from 1999 to February this year when he stood down in place of Dermot Nesbitt.
Sam Foster was elected to Fermanagh Council in 1982 and served as Chairman in 1995-97. He was a member of the Northern Ireland Forum for Political Dialogue (1996-98) and been a member of the assembly since 1998.
He is a former member of the Ulster Special Constabulary, an ex-Company Commander with the rank of Major in the Ulster Defence Regiment 4th (Fermanagh) Battalion and he sat on the Police Authority for Northern Ireland from 1982-1985.
(GMcG)
Sir John, acknowledged by members as the 'Father of the House', said that he was making way for a younger generation to take the reins.
Announcing his decision, he said: "After long deliberation I have decided not to contest the next Assembly election though it will be my continued privilege to serve the people of North Down until then. The next Assembly needs more from the younger generation and more women in it and some of us will have to make way for them."
Sir John first came to public political prominence in 1996 as Chairman of the Northern Ireland Forum. Two years later, he was elected to the assembly – coming second to the then sitting MP, Robert McCartney.
A former RUC District Inspector and Chief Executive of the Housing Executive, Sir John has been deputy speaker in the assembly since January 2000. He was knighted in the Queen's Birthday List in 1998.
Sir John hailed the "forward-thinking, liberal leadership given by David Trimble" and said that, while he would not be attending Saturday's Ulster Unionist Council meeting, he believed opposition to David Trimble "merely had a wish-list and the desire for an easier life".
The former Environment Minister Sam Foster has also announced his intention to stand down at the end of the present Assembly.
Mr Foster, who is an MLA for Fermanagh and South Tyrone, cited health reasons for his decision. He was Northern Ireland Environment Minister from 1999 to February this year when he stood down in place of Dermot Nesbitt.
Sam Foster was elected to Fermanagh Council in 1982 and served as Chairman in 1995-97. He was a member of the Northern Ireland Forum for Political Dialogue (1996-98) and been a member of the assembly since 1998.
He is a former member of the Ulster Special Constabulary, an ex-Company Commander with the rank of Major in the Ulster Defence Regiment 4th (Fermanagh) Battalion and he sat on the Police Authority for Northern Ireland from 1982-1985.
(GMcG)
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