Denis Watson | |
Term Start: | 1998 |
Term End: | 2012 |
Predecessor: | Office created |
Successor: | Office abolished |
Constituency Am1: | Upper Bann |
Assembly1: | Northern Ireland |
Term Start1: | 25 June 1998 |
Term End1: | 26 November 2003 |
Predecessor1: | New Creation |
Successor1: | Stephen Moutray |
Nationality: | British |
Party: | Democratic Unionist Party (2000 - present) Independent Unionist (1998 - 2000) |
Otherparty: | United Unionist Coalition (1998 - 2012) |
Spouse: | Gail |
Profession: | Financial Consultant |
Denis Watson is a former Northern Irish unionist politician who was a Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly (MLA) for Upper Bann from 1998 to 2003.
Watson worked as a financial consultant and became the Grand Master of the County Armagh Orange Lodge.[1] He was elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly in 1998 as an independent Unionist representing Upper Bann. With two other anti-agreement Unionists, he formed the United Unionist Coalition, and was registered as its leader.
In 2000, Watson joined the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), but he remains the officially registered leader of the United Unionist Coalition.[2] In 2001, he failed to be elected as a DUP candidate for Craigavon Borough Council.[3] He also failed to retain his Assembly seat in 2003. As of November 2012 he remains County Grand Master of County Armagh.[4]