Ian James Parsley (born 3 May 1977) is a businessman and former, part-time politician from Northern Ireland.
He attracted considerable criticism and caused much controversy by endorsing the Conservatives and Unionists[2] link-up in 2009, but subsequently rejoined the Alliance Party in 2011.
Although of Northern Irish heritage on his mother's side, Parsley was born in Yorkshire and educated at Merchant Taylors' School and Newcastle University, graduating in Modern Languages.
Parsley was a writer in and about Ulster Scots[4] and, despite having run against her at the 2010 UK general election, he has campaigned alongside Sylvia Hermon on support for people with dementia and their carers.
He is an avid Arsenal FC fan and an expert on Western European languages, a subject about which he often writes.