William Stewart (Belfast South MP)


William John Stewart was a Unionist politician in Northern Ireland.

Life

Stewart studied at Queen's College, Belfast and became managing director at Stewart and Partners, Ltd. In 1919 he was an Independent Unionist candidate. He was elected as Ulster Unionist Party Member of Parliament for Belfast South at the 1929 general election, and was an MP to 1945.
Unopposed, Stewart was re-elected in 1931 and 1935. In 1938 he founded the Ulster Progressive Unionist Association. Progressive Unionist candidates opposed UUP candidates in elections, but Stewart continued to take the Conservative and Unionist whip at Westminster.
Stewart retired from Parliament at the 1945 general election and died the following year, aged 77.