Jim Allister

Jim Allister KC MLA
Allister in February 2013
Leader of Traditional Unionist Voice
Incumbent
Assumed office 7 December 2007
Deputy	Ron McDowell
Preceded by	Position created
Member of the Legislative Assembly for North Antrim
Incumbent
Assumed office 5 May 2011
Preceded by	Declan O'Loan
In office 1982–1986
Preceded by	Assembly reconvened
Succeeded by	Assembly dissolved
Member of the European Parliament for Northern Ireland
In office 11 July 2004 – 4 June 2009
Preceded by	Ian Paisley
Succeeded by	Diane Dodds
Member of Newtownabbey Borough Council
In office 15 May 1985 – 17 May 1989
Preceded by	District created
Succeeded by	John Blair
Constituency	Doagh Road
Personal details
Born	(1953-04-02) 2 April 1953 (age 71) Listooder, Crossgar, Northern Ireland
Citizenship	United Kingdom
Political party	Traditional Unionist Voice (since 2007)
Other political affiliations	DUP (1971–1987; 2004-2007) Official Unionist (before 1971)
Spouse	Ruth Allister
Children	3
Alma mater	Queen's University, Belfast
Occupation	Politician
Profession	Barrister
Website	Official website

James Hugh Allister KC (born 2 April 1953) is a British Unionist politician and barrister in Northern Ireland. He founded the Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) political party in 2007, leading the party since its formation. Allister has served as a Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly (MLA) for North Antrim since 2011, and is the TUV’s only representative in the Assembly.

He was formerly a member of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), for which he successfully stood for election in 2004 to the European Parliament for Northern Ireland, succeeding Ian Paisley. He continued as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) following his resignation from the DUP and his establishment of the TUV in 2007.