He took the seat in a by-election after the sitting MP, Rev Robert Bradford, was murdered by the IRA in November 1981.<\/p>\n
Ulster Unionist leader Mike Nesbitt led tributes, saying: “I am terribly sorry to hear of the passing of Martin Smyth.<\/p>\n
\u201cFrom my days as a broadcast journalist, he was an ever-present heavyweight in local politics, whose views were always important.<\/p>\n
“He may not have been as prominent as others in the public sphere, but hugely influential behind the scenes.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was another of that fateful generation of what we so euphemistically call \u2018The Troubles\u2019 whose imprint will last forever.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nHe will be remembered for his quiet confidence but also his power<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Former UUP leader Lord Empey recalled Rev Smyth leading the way in Parliament in his pursuit of legislation to assist the disabled.<\/p>\n
“It was a consistent theme of his representation of the people of Northern Ireland,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile well known and respected for his defence of unionism, his compassion for those less fortunate shone through\u201d.<\/p>\n
Jim Nicholson, a former UUP MEP, said his late colleague was \u201ca titan\u201d of unionism.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe will be remembered for his quiet confidence but also his power as an orator and champion of Ulster Unionism,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Former UUP MLA Danny Kennedy said: \u201cHe was a deeply committed Christian and an unapologetic Unionist. He gave leadership in difficult and different times.\u201d<\/p>\n
DUP leader Gavin Robinson also offered his condolences to Rev Smyth\u2019s family.<\/p>\n
![\"Martin](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/d758239a-e799-4307-a80a-75816a174fd6.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Martin Smyth (second left), with Bill Craig, George Allport and Stanley Morgan at the launching of the Ulster Vanguard Association in 1972.<\/p>\n
The East Belfast MP said: \u201cA stalwart of unionism, he stepped forward in South Belfast at a most volatile time.<\/p>\n
“Firm and faithful, he represented his constituents and NI with a strong sincere strength and unswerving belief in the Union.\u201d<\/p>\n
TUV leader Jim Allister said Rev Smyth \u201cserved Protestantism and unionism for many years through some of the worst of the terrorist campaign\u201d.<\/p>\n
The Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland described Rev Smyth as “a leader of unwavering principle and determination through often difficult times and a stalwart of the Orange cause”.<\/p>\n
Former First Minister Arlene Foster reminisced on the \u201chappy memories\u201d she shared with Rev Smyth.<\/p>\n
Lord Peter Weir, a former Education Minister, said he was \u201ca staunch unionist and Orangeman, dedicated public servant and man of conviction\u201d.<\/p>\n
“He was prepared to be a political representative at a time when it literally risked his life,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
![\"Rev](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/dec2a63f-15d4-4339-a33f-c331556bbdac.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Rev Martin Smyth in 2014 and in 1970.<\/p>\n
Blue-green algae arrives back on Lough Neagh<\/p>\n
Rev Smyth\u2019s views were conservative and often hardline.<\/p>\n
He resigned his ministry and was elected to Parliament in the 1982 by-election following the murder of Rev Bradford.<\/p>\n
Rev Bradford (40) and a 29-year-old caretaker, Ken Campbell, were shot dead during a constituency clinic at Finaghy Community Centre.<\/p>\n
In a lengthy political career, Rev Smyth was an unsuccessful candidate for the UUP leadership in 1995 after the resignation of Lord Molyneaux, finishing fourth to the winner, David Trimble.<\/p>\n
In 2000, Rev Smyth unsuccessfully attempted to oust Mr Trimble as leader on an anti-agreement platform.<\/p>\n
In January 2005, he announced he would be stepping down from Westminster at the next election to spend more time with his wife.<\/p>\n
Alasdair McDonnell took the South Belfast seat for the SDLP in the 2005 election.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Rev Smyth (94) served as MP for South Belfast from 1982 until 2005. He took the seat in…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":366772,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5011],"tags":[100164,924,1998,1144,16,15719,15],"class_list":{"0":"post-366771","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-northern-ireland","8":"tag-arlene-foster","9":"tag-democratic-unionist-party","10":"tag-gavin-robinson","11":"tag-northern-ireland","12":"tag-uk","13":"tag-ulster-unionist-party","14":"tag-united-kingdom"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/115077136075641289","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/366771","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=366771"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/366771\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/366772"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=366771"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=366771"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=366771"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
![\"Rev](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/f11d1e8c-fa3f-4687-ab09-1ee66816eedc.jpg\")
<\/p>\n