Joseph Erskine Holmes (born February 1940) is a politician in Northern Ireland.
Background Holmes was educated at Annadale Grammar School and attended Queen's University Belfast.The Times Guide to the House of Commons: February 1974, p.53 He chaired the Queen's University Labour Group in the early 1960s, serving alongside Michael Farrell and Eamonn McCann.Andrée Sheehy Skeffington, Skeff: The Life of Owen Sheehy Skeffington, 1909-1970, p.117 On graduating, he became a teacher, and stood for the Northern Ireland Labour Party (NILP) in several elections.
For Westminster, Holmes stood in Belfast South at the 1966, taking 34.6% and second place, the NILP's best ever result in the seat."South Belfast 1950-1970", Northern Ireland Elections At the 1970 general election, he instead stood in Armagh, then back in Belfast South at the February and October 1974 general elections."South Belfast 1973-1984", Northern Ireland Elections He also stood in Belfast Ballynafeigh at the 1965 and 1969 Northern Ireland general elections,"Belfast ", Northern Ireland House of Commons Election Results and Belfast South for the 1973 Northern Ireland Assembly election and Northern Ireland Constitutional Convention.
Holmes was a supporter of the civil rights movement, and served on the committee of the Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association.Aaron Edwards, A History of the Northern Ireland Labour Party, pp.138, 168 In 1971/2, Holmes served as chairman of the NILP,Aaron Edwards, A History of the Northern Ireland Labour Party, p.230 during which time he debated the party's attitude towards internment,Aaron Edwards, A History of the Northern Ireland Labour Party, p.201 and was known for his support of proportional representation.Aaron Edwards, A History of the Northern Ireland Labour Party, p.196 For part of the 1970s, he worked as full-time organiser of the NILP.Aaron Edwards, A History of the Northern Ireland Labour Party, p.212
Holmes was elected to Belfast City Council at the 1973 Northern Ireland local elections in Belfast Area A, but did not defend his seat in 1977."The Local Government Elections 1973-1981: Belfast", Northern Ireland Elections
By the 1990 Upper Bann by-election, the NILP had been disbanded, and Holmes stood as an independent candidate, campaigning for the "right to vote Labour".Fortnight, no.280, p.4 By the early 1970s, he ran the Northern Ireland Federation of Housing Associations,"", The Northern Ireland Housing Association movement. and he also has a long involvement with the co-operative movement, as founder of the NI Co-ownership Society and NI Assembly All Party Co-operative Group, and chairman of the Co-operative Press."Erskine Holmes", The Co-operative
When the British Labour Party began admitting members in Northern Ireland, Holmes joined. However, the party refused to stand any candidates in the region, and in 2016 Holmes was part of a group which founded the Northern Ireland Labour Representation Committee, a parallel group with the primary purpose of contesting elections, becoming its nominating officer.Sam McBride, "Labour rebels defy party to set up new Northern Ireland party", Belfast Newsletter, 13 April 2016 He stood for the committee in Belfast East at the 2016 Northern Ireland Assembly election.
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