Thomas Passmore

For the South African cyclist, see Thomas Passmore (cyclist).

Thomas Passmore (1931–1989) was a Northern Irish unionist politician and salesman.

Thomas Passmore
Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly for West Belfast
In office 20 October 1982 – 1986
Preceded by	Assembly re-established
Succeeded by	Assembly abolished
Personal details
Born	1931 Belfast, Northern Ireland
Died	1989
Political party	Ulster Unionist Party

Background

Born in Belfast, Passmore worked as a salesman. In 1973, he became Grand Master of the City of Belfast Grand Orange Lodge. He also became Chairman of the Woodvale Unionist Association and a Justice of the Peace.^[1] In 1976, Irish Republican Army (IRA) members killed his father in an attack which Passmore claimed was aimed at him.^[2] In 1977, he gave a speech attacking the United Unionist Action Council and its plans for a general strike, claiming that it had been in discussions with the IRA.^[3]

Passmore was the Ulster Unionist Party candidate for Belfast West at the 1979 UK general election, taking second place and almost a quarter of the votes cast. He was then elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly, 1982, representing Belfast West.^[4] He stood again for the Westminster seat at the 1983 UK general election, but his share of the vote fell back to only 5.5%.^[5]