William Walker (9 January 1871 – 23 November 1918) was a prominent Irish trade unionist and a leading figure within the Belfast labour movement.

He was a founding member of the Independent Labour Party and spoke in favour of socialism regularly from Belfast Customs House steps.

[3] He stood for the Labour Representation Committee in Belfast North at both the 1905 by-election and 1906 general election, losing by fewer than 500 votes on each occasion.

During the former election he said he would, "Make an effort to obtain a redistribution of Parliamentary seats for the purpose of diminishing the extravagant representation of Ireland by means of which the Roman Catholics and disloyal party has hindered the business of the House of Commons."

"[7] As he became increasingly well known in Britain, Walker contested the January 1910 general election as the Labour Party candidate for Leith Burghs, but took a distant third place.