Thomas Burns (politician)

Thomas Burns MLA (born 29 August 1960) is a Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) politician who was a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for South Antrim from 2003 to 2011.

Burns was also an Antrim Councillor, for the Antrim South East DEA, from 1997 to 2014. He then represented the Airport DEA on Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council from 2014 to 2023.

Career
Burns was first elected to Antrim Borough Council in 1997, for the Antrim South East District. He was elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly in 2003 for South Antrim, and re-elected in 2007. At the 2011 Assembly election, Burns lost his seat, but was re-elected to Antrim Borough Council in the local elections that same day.

At the 2014 local elections, Burns was elected onto the newly-formed Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council for the Airport District, and was re-elected in 2019. He lost his council seat in the 2023 local elections.

Additionally, he has served as Chairman of his local branch of the SDLP.

Membership

 * Vice Chairman of the Council's planning committee
 * Crumlin Development Association
 * Chairman of Camlin Credit Union in Crumlin
 * Member of Citizens Advice Bureau
 * Board of Governors of two local schools, St Josephs Primary School and Crumlin High School.

A keen supporter of the Gaelic Athletic Association, Burns is a former player for Aldergrove GAC.