Steve Aiken

Stephen Ronald "Steve" Aiken OBE MLA (born 16 June 1962) is a Northern Irish politician, who serves as a Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly for South Antrim (MLA) and was first elected in the 2016 election.

Commander
Steve Aiken
OBE MLA
Leader of the Ulster Unionist Party
In office
9 November 2019 – 27 May 2021
DeputyDoug Beattie
Preceded byRobin Swann
Succeeded byDoug Beattie
Ulster Unionist Chief Whip
In office
8 April 2017 – 2019
LeaderRobin Swann
Preceded byRobin Swann
Succeeded byRobbie Butler
Member of the Legislative Assembly
for South Antrim
Assumed office
May 2016
Preceded byAdrian Cochrane-Watson
Personal details
Born
Stephen Ronald Aiken

(1962-06-16) 16 June 1962
Ballyclare, Northern Ireland
NationalityBritish
Political partyUlster Unionist Party
Alma materBritannia Royal Naval College
King's College London
University of Cambridge
ProfessionRoyal Navy Commander, Submarine Warfare
Military service
Allegiance United Kingdom
Branch/serviceRoyal Navy
Years of service1980–2011
RankCommander
UnitSubmarine Service

Soon thereafter he was appointed as the Chief Whip of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) (2017-2019) and then served as Party Leader (2019-21).

Early life and education

Steve was born in South Antrim, attended Thompson Primary School, Ballyrobert, and then was educated at Belfast High School. During his naval career he undertook further study at King's College London (MA Defence Studies, 2001) and the University of Cambridge (MPhil, 2013; PhD, 2016 Queens' College).[1] He joined the Sea Cadets in 1982 based at HMS Caroline (1914), which remains in its original dock as a Museum Ship.

Military career

Aiken served for 32 years in the Royal Navy as a submariner, ultimately in many senior operational roles, including commanding two nuclear-powered submarines, being Joint Plans Officer for operations in the Middle-East in 2002-04 (for which he was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)). At the end of his service in the Royal Navy, following a weekend of 'retirement', he became the founding CEO of the British Irish Chamber of Commerce, a post he held for three years during which time he lived in Dublin with his young family.[2][3]

Political career
Steve Aiken Ballyclare constituency office

When Robin Swann MLA announced his sudden resignation as leader of the Ulster Unionist Party in 2019, Aiken stood for the leadership. He was elected unopposed as leader in November 2019 and led the party through difficult periods addressing concerns about Brexit, the Protocol and pandemic. He promptly opted for the UUP to take the Ministry of Health Department, when no other party would take it, and appointed Mr Swann MLA as Minister.[4]

In October 2021 Aiken was reselected to be a UUP candidate for South Antrim in the 2022 Northern Ireland Assembly election, alongside Paul Michael.[5]

Current Positions
  • Chairperson, Committee for Finance of the Northern Ireland Assembly
  • Chairperson, All Party Group for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics)
  • Chairperson, All Party Group for Ethnic Minorities
  • Member, All Party Group for Climate Action
  • Board member, Christian Aid Ireland[6]

References
  1. "About Me". Steve Aiken.
  2. Aiken, Steve (31 January 2013). "Speech by Steve Aiken British Irish Chamber". issuu. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  3. Maguire, Patrick (25 November 2019). "Can Steve Aiken save the Ulster Unionist Party". The New Statesman. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  4. "Steve Aiken takes over as new leader of Ulster Unionist Party". BBC News. 9 November 2019. Retrieved 25 November 2019.
  5. "Stormont election: UUP candidates announced for South Antrim". Newtownabbey Times. 20 October 2021.
  6. McBride, Sam (29 October 2019). "Steve Aiken: 'Aspects of Stormont governance are institutionally corrupt and require radical reform'". www.newsletter.co.uk. Retrieved 24 June 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)


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