Richard Shannon[2] was born on 25 March 1955 in Omagh. He is a member of the Orange Order and Apprentice Boys of Derry.[3] He has been voted "least sexy MP" in a list of all Westminster MPs but laughed off his position at the bottom of the poll.[4] In 2022, Shannon broke down in tears as he thanked his "long-suffering" wife in the Commons. Shannon lost his mother-in-law to Covid-19 and has previously spoken about her in the House as well.[5]
Military service
Shannon served in the Ulster Defence Regiment in 1974-1975 and 1976-1977.[6] He subsequently served over eleven years in the Royal ArtilleryTerritorial Army (TA) and achieved the rank of Lance Bombardier,[7][8] until he was expelled in May 1989.[9][10][11] Two other TA soldiers were also discharged.[11][10] The expulsions followed the theft of Blowpipeman-portablesurface-to-air missile components from the TA base in Newtownards by the loyalist paramilitary group Ulster Resistance.[11][12] Shannon and the other two soldiers were discharged for ‘their membership of extremist Protestant organisations with paramilitary links’. Shannon was a founder member of Ulster Resistance and also a member of the Ulster Clubs.[13] A colleague stationed at the Newtownards base, Sergeant Samuel Quinn, had been arrested at the Hilton Hotel, Paris in April 1989 attempting to exchange missile technology for guns from South Africa.[11] Two other members of Ulster Resistance, Noel Little and James King, were also arrested. Both men were long-time DUP activists.[14][11]
Shannon later confirmed that following his dismissal from the Territorial Army he had been questioned by the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) and released without charge. He suggested that his arrest was "designed to embarrass the DUP" ahead of the upcoming European Parliament election.[15]
Shannon was re-elected as MP for Strangford at the 2015 general election with a decreased vote share of 44.4% and an increased majority of 10,185.[19][20] Shannon was an advocate for Leave Means Leave, a pro-Brexit campaign.[21]
3rd term (2017-2019)
At the 2017 general election, Shannon was again re-elected, with an increased vote share of 62% and an increased majority of 18,343.[22][23]
Shannon was one of the most active contributors to debates in the 2017–2019 Parliament, intervening in almost every adjournment debate, which he says he does to support fellow backbench MPs who wish to raise issues in typically poorly attended debates.[24]
4th term (2019-2024)
At the 2019 general election, Shannon was again re-elected, with a decreased vote share of 47.2% and a decreased majority of 7,071.[25]
Since January 2023, Shannon has been a member of the Northern Ireland Affairs Select Committee having previously served on the committee from December 2016 to November 2019 in the previous Parliament.
5th term (2024-)
Shannon was again re-elected at the 2024 general election with a decreased vote share of 40% and a decreased majority of 5,131.[26]
On 9 July 2024, Shannon chose to swear his parliamentary Oath of Allegiance in the Ulster Scots dialect after his re-election as an MP.[27] He appeared on BBC Radio 4 saying that he is hoping for a deal from the Labour government that "will free Northern Ireland from the shackles of Europe" on 14 July 2024.[28] Following the State Opening of Parliament on 17 July 2024, he asked the new Prime MinisterKeir Starmer to outline exactly what his "10-year plan" will be for Northern Ireland.[29]
Expenses
In 2015, Shannon was the highest-claiming MP out of 650, claiming £205,798, not including travel which led to his expenses being investigated.[30]
