Robbie Butler
Robbie Butler (born 16 April 1972) is a Northern Irish unionist politician, who served as the Deputy Leader of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) from July 2025 until January 2026, the UUP's Deputy Leader of the Assembly Group from May 2021 until January 2026, and a Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly (MLA) for Lagan Valley since 2016. He has been the UUP's representative for Agriculture, the Environment and Rural Affairs since 2024. He is an officer in the Boys' Brigade at 1st Magheragall.
Robbie Butler | |
|---|---|
 Butler in 2024 | |
| Deputy Leader of the Ulster Unionist Party | |
| In office 5 July 2025 – 31 January 2026 | |
| Leader | Mike Nesbitt |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Diana Armstrong |
| Chair of the Committee for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs | |
| Assumed office 28 September 2024 | |
| Deputy | Declan McAleer |
| Preceded by | Tom Elliott |
| Ulster Unionist Party spokesperson for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs | |
| Assumed office 28 September 2024 | |
| Leader | Mike Nesbitt |
| Preceded by | Tom Elliott |
| Ulster Unionist Party spokesperson for Education | |
| In office 24 May 2021 – 28 September 2024 | |
| Leader | Doug Beattie |
| Succeeded by | Colin Crawford |
| Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly for Lagan Valley | |
| Assumed office 5 May 2016 | |
| Preceded by | Basil McCrea |
| Member of Lisburn & Castlereagh Council | |
| In office 22 May 2014 – 5 May 2016 | |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Succeeded by | Alexander Redpath |
| Constituency | Killultagh |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 16 April 1972 |
| Party | Ulster Unionist Party |
| Spouse | Belinda Butler |
| Children | 2 |
| Occupation | Politician |
| Profession | Firefighter |
Robbie Butler MLA (born 16 April 1972) is a Northern Irish unionist politician, who served as the Deputy Leader of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) from July 2025 until January 2026, the UUP's Deputy Leader of the Assembly Group from May 2021 until January 2026, and a Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly (MLA) for Lagan Valley since 2016.
He has been the UUP'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
[edit]Early career
[edit]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]
Member of the Legislative Assembly (2016–)
[edit]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]
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]
Deputy leader of the UUP
[edit]On 24 May 2021, in addition to his existing role as party chief whip, Butler was appointed Deputy Leader of the Assembly Group.[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]
Butler was nominated and approved as the UUP's first Deputy Leader on 5 July 2025. The UUP's Deputy Leader position was created following the adoption of a new Constitution on 29 March 2025.
Notes
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "UUP Conference: Leader's speech". BBC News. Archived from the original on 14 December 2024. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
- ^ a b "I couldn't save victims of house fire - that is the one thing I can never forget: MLA Robbie Butler". Archived from the original on 28 August 2018. Retrieved 27 August 2018 – via www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk.
- ^ "Coronavirus: Firefighter turned MLA Robbie Butler willing to return to frontline to help during pandemic". Archived from the original on 9 December 2021. Retrieved 9 December 2021 – via www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk.
- ^ "2014 Local Government Elections in Northern Ireland, Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council". Ark Northern Ireland Elections. Archived from the original on 26 October 2021. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
- ^ "Lagan Valley Parliamentary constituency". BBC News. Archived from the original on 26 April 2018. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
- ^ "Lagan Valley Parliamentary constituency". BBC News. Archived from the original on 9 January 2020. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
- ^ "Lagan Valley General Election 2024 results in full as DUP loses key seat to Alliance". Belfast Live. Archived from the original on 8 July 2024. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
- ^ "Robbie Butler sets out stall on key issues - if he is to stand for UUP leadership against Doug Beattie". Archived from the original on 18 May 2021. Retrieved 18 May 2021 – via www.newsletter.co.uk.
- ^ "Robbie Butler says he will not contest Ulster Unionist leadership". BBC News. Archived from the original on 18 May 2021. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
- ^ "Robbie Butler appointed UUP deputy leader". BBC News. 24 May 2021. Archived from the original on 24 May 2021. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
- ^ "UUP's deputy leader rules out any pact with the DUP in the next Westminster election | Northern Ireland Elects". nielects.com. 25 July 2023. Archived from the original on 10 August 2023. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
- ^ "Butler Responds to Concerns Surrounding the Introduction of RSE". UUP Live. Archived from the original on 21 August 2023. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
- ^ "Butler Accuses Department of Health of Forcing Community and Voluntary Organisations Towards Financial Cliff Edge". UUP Live. Archived from the original on 25 August 2023. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
External links
[edit]- Lagan Valley constituency profile, BBC News; accessed 4 November 2016.
- Northern Ireland Assembly profile
- Ulster Unionist Party profile