Jo-Anne Dobson
| Jo-Anne Dobson | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly for Upper Bann | |
|
Assumed office 12 May 2011 | |
| Preceded by | George Savage |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Jo-Anne Elizabeth Elliott 3 January 1966 Banbridge, Northern Ireland |
| Nationality | British |
| Political party | Ulster Unionist Party |
| Spouse(s) | John Dobson |
| Children |
Mark Elliott |
| Residence | Waringstown |
| Religion | Church of Ireland |
Jo-Anne Elizabeth Dobson (née Elliott) is an Ulster Unionist Party politician in Northern Ireland who was elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly in 2011.[1]
Early life and education
Dobson began her education at Abercorn Primary School and continued her studies at Banbridge Academy. As a strong advocate for the Upper Bann consistency she is heavily involved in charitable roles and in local environmental and farming scenes.[2]
Political career
Dobson was elected to Craigavon Borough Council in a by-election in 2010 - winning 64% of the vote.[3] Upon her election to Stormont she stepped down from Council in 2012, being replaced by Colin McCusker, General Secretary of the Ulster Unionist Party.
On October 14, 2014, Dobson was selected by the Upper Bann Ulster Unionist Association to be the party's candidate for the Upper Bann constituency in the 2015 general election. Having fought a positive campaign the local woman won a colossal 13,166 votes, thus increasing the Ulster Unionist Party's percentage vote by 1.2% on the previous general election and coming second in this closely fought campaign.
Policy Positions
Same-sex marriage
In 2012, Dobson responded to a Christian organisation that claimed to be able to cure gay people and said she "would pray that marriage would not be redefined".[4] In 2015, Dobson voted against a motion to legalise same sex marriage in Northern Ireland.[5]
Equality legislation
In March 2015, Dobson voted in support of a controversial motion to amend the equality bill to allow business owners to discriminate against customers based on their religious beliefs.[6] This motion was in response to the Northern Ireland 'gay cake' row [7] were Ashers Bakery refused to make a cake for a customer who supported same sex marriage. The 'conscience clause' as it is known has generated criticism within the media and from the equality commission.[8]
Organ Donation
In December 2012 Dobson tabled a Private Member's Bill at the Northern Ireland Assembly to change the existing Organ Donation Laws in Northern Ireland. In February 2013 she was elected as Chairperson of the newly created Northern Ireland Assembly All-Party Group on Organ Donation [9] During the International TED (conference), held at the Northern Ireland Assembly,[10] he dedicated her speech to the memory of Waringstown lady Josie Kerr, who alongside her husband Walter founded the Northern Ireland Kidney Research Fund,[11] describing her as "an ordinary lady, who led an extraordinary life.'
Personal life
Dobson is the eldest child of Joanie and Eric Elliott. She has a younger sister, Belinda. Dobson married her husband John, a beef and cereal farmer, when she was 20 and they have two sons, Mark and Elliott.
References
- ↑ BBC News - Election 2011
- ↑ http://www.stratagem-ni.com/politician_specific.aspx?dataid=621461
- ↑ http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/8459304.stm
- ↑
- ↑
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- ↑ http://www.niassembly.gov.uk/Your-MLAs/All-Party-Groups/All-Party-Group-on-Organ-Donation.
- ↑ http://www.tedxstormont.com
- ↑ http://www.kidneyresearchni.com/
External links
- UUPER BANN: UUP holds onto two seats
- TheyWorkForYou.com - Jo-Anne Dobson MLA
- Northern Ireland Assembly Profile - Jo-Anne Dobson MLA
- Dobson takes up organ donation role
- Profile - Jo-Anne Dobson MLA
| Northern Ireland Assembly | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by George Savage |
MLA for Upper Bann 2011 - |
Succeeded by Incumbent |