DFP Minister Sammy Wilson

Sammy Wilson MP MLA was born in Belfast in April 1953. Educated at Methodist College Belfast, he went on to graduate in Economics from Queens University Belfast and then from Stranmillis Teaching College. He took up a teaching post at Grosvenor Grammar School where he was to become Head of Economics and Assistant Chief Examiner for A-Level Economics in Northern Ireland.

He began his life in politics as the Democratic Unionist Party Press Officer and in 1981 he was elected as a DUP councillor to Belfast City Council. He became the first person from the party to serve as Lord Mayor of the City in 1986/1987 and did so again in 2000/2001.

He was elected to the Northern Ireland Forum in May 1996 for the constituency of East Belfast (1996-98) and went on to represent this area again after the Northern Ireland Assembly in June 1998. In November 2003, he became the MLA for East Antrim which he continues to represent in the Assembly and in May 2005, he became its MP.

He is a former member of the Northern Ireland Policing Board and Northern Ireland Housing Council. After the restoration of devolution in 2007, Mr Wilson was appointed by his party leader to serve as the Chairman of the Education Committee until June 2008. Mr Wilson previously served as the Minister for the Environment until July 2009 when he was appointed Minister for Finance and Personnel.