Jack Allen is a former Northern Irish unionist politician and businessman from Derry.
Political career Working as a businessman, Allen became a member of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP). He was elected to Londonderry City Council. In 1974–75, he served as Mayor of Derry.The North/South Implementation Bodies , Commissioners of Irish Lights
Allen was elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly, 1982, representing Londonderry.Londonderry 1973-1982, Northern Ireland Elections The following year, he became the Honorary Treasurer of the UUP."Health sees treasurer leave party", BBC News, 6 September 2005. In June 1984, Allen was appointed to the prominent role of Chairman of the Devolution Report Committee within the Assembly.
In this position, he wrote three times to the leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party John Hume, proposing discussions, but was rebuffed.Cornelius O'Leary, Sydney Elliott and R. A. Wilford, The Northern Ireland Assembly 1982-1986: A Constitutional Experiment In 1984, amid a dispute about the name of the city council, Allen was defeated in a by-election for a ward on the city council.History of the DUP's Londonderry Branch, Democratic Unionist Party
Allen headed the UUP list in Foyle for the Northern Ireland Forum election of 1996, but failed to be elected.1996 Forum Elections: Candidates in Foyle, Northern Ireland Elections At the 1998 Northern Ireland Assembly election, he was again unsuccessful in Foyle, despite coming fourth on first preference votes in the six seat constituency.Foyle , Northern Ireland Elections During this period, he was the chairman of the Foyle Ulster Unionist constituency association."Unionists to meet Apprentice Boys Governor", Belfast Telegraph, 1 April 1997
Allen stood down as UUP treasurer in 2005, citing ill health.
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