Philip Smith (Northern Ireland politician)

Philip Smith (born 7 November 1967) is an Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) politician, serving as an Ards and North Down Councillor for the Comber DEA since 2019. He was a Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly (MLA) for Strangford from 2016 to 2017. Smith now works for Queen's University Belfast.

Philip Smith
Smith in 2016
Member of Ards and North Down Borough Council
Incumbent
Assumed office 2 May 2019
Preceded by	James Fletcher
Constituency	Comber
Member of the Legislative Assembly for Strangford
In office May 2016 – 26 January 2017
Preceded by	David McNarry
Succeeded by	seat abolished
Member of Ards Borough Council
In office 5 May 2011 – 22 May 2014
Preceded by	Margaret Craig
Succeeded by	Council abolished
Constituency	Ards West
In office 7 June 2001 – 5 May 2005
Preceded by	David McNarry
Succeeded by	Margaret Craig
Constituency	Ards West
Personal details
Born	(1967-11-07) 7 November 1967
Nationality	British
Political party	Ulster Unionist Party
Profession	Politician

Career

Smith was first elected to Ards Borough Council in 2001, representing the Ards West District. He lost his seat in the 2005 election, but regained it at the 2011 local elections.

He was a candidate in the Comber DEA for the newly-formed Ards and North Down Borough Council in the 2014 election, but was unsuccessful.

In the 2016 Northern Ireland Assembly election, Smith was elected to the Assembly as one of two UUP representatives, the other being then Party leader, Mike Nesbitt. He failed to retain his seat at the 2017 Assembly election.

In the 2019 local elections, Smith was elected to Ards and North Down Borough Council, representing the Comber DEA. Smith was the UUP candidate for Strangford during the 2019 UK general election. He came third.

In the 2022 Assembly election, Smith stood again for Strangford, but was eliminated on the 3rd count.

He retained his council seat at the 2023 local elections.