Butler's career began as a TV presenter at the BBC and later Channel 5, where he presented that channel's lunchtime news from its launch in 1997 until the end of 2004.[6] In 2005, he founded a communication and lobbying consultancy, which worked with large and small companies around the world,[7] such as the private healthcare company Bupa.[8]
While never opposing it in votes or other action, Butler has criticised the HS2 project in words, calling it an "unwanted and ludicrously expensive railway".[15] Butler has served on the Justice Select Committee since March 2020 and is a member of the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme for 2020 to 2022.[16][17]