Northern Ireland

Nigel Dodds to take title of Lord Dodds of Duncairn

Nigel Dodds is to take the title of Lord Dodds of Duncairn. Picture by House of Commons/PA Wire
Nigel Dodds is to take the title of Lord Dodds of Duncairn. Picture by House of Commons/PA Wire Nigel Dodds is to take the title of Lord Dodds of Duncairn. Picture by House of Commons/PA Wire

NIGEL Dodds is to take the title of Lord Dodds of Duncairn after the area of north Belfast he represented.

The former DUP MP was awarded a life peerage in the Dissolution Honours List.

He is due to take his seat in the House of Lords next month.

Lord Dodds had represented the North Belfast constituency in the House of Commons from 2001 until his defeat by Sinn Féin's John Finucane in the general election last year.

His political career spans more than 34 years, having first been elected to Belfast City Council in 1985.

"The Duncairn ward is where I started out on my career as an elected representative," Lord Dodds said last night.

"It is at the heart of the Castle district electoral area of north Belfast where I was first elected as a councillor on Belfast City Council in 1985.

"My first door to door canvass was in this part of the Shore Road and North Queen Street and it has been my honour and privilege to serve the people of this area and wider north Belfast for over 34 years."

He added that he "looks forward to the next stage of public life where I intend to continue to be a positive voice for Northern Ireland at Westminster and at home".