Christopher Stalford

Christopher David Matthew Stalford[2] (17 January 1983 – 19 February 2022) was a Northern Irish politician who was a Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly (MLA) for South Belfast from the 2016 election until his death in 2022.

Christopher Stalford
Principal Deputy Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly
In office
14 January 2020 – 19 February 2022
Preceded byCatríona Ruane
Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly
for Belfast South
In office
5 May 2016 – 19 February 2022
Preceded byMichael McGimpsey
Succeeded byEdwin Poots
Member of
Belfast City Council
In office
22 May 2014 – 5 May 2016
Preceded byRuth Patterson
Succeeded byLee Reynolds
ConstituencyBalmoral
In office
5 May 2005 – 22 May 2014
Preceded byJim Clarke
Succeeded byConstituency abolished
ConstituencyLaganbank
Personal details
Born(1983-01-17)17 January 1983
Belfast, Northern Ireland
Died19 February 2022(2022-02-19) (aged 39)
Belfast, Northern Ireland
NationalityBritish
Political partyDemocratic Unionist Party
SpouseLaura Stalford[1]
Children4
EducationWellington College Belfast
Alma materQueen's University Belfast
Websitewww.mydup.com/who-we-are/christopher-stalford

Biography

Stalford was born in the Annadale Flats in south Belfast, on 17 January 1983.[3] He studied nearby at Wellington College Belfast and Queen's University Belfast.[4] After graduation he worked in the European office of Jim Allister three days a week, and the office of Peter Weir two days a week. He then moved to the DUP press office for six years and then onto the policy unit.[5]

At the 2005 local elections, he was elected to Belfast City Council, representing the Laganbank area[6]

At the 2014 local elections, Laganbank was abolished and he was re-elected for the Balmoral area.[7]

Stalford served as High Sheriff of Belfast in 2010. Aged only 27, the Belfast Telegraph described him as the youngest ever High Sheriff of the city.[3] He was elected as Deputy Lord Mayor for the 2013–14 term.[8]

In 2008 he was selected as the chairman of the Belfast District Policing Partnership.[9]

At the 2016 Northern Ireland Assembly election, he was one of two DUP candidates elected in South Belfast.[10]

Death

Stalford died suddenly on 19 February 2022, at the age of 39.[11][12] While Stalford was described as "unionist to the core", his funeral was attended by a range of political parties including Sinn Féin colleagues John O'Dowd and Deirdre Hargey, SDLP MP Claire Hanna and Alliance Party leader Naomi Long.[13][14]

When Edwin Poots was elected to Stalford's former constituency of Belfast South at the 2022 Assembly election, he paid tribute to Stalford and pledged to "build a legacy for Christopher".[15]

References
  1. "Christopher Stalford's wife Laura issues message of thanks following passing of 'best dad in the world'". Belfasttelegraph – via www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk.
  2. "Stalford, Christopher David Matthew". WHO WAS WHO 2022. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  3. "Youngest High Sheriff is sworn in at Belfast City Hall". Belfast Telegraph. 19 January 2010. Archived from the original on 3 September 2012. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
  4. "Christopher Stalford MLA". DUP – Our Team. Archived from the original on 24 October 2016. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
  5. McNeilly, Claire (14 August 2017). "Christopher Stalford: 'I don't see myself as a future DUP leader. I'm an Arlene 'ultra'". Belfast Telegraph. Belfast. ISSN 0307-5664. Archived from the original on 17 July 2021. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  6. Belfast City Council Elections 1993–2011 – Lagan Bank Archived 26 July 2018 at the Wayback Machine, Ark – Northern Ireland Elections
  7. Ferguson, Amanda (26 April 2016). "Fly-tipping fine notices appear at loyalist bonfire in Belfast". The Irish News. Archived from the original on 29 April 2016. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
  8. "Belfast Deputy Lord Mayor Christopher Stalford told of threat". BBC News. 29 November 2013. Archived from the original on 29 December 2018. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
  9. McWilliams, Gráinne (8 October 2008). "Stalford gets Belfast DPP chairman post". Belfast Telegraph. Archived from the original on 5 June 2016. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
  10. Bell, Jonny (8 May 2016). "Ruth Patterson to quit politics after disappointing South Belfast Assembly election result". Belfast Telegraph. Archived from the original on 8 May 2016.
  11. Kearney, Vincent (20 February 2022). "Tributes paid after death of DUP's Christopher Stalford". RTÉ News. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
  12. Quinn, Ben (20 February 2022). "Tributes paid to DUP politician Christopher Stalford, who has died at 39". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
  13. Simpson, Mark (26 February 2022). "Christopher Stalford: DUP MLA was 'humble, loving and kind'". BBC News. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
  14. Clinton, Jane (26 February 2022). "Funeral of DUP's Christopher Stalford attended by all main parties". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
  15. "We did this for Chris: Poots vows to build Stalford legacy following election win". ITV. 6 May 2022. Retrieved 8 May 2022.


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