Russell Watton
Northern Irish Ulster loyalist politician (born 1954)
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William James Russell Watton (born 28 March 1954), known as Russell Watton, 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.[3]
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 |
| Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Councillor | |
| Assumed office 22 May 2014 | |
| Preceded by | New council |
| Constituency | Coleraine |
| Personal details | |
| Born | March 28, 1954[1][2] Coleraine, Northern Ireland |
| Party | Progressive Unionist Party (since 2014) |
| Other political affiliations | Independent (2005-2014) |
| Military service | |
| Paramilitary | Ulster Volunteer Force |
| Rank | Officer Commanding |
| Conflict | The Troubles |
Background
Ulster Volunteer Force
Watton joined the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) in the 1970s, and was believed to be the commander of the UVF unit in Coleraine.[4] He was involved in the bombing of the Salmon Leap Restaurant, which caused the deaths of several of Watton's UVF comrades.[5]
He received three life sentences in 1977, and was imprisoned until his release in 1989.[6]
Political career
At the 2005 local elections, Watton ran as an independent candidate, for the Central District, in the Coleraine Authority.[7] While out campaigning in the predominantly nationalist Somerset Drive area, Watton and his campaign team were threatened by a group of activists after putting up posters.[8] On the incident, Watton said: “One of them had a knife in his hand and he confronted me with it. I was forced to use a piece of wood which these scumbags had thrown and I was able to disarm the man to defend myself and he ran off."[9] In total, he polled 380 first-preference votes, and was eliminated on the sixth count.[10][11]
Watton stood again in the district at the 2011 local elections, taking 342 first-preferences.[12]
Causeway Coast and Glens Councillor
By the 2014 local elections, Watton was a member of the Progressive Unionist Party (PUP), standing for them in the successor Causeway Coast and Glens Authority.[13] He topped the poll in the Coleraine District, and received 11.8% of first-preferences.[14][15][16]
Watton stood in the East Londonderry constituency at the 2016 Northern Ireland Assembly election, where he took 1,356 first-preference votes (3.9%).[17] At the 2017 Assembly election, Watton was eliminated on the third stage of counting, having polled 879 first-preferences (2.1%).[18]
At the May 2019 Council election, Watton was once again the first candidate to be elected in Coleraine, with an increased total of 1,325 first-preferences.[19] [20][21] Shortly after the election, he caused controversy when he told the Coleraine Chronicle that he had "no regrets" over his involvement with the UVF during the Troubles.[22][23]
In March 2020, Watton voted against a Sinn Fein motion, which would have seen the council fly the Rainbow flag during Foyle Pride. He said: "If they get putting up an LGBT flag, then we will be putting up flags for Polish independence or homelessness. When do they stop?" [24] The motion was ultimately unsuccessful.[25][26]
During the 2022 Assembly election, Watton reported intimidation by 'known drug dealers,' including the defacement of one of his election posters with an image of a balaclava.[27] In the election, he took 933 first-preference votes (2.1%), and was eliminated on the third count.[28][29][30]
Watton was the second candidate to be returned in the district at the May 2023 local elections, taking a decreased first-preference share of 13.7%.[31][32] Notably, he became the only elected representative for the PUP, following the defeat of their leader, Billy Hutchinson, in Belfast.[33][34]
Leader of the Progressive Unionist Party
Following the local election results, Hutchinson stood down as leader, with Watton being announced as his successor on 14 June 2023.[35][36][37]