Robert Mervyn Storey (born 4 September 1964), usually known as Mervyn Storey, is a Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) politician, serving as a Causeway Coast and Glens Councillor for the Ballymoney DEA since 2022. Storey previously served in the Northern Ireland Executive, where he was Minister for Social Development from 2014 to 2016, and then Minister for Finance between January and March 2016. He was a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for North Antrim from 2003 to 2022.[1][2]
Mervyn Storey | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council | |
| Assumed office 25 August 2022 | |
| Preceded by | John Finlay |
| Constituency | Ballymoney |
| Minister for Finance & Personnel | |
| In office 13 January 2016 – 30 March 2016 | |
| Preceded by | Arlene Foster |
| Succeeded by | Máirtín Ó Muilleoir |
| Minister for Social Development | |
| In office 24 September 2014 – 12 January 2016 | |
| Preceded by | Nelson McCausland |
| Succeeded by | Lord Morrow |
| Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly for North Antrim | |
| In office 26 November 2003 – 28 March 2022 | |
| Preceded by | James Leslie |
| Succeeded by | Patricia O'Lynn |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 4 September 1964 Armoy, County Antrim, Northern Ireland |
| Political party | Democratic Unionist Party |
| Spouse | Christine Storey |
| Children | 3 |
Biography
editRobert Mervyn Storey was born in Armoy, County Antrim on 4 September 1964. His father Nat was a founder member of the Protestant Unionist Party and an election worker for Ian Paisley.[3] Storey was educated at Armoy Primary School and at Ballymoney High School. On leaving school in 1980 he worked in a bacon factory, rising to production manager. In 2000 he left the company and joined Ian Paisley's constituency office in Ballymena.[3]
Family
editStorey is married to Christine and has three children.[3]
Political activity
editStorey is a former member of the Fire Authority for Northern Ireland. Storey was elected to Ballymoney council in 2001 and again in 2005. He is a member of the Ballymoney Local Strategy Partnership and Regional Partnership for Northern Ireland. In 2000 he served as campaign manager for William McCrea's by-election for South Antrim and also in 2001 for Gregory Campbell and Ian Paisley's elections in East Londonderry and North Antrim respectively. All three campaigns were successful.[citation needed]
Storey was elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly in the 2003 elections. From 2008 to 2014 he was chairman of the Northern Ireland Assembly Committee for Education.[4] He lost his Assembly seat in the election held on 5 May 2022, thus ceasing to be an MLA.[2]
From September 2014 to January 2016 Storey was Minister for Social Development. He resigned from this post several times during September and October 2015 in the context of a political crisis.[4][5]
In January 2016 Storey was appointed Minister for Finance & Personnel.[3][4]
As a young earth creationist,[3] and a member of the "Council of Reference" of the creationist Caleb Foundation,[6] he petitioned the then Northern Irish education minister, Caitríona Ruane, to have intelligent design taught in schools in Northern Ireland, as well as objecting to an exhibition on evolution in the Ulster Museum and signs at the Giants Causeway in his North Antrim constituency.[7][8][9]
References
edit- ^ "Ballymoney Times – Storey congratulates A-level students". The Ballymoney Times. Retrieved 29 August 2012.
- ^ a b Murray, Gemma (7 May 2022). "Election 2022: Mervyn Storey loses seat after 19 years". News Letter. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
- ^ a b c d e Kane, Alex (16 January 2016). "Mervyn Storey: We profile the new Finance Minister". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 17 January 2016.
- ^ a b c "Mr Mervyn Storey". Northern Ireland Assembly.
- ^ "Simon Hamilton resigns four times in past three weeks". BBC. 2 October 2015. Retrieved 17 January 2016.
- ^ Caleb Foundation Archived 7 March 2015 at the Wayback Machine website
- ^ Oh, for a honeymoon, The Economist, 26 June 2008, retrieved 13 February 2009
- ^ Darwin display at museum angers creationist MLA, The Belfast Telegraph, 13 February 2009, retrieved 13 February 2009
- ^ Belfast museum faces legal battle over Charles Darwin exhibition, The Guardian, 12 February 2009, retrieved 20 May 2009