Introduction
Jimmy Spratt (born 19 August 1951) is a British politician and former police officer from Northern Ireland. He was an MLA for South Belfast from 2007 to 2015.
Early life
Jimmy Spratt is a former Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) officer who joined in 1972 and served for 30 years in Derry and Belfast. He worked for the Close Protection Unit including as Primary Protection Officer and was attached to a former Secretary of State, NIO Ministers, the RUC Chief Constable and other VIPs.
He was heavily involved in the Police Federation for Northern Ireland and acted as Chairman until his retirement. Spratt also served on Government Committees at regional and national level representing the British Police Service and has served on the Home Office Working Group for Health and Safety and Police Negotiating Board for pay and conditions across the UK.
Political career
Spratt was an MLA for South Belfast in the Northern Ireland Assembly from 2007 to 2015. He was also a Councillor on Castlereagh Borough Council from 2005 to 2014, and served as the leader of the DUP group.
Political positions held:
- Councillor 2005—
- MLA 2007—2015
- Vice-Chairman of the Committee for Employment and Learning 2007—2008
- Member of the Committee of the Office of First and Deputy First Minister 2007—2015
- Chairman of the Assembly and Executive Review Committee 2008—
- Member of the Northern Ireland Policing Board 2008—2011
- Chairman of the Regional Development committee 2011—
He stood as a DUP candidate for the Belfast South constituency in the 2005 United Kingdom General Election, losing a seat held by unionism for a century to Alasdair McDonnell of the SDLP by 1,235 votes. Gaining the name Splitter Spratt. In the 2010 general election he again lost, and Alasdair McDonnell increased his majority from 3.9% to 17.3%.
Personal life
He has been married for over thirty years, with four grown-up sons and is an active member of his local Presbyterian church.