Steve Aiken

Stephen Ronald Aiken OBE MLA (born 16 June 1962) is a Northern Irish politician, who served as Leader of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) from 2019 to 2021, and was Chief Whip of the UUP from 2017 to 2019.

Commander
Steve Aiken
OBE MLA
17th Leader of the Ulster Unionist Party
In office
9 November 2019 – 27 May 2021
DeputyDoug Beattie
Preceded byRobin Swann
Succeeded byDoug Beattie
Ulster Unionist Party spokesperson for Finance
Assumed office
24 May 2021
LeaderDoug Beattie
Ulster Unionist Chief Whip
In office
8 April 2017 – 9 November 2019
LeaderRobin Swann
Preceded byRobin Swann
Succeeded byRobbie Butler
Member of the Legislative Assembly
for South Antrim
Assumed office
5 May 2016
Preceded byAdrian Cochrane-Watson
Personal details
Born
Stephen Ronald Aiken

(1962-06-16) 16 June 1962
Ballyclare, Northern Ireland
Political partyUlster Unionist Party
Alma materBritannia Royal Naval College
King's College London
University of Cambridge
ProfessionRoyal Navy Commander, Submarine Warfare
Military service
AllegianceUnited Kingdom United Kingdom
Branch/serviceRoyal Navy
Years of service1980–2011
RankCommander
UnitSubmarine Service

Aiken has been a Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly (MLA) for South Antrim since 2016.

Early life and education

Aiken was born in South Antrim, attended Thompson Primary School, Ballyrobert, and then was educated at Belfast High School. He joined the Sea Cadets in 1982 based at HMS Caroline (1914), which remains in its original dock as a Museum Ship. During his naval career he undertook further study and holds a PhD and MPhil in International Relations from the Department of Politics and International Relations at the University of Cambridge, with his thesis research on India and its growing military power. He also has a MA in Defence Studies from the Department of Defence Studies at Kings College London.

Military career

Aiken served for 32 years in the Royal Navy as a submariner, ultimately in many senior operational roles, including commanding two nuclear-powered submarines, being Joint Plans Officer for operations in the Middle-East in 2002-04 (for which he was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)).[1] At the end of his service in the Royal Navy, he became the founding CEO of the British Irish Chamber of Commerce, a post he held for three years during which time he lived in Dublin with his young family.[2][3]

Political career

When Robin Swann MLA announced his sudden resignation as leader of the Ulster Unionist Party in 2019, Aiken stood for the leadership.[4][5] He was elected unopposed as leader in November 2019 and led the party through difficult periods addressing concerns about Brexit, the Protocol and pandemic.[6] He promptly opted for the UUP to take the Ministry of Health Department, when no other party would take it, and appointed Mr Swann MLA as Minister.[7] He announced his resignation as leader eighteen months later[8] largely stemming from members' differing opinions about his firm position that the Chief Constable needed to resign over the Bobby Storey funeral matter.[9]

In October 2021 Aiken was reselected to be a UUP candidate for South Antrim in the 2022 Northern Ireland Assembly election.[10] He was reelected in the May 2022 poll and, despite the lack of a functioning Northern Ireland Assembly since February 2022, he continues to serve the people of South Antrim and remains the Party Spokesperson on the Northern Ireland Protocol and Finance. In addition to his private consulting business[11] because he ultimately believes that he can continue to help make Northern Ireland work.[12]

References
  1. "Former submariner Steve Aiken surfaces at Stormont". 10 May 2016.
  2. Aiken, Steve (31 January 2013). "Speech by Steve Aiken British Irish Chamber". issuu. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  3. Maguire, Patrick (25 November 2019). "Can Steve Aiken save the Ulster Unionist Party". The New Statesman. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  4. "Steve Aiken confirms he will stand for Ulster Unionist leadership".
  5. "Steve Aiken: The ex-submariner set to lead the Ulster Unionists".
  6. "Steve Aiken: From submariner to Stormont party leader".
  7. "Steve Aiken takes over as new leader of Ulster Unionist Party". BBC News. 9 November 2019. Retrieved 25 November 2019.
  8. McCormack, Jayne (8 May 2021). "Steve Aiken resigns as Ulster Unionist leader". BBC News.
  9. "Bobby Storey funeral: UUP calls for resignation of Simon Byrne". 1 April 2021.
  10. "Stormont election: UUP candidates announced for South Antrim". Newtownabbey Times. 20 October 2021.
  11. "UUP MLA Steve Aiken sets up new consultancy business during Stormont's collapse". 3 July 2023.
  12. "Steve Aiken MLA: 'Making Northern Ireland work'". 1 December 2018.


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