Robbie Butler
MLA
Deputy Leader of the Ulster Unionist Party
Assumed office
24 May 2021
LeaderDoug Beattie
Preceded byDoug Beattie
Ulster Unionist Party spokesperson for Education, Mental Health and Young People
Assumed office
24 May 2021
LeaderDoug Beattie
Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly
for Lagan Valley
Assumed office
5 May 2016
Preceded byBasil McCrea
Member of
Lisburn & Castlereagh Council
In office
22 May 2014 – 5 May 2016
Preceded byOffice established
Succeeded byAlexander Redpath
ConstituencyKillutagh
Personal details
Born (1972-04-16) 16 April 1972
Lisburn, Northern Ireland
NationalityBritish
Political partyUlster Unionist Party
SpouseBelinda
Children2
OccupationPolitician
ProfessionFirefighter

Robbie Butler MLA (born 16 April 1972) is a Northern Irish unionist politician, serving as Deputy Leader of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) since May 2021, and a Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly (MLA) for Lagan Valley since 2016.

He is the Ulster Unionist Party's representative for Young People, Mental Health and for Education. He is an officer in the Boys' Brigade at 1st Magheragall.[1]

Career

Before entering politics, Butler worked as a butcher from the age of 16, became a prison officer in 1996[1] and then a firefighter in 2000.[2]

Butler was a UUP candidate in the 2014 local elections for Lisburn and Castlereagh Council. He stood in the Killultagh electoral area and was elected as a councillor with 18.2% of the vote.[3]

At the 2016 Northern Ireland Assembly election, he was elected to the Assembly as one of two UUP representatives for Lagan Valley.

He was the UUP candidate for Lagan Valley in the 2017 general election, polling 16.8% of the vote. He stood again in the 2019 election, polling 19.0%.

Following Steve Aiken's resignation as leader of the UUP, Butler was reported to be "giving serious consideration" around standing for the party leadership.[4] Butler decided not to stand, and Doug Beattie was elected unopposed.[5]

On 24 May 2021, in addition to his existing role as party chief whip, Butler was appointed deputy leader of the UUP.[6]

In July 2023, Butler, as UUP deputy leader, ruled out any electoral pact with the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) for the next United Kingdom general election. [7]

As UUP Education spokesperson, Butler, in August 2023, stated that "any new RSE (Relationships and Sex Education) curriculum must be created with the input of parents, children and teaching professionals from Northern Ireland only."[8]

Butler accused the Department of Health of forcing community and voluntary organisations towards a "financial cliff edge" on 23 August 2023. He called for the extension of the Core Grant Scheme.[9]

References

  1. 1 2 "I couldn't save victims of house fire - that is the one thing I can never forget: MLA Robbie Butler" – via www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk.
  2. ↑ "Coronavirus: Firefighter turned MLA Robbie Butler willing to return to frontline to help during pandemic" – via www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk.
  3. ↑ "2014 Local Government Elections in Northern Ireland, Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council". Ark Northern Ireland Elections.
  4. ↑ "Robbie Butler sets out stall on key issues - if he is to stand for UUP leadership against Doug Beattie" – via www.newsletter.co.uk.
  5. ↑ "Robbie Butler says he will not contest Ulster Unionist leadership". BBC News.
  6. ↑ "Robbie Butler appointed UUP deputy leader". BBC News. 24 May 2021.
  7. ↑ "UUP's deputy leader rules out any pact with the DUP in the next Westminster election | Northern Ireland Elects". nielects.com. 25 July 2023. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
  8. ↑ "Butler Responds to Concerns Surrounding the Introduction of RSE". UUP Live. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
  9. ↑ "Butler Accuses Department of Health of Forcing Community and Voluntary Organisations Towards Financial Cliff Edge". UUP Live. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
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