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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 2024 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]

He is the UUP candidate in Lagan Valley in the 2024 United Kingdom general election.[10]

References

  1. ^ a b "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.
  10. ^ @uuponline (27 January 2024). "CANDIDATE ANNOUNCEMENT, 2024 General Election, Robbie Butler, Lagan Valley" (Tweet) – via Twitter.

External links

Northern Ireland Assembly
Preceded by MLA for Lagan Valley
2016 – present 		Incumbent
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