17 Facts About Basil McCrea

Basil McCrea was born on 13 November 1959 and is a former Northern Irish politician.

Basil McCrea was the party leader of NI21 from 2013 until it disbanded in 2016.

Basil McCrea was a Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly for Lagan Valley from 2007 to 2016.

Basil McCrea was elected in 2007 to the Northern Ireland Assembly as a UUP member for Lagan Valley.

Basil McCrea has been a UUP Councillor on Lisburn City Council and was, until his election to the Assembly, a Party officer and spokesman for the Northern Ireland Manufacturers' Focus Group.

Basil McCrea has served as a member of the Northern Ireland Policing Board and UUP spokesman on Education.

Basil McCrea was formerly a member of the Assembly Committee for the Department for Employment and Learning.

Basil McCrea stood for leader of the Ulster Unionist Party against Tom Elliott in the contest after the UK 2010 General Election.

Basil McCrea was widely seen as the candidate of the UUP's "liberal" wing, while Elliott was seen as the candidate of the "conservative" wing.

Basil McCrea lost the election by 643 votes to 296.

In 2012 Basil McCrea attended a Sinn Fein event on 'uniting Ireland' and said unionism should not be afraid to put its case.

On 6 June 2013 at the Metropolitan Arts Centre in Belfast along with fellow ex-UUP member John McCallister, Basil McCrea launched NI21, with himself as leader and McCallister as deputy.

Basil McCrea responded by requesting an explanation for the public criticisms and referred McCallister to the party executive.

McCallister subsequently accused Basil McCrea of interfering with the investigation and resigned from the deputy leadership and the party.

Basil McCrea was born into an Ulster Scots family in Omagh but grew up in Ramelton a small town in the north-east of County Donegal in the north of the Republic of Ireland, where he grew up in his very early years.

Basil McCrea's father carried an Irish passport, although McCrea himself carries a British one.

Basil McCrea later attained a degree in Advanced Computer Technology from the University of Ulster.