Jim Allister QC

Jim Allister is the leader of Traditional Unionist Voice, the fastest growing political party in Northern Ireland. He is the Ulster politician who put principle before power by resigning from the DUP over its decision to take IRA/Sinn Fein into government.

He served Northern Ireland in the European Parliament 2004-09, where he was named by the Taxpayers’ Alliance as the UK’s best MEP. A noted Eurosceptic he strongly opposes the haemorrhaging of powers to Brussels.

In the 2009 European Election he stunned the political elite by capturing almost a third of the Unionist vote and stands poised to grow TUV in the upcoming elections.

Born in County Down in 1953 into a farming family, he studied at Regent House, Newtownards and Queen’s University Belfast, when he first engaged in politics. Having studied law he was called to the Bar of Northern Ireland in 1976 and in 2001 was elevated to the Senior Bar, where he enjoyed a successful career specialising in criminal law.

Living in the heart of County Antrim, he is married to Ruth. They have three grown up children, a daughter and two sons.

He represented North Antrim in the Stormont Assembly 1982-86.