Roy Beggs

John Robert Beggs (born 20 February 1936), commonly known as Roy Beggs, is a Northern Irish unionist politician and former teacher. Formerly a member of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), he defected to the rival Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) in 1981. He served as Member of Parliament (MP) for East Antrim from 1983 to 2005, and was a Larne Borough Councillor from 1973 to 2014, representing the district of Larne Area B and its successor, Larne Lough.

Background Beggs was educated at Ballyclare High School, followed by Stranmillis College, to study teacher training. After his training Beggs became a teacher at Larne High School and had risen to be deputy principal before leaving the profession upon his election to the Westminster Parliament. He was suspended from the party in 1981 after taking part in a council visit to Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council local authority in Dublin. He moved to the Ulster Unionist Party and was re-elected in 1981 as a 'loyalist'. In 1982 he was elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly representing North Antrim. he became the new MP in the surprise result. He held the position until the 2005 general election when he was defeated by Sammy Wilson of the DUP. He was UUP Education Spokesman from 1986 up to and including his last few years in Parliament when he also served as Deputy Leader and Chief Whip of the Ulster Unionist Parliamentary Party.