Thomas Buchanan (Unionist politician)

Thomas Buchanan
MLA
Thomas Buchanan MLA
	Buchanan in 2021
Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly; for West Tyrone
	Incumbent
	Assumed office ; 26 November 2003
Preceded by	Oliver Gibson
Member of ; Omagh District Council
	In office; 19 May 1993 – 22 May 2014
Preceded by	Harry Cairns
Succeeded by	Council abolished
Constituency	West Tyrone
Personal details
Born	30 June 1963 (age 61); Drumquin, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland
Nationality	British
Political party	Democratic Unionist Party
Occupation	Contractor

Thomas Buchanan MLA (born 30 July 1963) is a Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) politician, serving as a Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly (MLA) for West Tyrone since 2003. Buchanan is the DUP Spokesperson for Victims Rights and Groups Liaison.^[1] He is also one of the DUP's members of the Northern Ireland Policing Board.

Background

He was educated at Langfield Primary School, Castlederg Secondary School, and at Omagh Technical College. In 1993 he was elected to Omagh District Council and became its youngest member and in 2004 was voted Vice Chairman. He was elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly in 2003 being the only member from the DUP for West Tyrone until the 2007 election when he was joined by Allan Bresland who is originally from Donemana and is a member of Strabane District Council.

In July 2010, he complained about a display of bunting inside an Omagh bank that celebrated a success by the Tyrone GAA team. The bank had been sponsoring the Ulster Championship. Buchanan accused the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) of being a political and Irish republican organisation.^[2]

On 25 October 2013 Buchanan told school children attending a public event that homosexuality is an 'abomination'.^[3]

Buchanan believes in creationism. In September 2016 he supported an event promoting the teaching of creationism in every school, stating that "I’m someone who believes in creationism and that the world was spoken into existence in six days by His power".^[4]^[5]

He is the DUP candidate in West Tyrone in the 2024 United Kingdom general election.^[6]

References

^ "Tom Buchanan MLA". DUP. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
^ "MLA hits out at Ulster Bank Omagh branch GAA display" – BBC News (23 July 2010)
^ "Local politician tells school kids homosexuality is 'an abomination'". Ulster Herald. 24 October 2013. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
^ "From abortion to evolution: the terrifying views of the DUP you need to know". The Independent. 9 June 2017. Archived from the original on 7 May 2022. Retrieved 10 June 2017.
^ "Five things you need to know about DUP politicians and science". New Scientist. Retrieved 10 June 2017.
^ "Gavin Robinson ratified as DUP leader and confirms party will not stand in Fermanagh-South Tyrone or North Down". BelfastTelegraph.co.uk. 29 May 2024. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 3 June 2024.

Northern Ireland Assembly
Preceded by Oliver Gibson	MLA for West Tyrone 2003–present	Incumbent

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[1] "Tom Buchanan MLA". DUP. Retrieved 20 November 2023.

[2] "MLA hits out at Ulster Bank Omagh branch GAA display" – BBC News (23 July 2010)

[3] "Local politician tells school kids homosexuality is 'an abomination'". Ulster Herald. 24 October 2013. Retrieved 27 February 2015.

[4] "From abortion to evolution: the terrifying views of the DUP you need to know". The Independent. 9 June 2017. Archived from the original on 7 May 2022. Retrieved 10 June 2017.

[5] "Five things you need to know about DUP politicians and science". New Scientist. Retrieved 10 June 2017.

[6] "Gavin Robinson ratified as DUP leader and confirms party will not stand in Fermanagh-South Tyrone or North Down". BelfastTelegraph.co.uk. 29 May 2024. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 3 June 2024.

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