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Russell Watton - Wikipedia

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Russell Watton

Leader of the Progressive Unionist Party
Incumbent
Assumed office 14 June 2023
Preceded by	Billy Hutchinson
Deputy leader of the Progressive Unionist Party
In office 15 October 2022 – 14 June 2023
Leader	Billy Hutchinson
Preceded by	John Kyle
Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Councillor
Incumbent
Assumed office 22 May 2014
Preceded by	New council
Constituency	Coleraine

Personal details
Born	1954 (age 70–71) ^[1] Coleraine, Northern Ireland
Political party	Progressive Unionist Party (since 2014)
Other political affiliations	Independent (2005-2014)
Military service
Paramilitary	Ulster Volunteer Force
Rank	Officer Commanding
Conflict	The Troubles

William James Russell Watton (born 1954), known as Russell Watton, is a Northern Irish Ulster loyalist, politician and community activist, serving as leader of the Progressive Unionist Party (PUP) since 2023, and a Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Councillor for the Coleraine DEA since 2014. He was also PUP deputy leader between 2022 and 2023.^[2]

Background

Ulster Volunteer Force

Watton joined the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) in the 1970s, and was believed to be the commander of the UVF unit in Coleraine.^[3] He was involved in the bombing of the Salmon Leap Restaurant, which caused the deaths of several of Watton's UVF comrades.^[4]

He received three life sentences in 1977, and was imprisoned until his release in 1989.^[5]

Political career

At the 2005 local elections, Watton ran as an independent candidate, for the Central District, in the Coleraine Authority. ^[6] While out campaigning in the predominantly nationalist Somerset Drive area, Watton and his campaign team were threatened by a group of activists after putting up posters. ^[7]On the incident, Watton said: “One of them had a knife in his hand and he confronted me with it. I was forced to use a piece of wood which these scumbags had thrown and I was able to disarm the man to defend myself and he ran off."^[8]In total, he polled 380 first-preference votes, and was eliminated on the sixth count.^[9] ^[10]

Watton stood again in the district at the 2011 local elections, taking 342 first-preferences.^[11]

Causeway Coast and Glens Councillor

By the 2014 local elections, Watton was a member of the Progressive Unionist Party (PUP), standing for them in the successor Causeway Coast and Glens Authority.^[12] He topped the poll in the Coleraine District, and received 11.8% of first-preferences.^[13]^[14]^[15]

Watton stood in the East Londonderry constituency at the 2016 Northern Ireland Assembly election, where he took 1,356 first-preference votes (3.9%).^[16]At the 2017 Assembly election, Watton was eliminated on the third stage of counting, having polled 879 first-preferences (2.1%).^[17]

At the May 2019 Council election, Watton was once again the first candidate to be elected in Coleraine, with an increased total of 1,325 first-preferences.^[18] ^[19]^[20]

While campaigning for the 2022 Assembly election, Watton highlighted intimidation being directed to him from 'known drug dealers'.^[21] In the election, he took 933 first-preference votes (2.1%), and was eliminated on the third count.^[22]^[23]^[24]

Watton was the second candidate to be returned in the district at the May 2023 local elections, taking a decreased first-preference share of 13.7%.^[25]^[26] Notably, he became the only elected representative for the PUP, following the defeat of their leader, Billy Hutchinson, in Belfast.^[27]^[28]

Leader of the Progressive Unionist Party

Following the local election results, Hutchinson stood down as leader, with Watton being announced as his successor on 14 June 2023.^[29]^[30]^[31]

