James Stewart

James Stewart (23 November 1934 – 26 January 2013) was a communist leader from Northern Ireland.

Biography Stewart was born in Ballymena to a Protestant family, and studied at the Ballymena Academy. He was a Queen's Scout who took an interest in his Scottish heritage. He trained as a teacher at Stranmillis University College, and there met communist activist Edwina Menzies. The two married in 1954, and had two daughters. He began his teaching career at Hemsworth Square School and then taught at Somerdale School on the Shankill Road. He rapidly became a key figure in the Party, editing its newspaper Unity; completing the drafting of the Party programme, "Ireland's Path to Socialism"; He also was at the bottom of the poll for Belfast City Council at the 1977, 1981 and 1985 local elections.

Stewart became CPI General Secretary in 1984, and served in that position until 2001 when he took the post of CPI National Chairperson.