For the South African model agent, see Gavin Robinson (model agent).

Gavin James Robinson (born 22 November 1984) is a Northern Irish unionist politician and barrister, serving as Leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) since March 2024.[3] He served as Deputy DUP Leader from June 2023 to May 2024. He has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for Belfast East in the UK House of Commons since the 2015 general election. He was Lord Mayor of Belfast in 2012–2013.[4] Robinson is the DUP Spokesperson for Defence and Home Affairs.[5]

Career

Robinson is a lifelong East Belfast resident. He attended Grosvenor Grammar School in East Belfast, and then Ulster University where he obtained a degree in law and government, before attending Queen's University Belfast, where he attained a Masters in Irish Politics before commencing practice as a barrister. Raised a Presbyterian, he currently attends the Church of Ireland.[citation needed]

Robinson was co-opted to Belfast City Council in March 2010 to replace Sammy Wilson in representing the Pottinger electoral area of South and East Belfast.[6]

He was returned to the council as an alderman in the 2011 local elections and elected Lord Mayor by the council for the year beginning 1 June 2012. He was a member of the East Belfast District Policing and Community Safety Partnership subgroup and represented the council on the boards of the Ulster Orchestra and the 2013 World Police and Fire Games held in Belfast. He won the constituency of Belfast East for the Democratic Unionist Party, defeating the incumbent Naomi Long of the Alliance Party, to become a Member of Parliament in the 2015 UK General Election.[citation needed]

In March 2019, Robinson was one of 21 MPs who voted against LGBT-inclusive sex and relationship education in English schools.[7][8][9]

In June 2023, he was elected by Democratic Unionist Party MLAs and MPs to become the party's Deputy Leader, succeeding Paula Bradley.[citation needed]

His appointment to the His Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council was announced on 28 March 2024 as part of the 2024 Special Honours.[10] The next day, Robinson was appointed interim leader of the DUP after Sir Jeffrey Donaldson resigned following the disclosure that he had been charged by PSNI detectives with historic sex offences.[11]

Personal life

Robinson is married. He is unrelated to former DUP leader and Belfast East MP Peter Robinson.[12]

References

  1. ^ "No. 61230". The London Gazette. 18 May 2015. p. 9128.
  2. ^ "Kids' entertainer, barrister, Belfast Lord Mayor and now a rubbish collector..." BelfastTelegraph.co.uk. 27 August 2012. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 30 March 2024. At 6ft 4ins tall and dressed in yellow he was hard to miss.
  3. ^ "DUP Statement". Retrieved 29 March 2024.
  4. ^ "BBC News – DUP's Gavin Robinson is new Lord Mayor of Belfast". BBC News. June 2012. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 5 June 2015.
  5. ^ "Gavin Robinson MP". DUP. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
  6. ^ Staff. "Robinson is new Belfast Lord Mayor". Newsletter.co.uk. Retrieved 5 June 2015.
  7. ^ Butterworth, Benjamin (28 March 2019). "MPS vote to back LGBT inclusive relationship education from age 5". Archived from the original on 30 March 2019. Retrieved 5 April 2019.
  8. ^ Barlett, Nicola (28 March 2019). "21 MPS who voted against teaching kids about gay families". Daily Mirror. Archived from the original on 30 March 2019. Retrieved 5 April 2019.
  9. ^ "Draft Relationships Education, Relationships and Sex Education and Health Education (England) Regulations 2019 - CommonsVotes". Archived from the original on 29 March 2019. Retrieved 29 March 2019.
  10. ^ "Privy Council appointment: March 2024" (PDF). GOV.UK. 28 March 2024. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
  11. ^ "DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson resigns after rape charge". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
  12. ^ "Four Northern Ireland constituencies to watch". RTÉ. 7 June 2017. Archived from the original on 12 June 2019. Retrieved 8 June 2017. Gavin Robinson (no relation of Peter's)

External links

Civic offices
Preceded by Lord Mayor of Belfast
2012–2013 		Succeeded by
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Member of Parliament
for Belfast East
2015–present 		Incumbent
Party political offices
Preceded by Leader of the Democratic Unionist Party
2024-present 		Incumbent