Lawrence Orr

Captain Lawrence Percy Story Orr (16 September 1918 - 11 July 1990) was an Ulster Unionist politician in Northern Ireland. He was Member of Parliament (MP) for South Down from 1950 until he retired at the October 1974 general election, preceding Enoch Powell.

Orr was chairman of the Ulster Unionist MPs in the House of Commons from 1964 to 1974 and also Imperial Grand Master of the Orange Order.

He defended the influence of Orangemen in the UUP, saying they are "neither bigoted nor uncharitable ... we do not seek to injure or upbraid a man on account of his religious opinions ... and that they treated those who differed from them with all the common courtesies of a civilised community." Orr warned members not to "follow any narrow-minded part or copy the medieval Roman church in restricting the liberty of conscience of our members."

He also resisted attempts by Westminster to interfere in Northern Ireland's affairs. He married Jean Hughes and bore five children.

References

Times Guide to the House of Commons, February 1974
Irish News, July 13, 1968
News Letter
Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs

External links

Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Lawrence Orr

Parliament of the United Kingdom
New constituency	Member of Parliament for South Down 1950–Oct 1974	Succeeded by Enoch Powell

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