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Christopher Stalford
Christopher Stalford at the 2013 Horasis Global India Business Meeting (cropped).jpg
Principal Deputy Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly
In office
14 January 2020 – 19 February 2022
Preceded by Catríona Ruane
Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly
for Belfast South
In office
5 May 2016 – 19 February 2022
Preceded by Michael McGimpsey
Succeeded by Edwin Poots
Member of
Belfast City Council
In office
22 May 2014 – 5 May 2016
Preceded by Ruth Patterson
Succeeded by Lee Reynolds
Constituency Balmoral
In office
5 May 2005 – 22 May 2014
Preceded by Jim Clarke
Succeeded by Constituency abolished
Constituency Laganbank
Personal details
Born (1983-01-17)17 January 1983
Belfast, Northern Ireland
Died 19 February 2022(2022-02-19) (aged 39)
Belfast, Northern Ireland
Nationality British
Political party Democratic Unionist Party
Spouse Laura Stalford
Children 4
Education Wellington College Belfast
Alma mater Queen's University Belfast

Christopher David Matthew Stalford (17 January 1983 – 19 February 2022) was a Northern Irish politician who was a Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly (MLA) for South Belfast from the 2016 election until his death in 2022.

Biography

Stalford was born in the Annadale Flats in south Belfast, on 17 January 1983. He studied nearby at Wellington College Belfast and Queen's University Belfast. After graduation he worked in the European office of Jim Allister three days a week, and the office of Peter Weir two days a week. He then moved to the DUP press office for six years and then onto the policy unit.

At the 2005 local elections, he was elected to Belfast City Council, representing the Laganbank area

At the 2014 local elections, Laganbank was abolished and he was re-elected for the Balmoral area.

Stalford served as High Sheriff of Belfast in 2010. Aged only 27, the Belfast Telegraph described him as the youngest ever High Sheriff of the city. He was elected as Deputy Lord Mayor for the 2013–14 term.

In 2008 he was selected as the chairman of the Belfast District Policing Partnership.

At the 2016 Northern Ireland Assembly election, he was one of two DUP candidates elected in South Belfast.

Death

Stalford died suddenly on 19 February 2022, at the age of 39. While Stalford was described as "unionist to the core", his funeral was attended by a range of political parties including Sinn Féin colleagues John O'Dowd and Deirdre Hargey, SDLP MP Claire Hanna and Alliance Party leader Naomi Long.

When Edwin Poots was elected to Stalford's former constituency of Belfast South at the 2022 Assembly election, he paid tribute to Stalford and pledged to "build a legacy for Christopher".

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