References

^ "Coleraine Councillor Watson hits the big 70!". Causeway Chronicle. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
^ "Election 2023:DUP set for battle with ex-members in Causeway Coast and Glens Council". Belfast Newsletter. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
^ Smyth, Lisa (17 January 2006). "Telegraph revelation forced him to quit". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
^ Winter, Peter (21 May 2019). "Watton: no regrets over terror past". Coleraine Chronicle. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
^ Pogatchnik, Shawn (19 May 2021). "Violence against Northern Ireland protocol isn't 'off the table'". Politico. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
^ Whyte, Nicholas; Kelly, Conal (24 July 2011) [5 May 2001]. "Coleraine Borough Council Elections 1993-2011". ARK. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
^ "Shitty of Coleraine". A Tangled Web. 28 April 2005. Retrieved 1 March 2025.
^ "Polling team 'foiled knife attack'". Belfast Telegraph. 27 April 2005. Retrieved 1 March 2025.
^ "District of: Coleraine Central - 2005". Ark elections. Retrieved 1 March 2025.
^ "Northern Ireland councils: Coleraine". BBC News. 10 May 2005. Retrieved 1 March 2025.
^ "BBC News - Election 2011 - Northern Ireland council elections - Coleraine". BBC News. 11 May 2011. Retrieved 1 March 2025.
^ "Watton angry over charges for voters". Northern Ireland World. 8 May 2014. Retrieved 1 March 2025.
^ "Causeway Coast and Glens District Council". Ark elections. Retrieved 1 March 2025.
^ "Watton storms to stunning victory". Northern Ireland World. 27 May 2014. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
^ "Coleraine Times on X". X. 23 May 2014. Retrieved 1 March 2025.
^ "CAIN:Issue Politics:Elections Assembly Election (NI) Thursday 5 May 2016". CAIN Web Service. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
^ "East Londonderry - Northern Ireland Assembly constituency - Election 2017 - BBC News". BBC News. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
^ "Coleraine: in Causeway Coast And Glens results - NI Local Elections 2019". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
^ "Election 2019: Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council candidates - BBC News". BBC News. 4 May 2019. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
^ "Election results: Causeway Coast and Glens - The Irish News". Irish News. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
^ Murray, Gemma (4 May 2022). "PUP election candidate Russell Watton blames 'known drug dealers' for sending him intimidating material". Belfast Newsletter. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
^ "East Londonderry results - NI Assembly Election 2022". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
^ "Northern Ireland Assembly election results: East Londonderry count". ITV News. 7 May 2022. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
^ "East Londonderry result - Northern Ireland Assembly Elections 2022 - BBC News". BBC News. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
^ "Local Government Elections 2023". Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
^ "Causeway Coast and Glens result". BBC News. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
^ "NI council elections 2023: Sinn Féin largest party in NI local government". BBC News. 21 May 2023. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
^ "NI council elections: Sinn Fein hails historic gains - BBC News". BBC News. 20 May 2023. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
^ "East Belfast PUP - Facebook". Facebook. 14 June 2023. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
^ Hughes, Brendan (15 June 2023). "Coleraine councillor Russell Watton is new PUP leader". Belfast Live. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
^ "PUP appoint Russell Watton as their new leader - Northern Ireland Elects". Northern Ireland Elects. 15 June 2023. Retrieved 2 March 2025.

v t e Leaders of the Progressive Unionist Party
Leaders	1979-2002: Hugh Smyth 2002-2007: David Ervine 2007-2010: Dawn Purvis 2010-2011: Brian Ervine 2011-2023: Billy Hutchinson 2023-present: Russell Watton
Deputy Leaders	2001-2006: David Rose 2006-2010: Andy Park 2010-2012: Nigel Gardiner 2012-2021: John Kyle 2022-2023: Russell Watton

