Unionist politician (born 1972)
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 has been the Ulster Unionist Party's representative for Agriculture, the Environment and Rural Affairs since 2024.[1] He is an officer in the Boys' Brigade at 1st Magheragall.[2]
Career
Before entering politics, Butler worked as a butcher from the age of 16, became a prison officer in 1996[2] and then a firefighter in 2000.[3]
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.[4]
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.[5] He stood again in the 2019 election, polling 19.0%.[6] In the 2024 election, he stood once more in Lagan Valley and won 22.7%.[7] His result meant that the Unionist vote was split, and therefore, the Alliance Party candidate Sorcha Eastwood gained the seat from the DUP.
Following Steve Aiken's resignation as leader of the UUP, Butler was reported to be "giving serious consideration" around standing for the party leadership.[8] Butler decided not to stand, and Doug Beattie was elected unopposed.[9]
On 24 May 2021, in addition to his existing role as party chief whip, Butler was appointed deputy leader of the UUP.[10]
In July 2023, Butler, as UUP deputy leader, ruled out any electoral pact with the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) for the 2024 United Kingdom general election.[11]
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."[12]
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.[13]
References
External links
