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Gavin Robinson

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The Right Honourable
Gavin Robinson
MP
Official portrait, 2019
Leader of the Democratic Unionist Party
Incumbent
Assumed office
29 May 2024
Interim: 29 March 2024 – 29 May 2024
Preceded byJeffrey Donaldson
Leader of the Democratic Unionist Party in the House of Commons
Incumbent
Assumed office
29 March 2024
LeaderHimself[a]
Preceded byJeffrey Donaldson
Deputy Leader of the Democratic Unionist Party
In office
9 June 2023 – 29 May 2024
LeaderJeffrey Donaldson
Himself[a]
Preceded byPaula Bradley
Succeeded byVacant
Member of Parliament
for Belfast East
Incumbent
Assumed office
7 May 2015
Preceded byNaomi Long
Majority2,676 (6.2%)
69th Lord Mayor of Belfast
In office
1 June 2012 – 1 June 2013
DeputyTierna Cunningham
Preceded byNiall Ó Donnghaile
Succeeded byMáirtín Ó Muilleoir
Member of the Belfast City Council
In office
22 May 2014 – 7 May 2015
Preceded byDistrict created
Succeeded byBrian Kennedy
ConstituencyTitanic
In office
1 March 2010 – 22 May 2014
Preceded bySammy Wilson
Succeeded byDistrict abolished
ConstituencyPottinger
Personal details
Born
Gavin James Robinson[1]

Belfast, Northern Ireland
NationalityBritish
Political partyDemocratic Unionist Party
Height6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)[2]
SpouseLindsay
Children1 son
Alma materQueen's University
ProfessionBarrister

Gavin James Robinson is a Northern Irish unionist politician and barrister who has served as Leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) since March 2024.[a][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]

Background

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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. He briefly worked as a children's entertainer before commencing practice as a barrister.

Political career

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Belfast City Council

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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.

Robinson was elected for the successor Titanic District at the 2014 City Council election.[7]

Parliamentary career

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Ahead of the 2015 general election, Robinson was selected by the DUP as their candidate for Belfast East, standing against Naomi Long, deputy leader of the Alliance Party, and the incumbent MP.[8] He was endorsed by the Ulster Unionist Party, who stood aside as part of a pact with the DUP, in which the two parties would not stand candidates against each other in four constituencies.[9] Robinson unseated Long, receiving 49.3% of the vote, with a majority of 2,597.[10][11] During his acceptance speech, he caused controversy by saying that the "last five long years are over", in relation to Long's term of office. He also said: "When people of East Belfast were asked to vote for a shared future, they chose to share that future with somebody they can trust, rather than back a party that are only interested in offering us a future if we share their view". Due to these remarks, he was criticised by Kyle Paisley, son of Ian Paisley, and David Ford, leader of the Alliance Party, the former who said: "You'd think he would have had a bit more humility when he made his acceptance speech last night, but it was quite disgraceful in some parts." Long herself said: "Let's just say his party leader was more magnanimous in defeat than he was in victory. "At this stage in my political career, what the DUP say and do never comes as a shock to me." The following day, Robinson admitted that he should have been more gracious towards Long: "Set party politics aside, I think Naomi Long is a formidable politician. I didn't say it in my speech last night, as I say, I'm reflecting this morning as it's been long and difficult. There should have been scope for me to recognise her contribution."[12][13][14][15]

Robinson was re-elected at the 2017 general election, taking 55.8% of the vote, and increased his majority to 8,474.[16]

In March 2019, Robinson was one of 21 MPs who voted against LGBT-inclusive sex and relationship education in English schools.[17][18][19] He is nevertheless considered a relatively liberal member of the DUP.[20]

He retained his seat at the December 2019 general election with a majority of just 1,819, following a strong performance from Naomi Long.[21][22] Incidentally, Robinson became the only unionist MP in Belfast, after party colleagues Nigel Dodds and Emma Little-Pengelly lost their seats.[23]

In June 2023, Robinson put his name forward to be the next deputy leader of the DUP, following Paula Bradley's resignation.[24] A Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly (MLA) for Upper Bann, Jonathan Buckley, also ran for the position.[25][26] After a vote of the party's MPs and MLAs, Robinson was announced as the new deputy leader on 9 June 2023.[27][28] Following his election, he said: "I am honoured that I have been elected to serve as Deputy Leader. I look forward to continuing to work with colleagues at every level within the party as we seek to deliver on our election commitments. A new generation of unionists are stepping forward to serve at every level within our party and in service to Northern Ireland. We all share the desire to play our part to help shape Northern Ireland into an even better place to live and work."[29][30]

His appointment to the His Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council was announced on 28 March 2024 as part of the 2024 Special Honours.[31]

Leader of the Democratic Unionist Party

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The day after his appointment to the Privy Council, Robinson was appointed interim leader of the DUP, following Sir Jeffrey Donaldson's resignation after being charged by the PSNI with rape and historic sex offences.[32]

He was ratified as DUP leader on 29 May 2024, after a meeting with the party's executive.[33][34]

At the party's campaign launch for the July 2024 general election, Robinson said that Irish Sea border had not been removed, contradicting the assurances Donaldson gave earlier in the year over the return of the Northern Ireland Executive.[35][36][37][38]In Belfast East, Robinson and Long faced each other for the fourth consecutive election, in what was expected to be close race due to boundary changes and historical tactical voting in the constituency.[39][40] The presence of the rival Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV), who split the unionist vote the last time they stood in 2010, were expected to pose another challenge for Robinson.[41]Ultimately, he was returned with an increased majority of 2,676 votes (6%), and a reduced share of 46.6%.[42][43]

Personal life

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Robinson is married to Lindsay, and they have a son. He is unrelated to former DUP leader and Belfast East MP Peter Robinson.[44] Raised a Presbyterian, he currently attends the Church of Ireland.[45]

Notes

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  1. ^ a b c As Interim Leader of the DUP from 29 March to 20 May 2024.

