Russell Watton
Russell Watton | |
|---|---|
| Leader of the Progressive Unionist Party | |
| Assumed office 14 June 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Billy Hutchinson |
| Deputy leader of the Progressive Unionist Party | |
| In office 15 October 2022 – 14 June 2023 | |
| Leader | Billy Hutchinson |
| Preceded by | John Kyle |
| Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Councillor | |
| Assumed office 22 May 2014 | |
| Preceded by | New council |
| Constituency | Coleraine |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1954 (age 70–71) [1] Coleraine, Northern Ireland |
| Political party | Progressive Unionist Party (since 2014) |
| Other political affiliations | Independent (2005-2014) |
| Military service | |
| Paramilitary | Ulster Volunteer Force |
| Rank | Officer Commanding |
| Conflict | The Troubles |
William James Russell Watton (born 1954), known as Russell Watton, is a Northern Irish Ulster loyalist, politician and community activist, serving as leader of the Progressive Unionist Party (PUP) since 2023, and a Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Councillor for the Coleraine DEA since 2014. He was also PUP deputy leader between 2022 and 2023.[2]
Background
Ulster Volunteer Force
Watton joined the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) in the 1970s, and was believed to be the commander of the UVF unit in Coleraine.[3] He was involved in the bombing of the Salmon Leap Restaurant, which caused the deaths of several of Watton's UVF comrades.[4]
He received three life sentences in 1977, and was imprisoned until his release in 1989.[5]
Political career
At the 2005 local elections, Watton ran as an independent candidate, for the Central District, in the Coleraine Authority. [6] While out campaigning in the predominantly nationalist Somerset Drive area, Watton and his campaign team were threatened by a group of activists after putting up posters. [7]On the incident, Watton said: “One of them had a knife in his hand and he confronted me with it. I was forced to use a piece of wood which these scumbags had thrown and I was able to disarm the man to defend myself and he ran off."[8]In total, he polled 380 first-preference votes, and was eliminated on the sixth count.[9] [10]
Watton stood again in the district at the 2011 local elections, taking 342 first-preferences.[11]
Causeway Coast and Glens Councillor
By the 2014 local elections, Watton was a member of the Progressive Unionist Party (PUP), standing for them in the successor Causeway Coast and Glens Authority.[12] He topped the poll in the Coleraine District, and received 11.8% of first-preferences.[13][14][15]
Watton stood in the East Londonderry constituency at the 2016 Northern Ireland Assembly election, where he took 1,356 first-preference votes (3.9%).[16]At the 2017 Assembly election, Watton was eliminated on the third stage of counting, having polled 879 first-preferences (2.1%).[17]
At the May 2019 Council election, Watton was once again the first candidate to be elected in Coleraine, with an increased total of 1,325 first-preferences.[18] [19][20]
While campaigning for the 2022 Assembly election, Watton highlighted intimidation being directed to him from 'known drug dealers'.[21] In the election, he took 933 first-preference votes (2.1%), and was eliminated on the third count.[22][23][24]
Watton was the second candidate to be returned in the district at the May 2023 local elections, taking a decreased first-preference share of 13.7%.[25][26] Notably, he became the only elected representative for the PUP, following the defeat of their leader, Billy Hutchinson, in Belfast.[27][28]
Leader of the Progressive Unionist Party
Following the local election results, Hutchinson stood down as leader, with Watton being announced as his successor on 14 June 2023.[29][30][31]
References
- ^ "Coleraine Councillor Watson hits the big 70!". Causeway Chronicle. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
- ^ "Election 2023:DUP set for battle with ex-members in Causeway Coast and Glens Council". Belfast Newsletter. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
- ^ Smyth, Lisa (17 January 2006). "Telegraph revelation forced him to quit". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
- ^ Winter, Peter (21 May 2019). "Watton: no regrets over terror past". Coleraine Chronicle. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
- ^ Pogatchnik, Shawn (19 May 2021). "Violence against Northern Ireland protocol isn't 'off the table'". Politico. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
- ^ Whyte, Nicholas; Kelly, Conal (24 July 2011) [5 May 2001]. "Coleraine Borough Council Elections 1993-2011". ARK. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
- ^ "Shitty of Coleraine". A Tangled Web. 28 April 2005. Retrieved 1 March 2025.
- ^ "Polling team 'foiled knife attack'". Belfast Telegraph. 27 April 2005. Retrieved 1 March 2025.
- ^ "District of: Coleraine Central - 2005". Ark elections. Retrieved 1 March 2025.
- ^ "Northern Ireland councils: Coleraine". BBC News. 10 May 2005. Retrieved 1 March 2025.
- ^ "BBC News - Election 2011 - Northern Ireland council elections - Coleraine". BBC News. 11 May 2011. Retrieved 1 March 2025.
- ^ "Watton angry over charges for voters". Northern Ireland World. 8 May 2014. Retrieved 1 March 2025.
- ^ "Causeway Coast and Glens District Council". Ark elections. Retrieved 1 March 2025.
- ^ "Watton storms to stunning victory". Northern Ireland World. 27 May 2014. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
- ^ "Coleraine Times on X". X. 23 May 2014. Retrieved 1 March 2025.
- ^ "CAIN:Issue Politics:Elections Assembly Election (NI) Thursday 5 May 2016". CAIN Web Service. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
- ^ "East Londonderry - Northern Ireland Assembly constituency - Election 2017 - BBC News". BBC News. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
- ^ "Coleraine: in Causeway Coast And Glens results - NI Local Elections 2019". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
- ^ "Election 2019: Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council candidates - BBC News". BBC News. 4 May 2019. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
- ^ "Election results: Causeway Coast and Glens - The Irish News". Irish News. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
- ^ Murray, Gemma (4 May 2022). "PUP election candidate Russell Watton blames 'known drug dealers' for sending him intimidating material". Belfast Newsletter. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
- ^ "East Londonderry results - NI Assembly Election 2022". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
- ^ "Northern Ireland Assembly election results: East Londonderry count". ITV News. 7 May 2022. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
- ^ "East Londonderry result - Northern Ireland Assembly Elections 2022 - BBC News". BBC News. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
- ^ "Local Government Elections 2023". Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
- ^ "Causeway Coast and Glens result". BBC News. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
- ^ "NI council elections 2023: Sinn Féin largest party in NI local government". BBC News. 21 May 2023. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
- ^ "NI council elections: Sinn Fein hails historic gains - BBC News". BBC News. 20 May 2023. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
- ^ "East Belfast PUP - Facebook". Facebook. 14 June 2023. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
- ^ Hughes, Brendan (15 June 2023). "Coleraine councillor Russell Watton is new PUP leader". Belfast Live. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
- ^ "PUP appoint Russell Watton as their new leader - Northern Ireland Elects". Northern Ireland Elects. 15 June 2023. Retrieved 2 March 2025.