Ian Paisley is one of the most recognisable and well liked former Members of Parliament in the UK. Paisley served as MP for North Antrim in Northern Ireland for over 14 years after serving for 14 years in devolved government in Ulster. Paisley is the son of The Rev. Dr. Ian Paisley, the firebrand preacher and former First Minister of Northern Ireland who shaped Ulster politics across the late 20th and early 21st century, founding the Democratic Unionist Party as well as the Free Presbyterian Church. He served as Junior First Minister to his father in the Stormont government following the signing of the St. Andrew’s Agreement in 2007 which both Paisley and his father were instrumental in agreeing to power-sharing in Northern Ireland.
During his time in the House of Commons, Ian Paisley gained a reputation for his hard hitting, engaging and often amusing speeches on every subject from foreign affairs to fraud, corruption, and agriculture affairs. Paisley is well respected across all political parties and championed agricultural and farming communities in his constituency whilst also being a trailblazer in supporting Wrightbus and their rollout of their hydrogen-powered buses.
He has sat on the Northern Ireland Affairs Select Committee and was a long standing member of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Foreign Affairs. He has been at the forefront of parliamentary campaigns relating to counterterrorism, exposing corruption and fraud, furthermore, he was influential in the passing of the Down Syndrome Act, 2022.
Ian is well versed in foreign affairs and has been part of several senior parliamentary delegations, in addition to his experience of African markets in the private sector. He is involved in making the UK – USA special relationship work with a particular focus on investment in Northern Ireland.
He has spoken at several high profile events in the UK, USA and across Europe, including his time as Northern Ireland’s only representative on the Council of Europe.
Since 2017, he has chaired the Gallaher Trust, a charity in Ballymena which works to support delivery partners who promote job creation, skills development and provide assistance to disadvantaged adults. Since the establishment of the Trust, nearly £3 million has been committed and several hundred jobs created.
Prior to becoming an MP, he worked in finance and has a track record in foreign investment and currency exchange. He is also a Freeman of the City of London, being recognised for his public service.