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Russell Watton (born 1954) 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]
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 |
| Member of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council | |
| Assumed office 22 May 2014 | |
| Preceded by | New council |
| Constituency | Coleraine |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1954 (age 69–70) [1] Coleraine, Northern Ireland |
| Political party | Progressive Unionist Party |
Ulster Volunteer Force
Watton joined the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) in the 1970s, and was believed to 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 was sentenced in 1977, and was imprisoned for 13 years.[5]
Political career
At the 2005 and 2011 local elections, he stood as an independent in the Coleraine Central District, on Coleraine Borough Council.[6]
Watton joined the Progressive Unionist Party (PUP), ahead of the 2014 local elections. He was elected onto the successor Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, having topped the poll in the Coleraine District.[7]
He was the PUP candidate for East Londonderry at the 2016 and 2017 Northern Ireland Assembly elections, though was unsuccessful on both attempts.[8][9]
Watton was re-elected as a councillor in 2019, again being the first candidate returned in Coleraine.[10]
He stood again for East Londonderry at the 2022 Assembly election. [11]
Following his re-election in 2023, in which he was the only PUP candidate elected, Watton succeeded defeated Belfast City Councillor, Billy Hutchinson, as leader.[12]
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