Unionist peer is ‘humbled’ at appointment as new Deputy Speaker in House of Lords
AN Ulster Unionist peer has been appointed as a Deputy Speaker in the House of Lords.
Lord Rogan, who was born and bred in Dromore and is a former pupil of Wallace High School in Lisburn, now holds the position.
Speaking following his appointment, Lord Rogan said: “I am deeply humbled to have been appointed as a Deputy Lord Speaker in the House of Lords.
“Today I took up that position and sat on the ‘woolsack’ in the House of Lords for the first time.
“I view this appointment as a great honour and look forward
to playing my part in helping facilitate the smooth running of the democratic process in the Mother of Parliaments.”
Ulster Unionist Party Leader Robin Swann said: “I am delight- ed that Lord Rogan has been appointed as a deputy Lord Speaker in the Lords.
“I am told that this may well be the first time that a politician from Northern Ireland has taken up such a role in either the House of Lords or Commons, and it is indicative of the standing which Lord Rogan enjoys at Westminster.
“I have no doubt that his wisdom, common sense and forbearance will be an asset to the House of Lords in its daily business.”
Lord Rogan of Lower Iveagh was chairman of the Ulster Unionist Party during the crucial years of David Trimble’s leadership following the 1998 Good Friday Agreement.
He also served as president of the UUP from 2004 to 2006. He lists his recreations as rugby, gardening, oriental carpets, and shooting.
A member of the International Advisory Board of Independent News and Media, he is also a patron of The Somme Association and the Honorary Colonel of 40 (Ulster) Signals Regiment.
In 2015, he revealed how he woke up covered in blood as the result of a rare disease.
Lord Rogan was discovered to be suffering from Immune thombocytopenia (ITP), a bleeding disorder which can affect just one to four in every 100,000 of the population.