Gavin James Robinson (born 22 November 1984) is a Northern Irish unionist politician and barrister, serving as interim Leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) since March 2024.[3] He continues to serve as Deputy DUP Leader, a position he has served in since June 2023. 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]
Gavin Robinson | |
---|---|
Interim Leader of the Democratic Unionist Party | |
Assumed office 29 March 2024 | |
Preceded by | Jeffrey Donaldson |
Leader of the Democratic Unionist Party in the House of Commons | |
Assumed office 29 March 2024 | |
Leader | Himself (interim) |
Preceded by | Jeffrey Donaldson |
Deputy Leader of the Democratic Unionist Party | |
Assumed office 9 June 2023 | |
Leader | Jeffrey Donaldson Himself (interim) |
Preceded by | Paula Bradley |
Member of Parliament for Belfast East | |
Assumed office 7 May 2015 | |
Preceded by | Naomi Long |
Majority | 1,819 (4.3%) |
69th Lord Mayor of Belfast | |
In office 1 June 2012 – 1 June 2013 | |
Deputy | Tierna Cunningham |
Preceded by | Niall Ó Donnghaile |
Succeeded by | Máirtín Ó Muilleoir |
Member of the Belfast City Council | |
In office 22 May 2014 – 7 May 2015 | |
Preceded by | District created |
Succeeded by | Brian Kennedy |
Constituency | Titanic |
In office 5 May 2011 – 22 May 2014 | |
Preceded by | Sammy Wilson |
Succeeded by | District abolished |
Constituency | Pottinger |
Personal details | |
Born | Gavin James Robinson[1] 22 November 1984 Belfast, Northern Ireland |
Nationality | British |
Political party | Democratic Unionist Party |
Height | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)[2] |
Spouse | Lindsay |
Children | 1 |
Alma mater | Ulster University |
Profession | Barrister |
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]
Robinson is married. He is unrelated to former DUP leader and Belfast East MP Peter Robinson.[12]
At 6ft 4ins tall and dressed in yellow he was hard to miss.
Gavin Robinson (no relation of Peter's)