Jonathan Stephenson

Jonathan Stephenson (2 November 1950 – 21 December 2011) was an Irish nationalist politician in Northern Ireland who was the chairman of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) from 1995 to 1998, and a Belfast City Councillor for Castle from 1993 until 1997.

Additionally, Stephenson was a member of the Northern Ireland Forum, as a regional list representative, between 1996 and 1998.

Background
A Protestant born in England and educated at Winchester College and Stanbridge Earls School, Stephenson moved to Northern Ireland, where he studied History and Politics at Queen's University Belfast. He joined the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) in the early 1980s, and became its first official press officer.

Stephenson was elected to Belfast City Council at the 1993 Northern Ireland local elections, representing the SDLP in the Castle area. He also became Deputy Chairperson of the SDLP, serving from 1995 to 1998.

In 1995, he became the party's Chairperson, serving until 1998. At the Northern Ireland Forum election in 1996, he did not stand in a constituency, but was elected as one of two regional list candidates for the SDLP, but he lost his council seat in 1997.