Robbie Butler
{{short description|Unionist politician (born 1972)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2017}}
{{Use Irish English|date=February 2017}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix =
| name = Robbie Butler
| honorific-suffix = MLA
| image = Robbie Butler Feb 24.jpg
| imagesize = 165px
| alt =
| caption = Butler in 2024
| office = Deputy Leader of the Ulster Unionist Party
| leader = Doug Beattie
Mike Nesbitt
| predecessor =
| term_start = 27 May 2021
| office1 = Chair of the Committee for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs
| term_start1 = 28 September 2024
| term_end1 =
| deputy1 = Declan McAleer
| predecessor1 = Tom Elliott
| successor1 =
| office2 = Ulster Unionist Party spokesperson for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs
| leader2 = Mike Nesbitt
| predecessor2 = Tom Elliott
| term_start2 = 28 September 2024
| office3 = Ulster Unionist Party spokesperson for Education
| leader3 = Doug Beattie
| term_start3 = 24 May 2021
| term_end3 = 28 September 2024
| predecessor3 =
| successor3 = Colin Crawford
| office4 = Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly for Lagan Valley
| term_start4 = 5 May 2016
| term_end4 =
| predecessor4 = Basil McCrea
| successor4 =
| office5 = Member of
Lisburn & Castlereagh Council
| constituency5 = Killultagh
| term_start5 = 22 May 2014
| term_end5 = 5 May 2016
| predecessor5 = Office established
| successor5 = Alexander Redpath
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1972|04|16|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Lisburn, Northern Ireland
| death_date =
| death_place =
| nationality = British
| party = Ulster Unionist Party
| spouse = Belinda
| children = 2
| occupation = Politician
| profession = Firefighter
| website =
}}
Robbie Butler {{post-nominals|country=GBR|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.{{Cite web |title=UUP Conference: Leader's speech |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c80ryjx17j3t?post=asset:e509c2e1-c2a9-405c-a477-b9ffad1c4859#post |access-date=2024-09-28 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}} He is an officer in the Boys' Brigade at 1st Magheragall.{{Cite web|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/i-couldnt-save-victims-of-house-fire-that-is-the-one-thing-i-can-never-forget-mla-robbie-butler-36136463.html|title=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}}
Career
Before entering politics, Butler worked as a butcher from the age of 16, became a prison officer in 1996 and then a firefighter in 2000.{{Cite web|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/health/coronavirus/coronavirus-firefighter-turned-mla-robbie-butler-willing-to-return-to-frontline-to-help-during-pandemic-39129468.html|title=Coronavirus: Firefighter turned MLA Robbie Butler willing to return to frontline to help during pandemic|via=www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk}}
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.{{Cite news |title=2014 Local Government Elections in Northern Ireland, Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council |work=Ark Northern Ireland Elections |url=https://www.ark.ac.uk/elections/nlglc.htm#ku}}
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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/northern-ireland-constituencies/N06000009|title=Lagan Valley Parliamentary constituency|work=BBC News}} He stood again in the 2019 election, polling 19.0%.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/N06000009|title=Lagan Valley Parliamentary constituency|work=BBC News}} In the 2024 election, he stood once more in Lagan Valley and won 22.7%.{{Cite web|url=https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/lagan-valley-election-results-breaking-29478324|title=Lagan Valley General Election 2024 results in full as DUP loses key seat to Alliance|work=Belfast Live}} 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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/politics/robbie-butler-sets-out-stall-on-key-issues-if-he-is-to-stand-for-uup-leadership-against-doug-beattie-3231659|title=Robbie Butler sets out stall on key issues - if he is to stand for UUP leadership against Doug Beattie|via=www.newsletter.co.uk}} Butler decided not to stand, and Doug Beattie was elected unopposed.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-57090193|title=Robbie Butler says he will not contest Ulster Unionist leadership|work=BBC News}}
On 24 May 2021, in addition to his existing role as party chief whip, Butler was appointed deputy leader of the UUP.{{Cite news |date=24 May 2021 |title=Robbie Butler appointed UUP deputy leader |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-57228290}}
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.{{Cite web |date=2023-07-25 |title=UUP's deputy leader rules out any pact with the DUP in the next Westminster election {{!}} Northern Ireland Elects |url=https://nielects.com/news/2023/07/25/uups-deputy-leader-rules-out-any-pact-with-the-dup-in-the-next-westminster-election/ |access-date=2023-08-08 |website=nielects.com |language=en-US}}
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."{{Cite web |title=Butler Responds to Concerns Surrounding the Introduction of RSE |url=https://www.uup.org/butler_responds_to_concerns_surrounding_the_introduction_of_rse |access-date=2023-08-21 |website=UUP Live |language=en}}
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.{{Cite web |title=Butler Accuses Department of Health of Forcing Community and Voluntary Organisations Towards Financial Cliff Edge |url=https://www.uup.org/butler_accuses_department_of_health_of_forcing_community_and_voluntary_organisations_towards_financial_cliff_edge |access-date=2023-08-25 |website=UUP Live |language=en}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/northern-ireland-constituencies/N06000009 Lagan Valley constituency profile], BBC News; accessed 4 November 2016.
- [http://aims.niassembly.gov.uk/mlas/details.aspx?&aff=13346&per=5808&sel=2&ind=26&prv=0 Northern Ireland Assembly profile]
- [https://www.uup.org/robbie_butler Ulster Unionist Party profile]
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{{s-par|ni/ass}}
{{s-bef | before = Basil McCrea }}
{{s-ttl
| title = MLA for Lagan Valley
| years = 2016 – present
}}
{{s-inc}}
{{s-end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Butler, Robbie}}
Category:Ulster Unionist Party MLAs
Category:Northern Ireland MLAs 2016–2017
Category:Northern Ireland MLAs 2017–2022
Category:Place of birth missing (living people)