v t e Leaders of political parties in the United Kingdom
House of Commons	Keir Starmer (Labour Party) Kemi Badenoch (Conservative Party) Ed Davey (Liberal Democrats) Stephen Flynn (Scottish National Party) Gavin Robinson (Democratic Unionist Party) Nigel Farage (Reform UK) Carla Denyer and Adrian Ramsay (Green Party of England and Wales) Liz Saville Roberts (Plaid Cymru) Claire Hanna (Social Democratic and Labour Party) Sorcha Eastwood (Alliance Party of Northern Ireland) Jim Allister (Traditional Unionist Voice) Robin Swann (Ulster Unionist Party)
House of Lords	Baroness Smith of Basildon (Labour Party) Lord True (Conservative Party) Lord Newby (Liberal Democrats) Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party) Lord Rogan (Ulster Unionist Party) Lord Wigley (Plaid Cymru)
Scottish Parliament	John Swinney (Scottish National Party) Russell Findlay (Scottish Conservatives) Anas Sarwar (Scottish Labour) Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater (Scottish Greens) Alex Cole-Hamilton (Scottish Liberal Democrats)
Senedd	Baroness Morgan of Ely (Welsh Labour) Darren Millar (Welsh Conservatives) Rhun ap Iorwerth (Plaid Cymru) Jane Dodds (Welsh Liberal Democrats)
Northern Ireland Assembly	Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin) Emma Little-Pengelly (Democratic Unionist Party) Naomi Long (Alliance Party of Northern Ireland) Mike Nesbitt (Ulster Unionist Party) Matthew O'Toole (Social Democratic and Labour Party)
Minor parties	Mal O'Hara (Green NI) Steve Radford (Liberal) Dick Cole (Mebyon Kernow) Alex Ashman (National Health Action) George Galloway (Workers Party of Britain) Neil Johnston (NI Conservatives) Russell Watton (Progressive Unionist) Robert Griffiths (Communist Party of Britain) Dave Nellist (TUSC) Nick Tenconi (UKIP) Anthony Slaughter (Wales Green Party) James Lewthwaite (British Democrats) David Kurten (Heritage Party) Robin Tilbrook (English Democrats)
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v t e Ulster Volunteer Force
During the Troubles
Chiefs of Staff	Gusty Spence (1966) Samuel McClelland (1966–1973) Jim Hanna (1973–1974) Ken Gibson (1974) Unnamed Chief of Staff (1974–1975) Tommy West (1975–1976) John "Bunter" Graham (1976-date)
Belfast Brigade members	Robert Bates John Bingham Frankie Curry David Ervine Billy Giles Mark Haddock Billy Hutchinson Trevor King Bobby McKee Jackie Mahood William "Frenchie" Marchant Billy Mitchell William Moore John Murphy Lenny Murphy Clifford Peeples Brian Robinson George Seawright Robert "Squeak" Seymour William Smith Billy Spence Harry "Harmless" Stockman James "Tonto" Watt
Mid-Ulster Brigade members	Harris Boyle Mark "Swinger" Fulton William James Fulton Billy Hanna Robin Jackson Richard Jameson Robin King Billy McCaughey Robert McConnell David Alexander Mulholland Lindsay Robb Wesley Somerville John Weir Billy Wright
Red Hand Commando members	Frankie Curry Billy Elliot John McKeague Winston Churchill Rea Wiliam Smith Michael Stone
Units and groups	Glenanne gang Shankill Butchers Protestant Action Force Young Citizen Volunteers
Actions	RTÉ Studio bombing (1969) Battle of St Matthew's (1970) McGurk's Bar bombing (1971) Battle at Springmartin (1972) Imperial Hotel bombing (1972) Belturbet bombing (1972) 1972 and 1973 Dublin bombings Rose & Crown Bar bombing (1974) Dublin and Monaghan bombings (1974) 1975 Conway's Bar attack (1975) Bleary Darts Club shooting (1975) Strand Bar bombing (1975) Miami Showband killings (1975) Donnelly's Bar and Kay's Tavern attacks (1975) October 1975 Northern Ireland attacks Reavey and O'Dowd killings (1976) Hillcrest Bar bombing (1976) Charlemont pub attacks (1976) Chlorane Bar attack (1976) Ramble Inn attack (1976) Glasgow pub bombings (1979) Avenue Bar shooting (1988) 1991 Cappagh killings (1991) 1991 Drumbeg killings 1991 Craigavon killings Loughinisland massacre (1994) 1994 Dublin-Belfast train bombing (1994) Quinn brothers' killings (1998) Murders of Andrew Robb and David McIlwaine (2000)
Prominent victims	Jim Hanna (1974) John Francis Green (1975) Billy Hanna (1975) The Miami Showband (1975) Maire Drumm (1976) Larry Marley (1987) Martin Doherty (1994) Jackie Coulter (2000) Tommy English (2000)
Related articles	Combined Loyalist Military Command Loyalist feud Loyalist Volunteer Force Progressive Unionist Party Tara Ulster Army Council Ulster Constitution Defence Committee Ulster loyalism Ulster Loyalist Central Co-ordinating Committee Ulster Volunteers Ulster Workers' Council strike Volunteer (Ulster loyalist) Volunteer Political Party
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