References

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  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. ^ "Belfast City Council Elections 2014". Ark elections. Retrieved 6 January 2025.
  8. ^ "The box-office parliamentary battle for East Belfast". BBC News. 17 April 2015. Retrieved 2 January 2025.
  9. ^ "Election 2015: DUP and UUP agree pact in four constituencies". BBC News. 18 March 2015. Retrieved 2 January 2025.
  10. ^ "Election result for Belfast East (Constituency)". UK Parliament. Retrieved 2 January 2025.
  11. ^ "General Election 2015: DUP's Gavin Robinson ousts Alliance's Naomi Long in East Belfast". Belfast Telegraph. 8 May 2015. Retrieved 2 January 2025.
  12. ^ "Gavin Robinson: Acceptance speech 'disgraceful' says Kyle Paisley". BBC News. 8 May 2015. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
  13. ^ "Alliance's Naomi Long: "What DUP do never shocks me"". BBC News. 8 May 2015. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
  14. ^ "Gavin Robinson: "New dawn in East Belfast"". BBC News. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
  15. ^ "Gavin Robinson accused of 'ungracious' acceptance speech…". Slugger O'Toole. 8 May 2015. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
  16. ^ "Election result for Belfast East (Constituency)". UK Parliament. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
  17. ^ 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.
  18. ^ 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.
  19. ^ "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.
  20. ^ "Who is DUP leader Gavin Robinson?". 6 June 2024.
  21. ^ "Election result for Belfast East (Constituency)". UK Parliament. Retrieved 4 January 2025.
  22. ^ "Belfast East parliamentary constituency". BBC News. Retrieved 4 January 2025.
  23. ^ "Belfast East: Gavin Robinson returned as city's only unionist MP". Irish Times. 13 December 2019. Retrieved 5 January 2025.
  24. ^ "Brendan Hughes: Low-key deputy leadership of DUP's Paula Bradley was a missed opportunity". Belfast Live. 10 June 2023. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
  25. ^ "DUP: Jonathan Buckley and Gavin Robinson run for deputy leadership". BBC News. 9 June 2023. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
  26. ^ "DUP's Gavin Robinson and Jonathan Buckley tipped for deputy leader role". Belfast Live. 7 June 2023. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
  27. ^ "Gavin Robinson elected new DUP Deputy Leader". Hello Rayo. 9 June 2023. Retrieved 4 January 2025.
  28. ^ "Gavin Robinson MP". Democratic Unionist Party. Retrieved 4 January 2025.
  29. ^ "Election of Leader and Deputy Leader". Democratic Unionist Party. 9 June 2023. Retrieved 4 January 2025.
  30. ^ "DUP: elected as DUP deputy leader". BBC News. 9 June 2023. Retrieved 4 January 2025.
  31. ^ "Privy Council appointment: March 2024" (PDF). GOV.UK. 28 March 2024. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
  32. ^ "DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson resigns after rape charge". BBC News. 29 March 2024. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
  33. ^ "Gavin Robinson ratified as DUP leader vowing to fight for Northern Ireland Protocol changes". ITV News. 30 May 2024. Retrieved 4 January 2025.
  34. ^ "WATCH: Gavin Robinson ratified as new DUP leader". Hello Rayo. 30 May 2024. Retrieved 4 January 2025.
  35. ^ "DUP's Gavin Robinson accepts party oversold deal". BBC News. 30 May 2024. Retrieved 5 January 2025.
  36. ^ "Northern Ireland: what does the new post-Brexit deal mean?". The Guardian. 31 January 2024. Retrieved 5 January 2025.
  37. ^ "Gavin Robinson criticises deal negotiated by Gavin Robinson…". Slugger O'Toole. 30 May 2024. Retrieved 5 January 2025.
  38. ^ "DUP Leader Gavin Robinson said the party should have displayed 'cautious realism' over Stormont deal". ITV News. 30 May 2024. Retrieved 5 January 2025.
  39. ^ "Northern Ireland constituency profile: Belfast East". BBC News. 2 July 2024. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
  40. ^ "DUP and Alliance leaders Robinson and Long in titanic tussle in East Belfast". Eastern Daily Presence. 30 June 2024. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
  41. ^ "General election 2010: Peter Robinson loses seat to Alliance party". The Guardian. 7 May 2010. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
  42. ^ "Belfast East results". BBC News. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
  43. ^ "Election for the constituency of Belfast East on 4 July 2024". UK Parliament. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
  44. ^ "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)
  45. ^ "Gavin Robinson: A progressive and liberal voice - the new man leading the DUP". Belfast Telegraph. 29 March 2024. Retrieved 4 January 2025.
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gavin Robinson.
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
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