David Brewster (politician)

David Brewster LL.B., (1964 – 20 January 2021)^[1][2] was a Northern Irish solicitor, unionist politician, community activist and historian from Limavady, County Londonderry.

David Brewster
Member of the Northern Ireland Forum for East Londonderry
In office 30 May 1996 – 25 April 1998
Personal details
Born	1964 Limavady, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland
Died	(2021-01-20)January 20, 2021
Political party	DUP (from 2003)
Other political affiliations	Ulster Unionist (before 2003)

Background

Brewster came to prominence in the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) as a close associate of David Trimble. Unenthusiastic about Jim Molyneaux's leadership of the party, Brewster backed Trimble's successful candidacy in the September 1995 leadership election.^[3] Brewster was already the Secretary of the East Londonderry Association of the party, and Trimble assisted him in winning election as one of the party's honorary secretaries in 1996.^[4] Brewster claimed that Trimble also offered to help him take over as the Member of Parliament for East Londonderry from William Ross, a leading figure in the UUP but a critic of Trimble. However, Brewster did not want the role,^[4] and instead won a seat in the equivalent constituency on the Northern Ireland Forum.^[5] He worked with Peter King and Dean Godson on the UUP's "Strand I" team at the talks which led to the Good Friday Agreement.^[6]

Brewster was also active in the Orange Order and, like most UUP members who were prominent Orangemen, he became critical of Trimble's leadership, and opposed the Good Friday Agreement.^[7] He joined the oppositionist Union First Group, and left the party in 2003 to join the rival Democratic Unionist Party.^[4]

Outside politics, Brewster worked as a solicitor and had his own practice in his hometown of Limavady^[8] and served as president of the Roe Valley Chamber of Commerce from 2013-2016. He was also vice chairman of Limavady United Football Club and President of the William F. Massey Foundation.^[9][10]