Robin Newton

Robin Gray Newton (born 21 December 1945) is a Democratic Unionist Party politician in Northern Ireland. He is a Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly (MLA) for East Belfast, and was a junior minister in the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister from 2009-11.

Robin Newton

MLA MBE
5th Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly
In office
12 May 2016 – 11 January 2020
DeputyCaitríona Ruane
Patsy McGlone
Danny Kennedy
Preceded byMitchel McLaughlin
Succeeded byAlex Maskey
Principal Deputy Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly
In office
20 January 2015 – 12 May 2016
Preceded byMitchel McLaughlin
Succeeded byCaitríona Ruane
Junior Minister at the office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister
In office
1 July 2009 – 16 May 2011
Serving with Gerry Kelly
Preceded byJeffrey Donaldson
Succeeded byJonathan Bell
Member of the Legislative Assembly
for Belfast East
Assumed office
26 November 2003
Preceded bySammy Wilson
Personal details
Born (1945-12-21) 21 December 1945
Belfast, Northern Ireland
NationalityBritish
Political partyDemocratic Unionist Party
Spouse(s)Carole Newton
Children2
WebsiteRobin Newton MLA

Newton is a chief executive of a management consultancy company and a member of the East Belfast Partnership Board, which promotes economic development in East Belfast. He served as Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly from 12 May 2016 until 11 January 2020. He and his wife Carole have two children.[1]

Political career

Newton was first elected to Belfast City Council in 1985 and has been re-elected every election since. Newton is chairman of the Waterfront Hall board. He was an unsuccessful candidate in East Belfast in the 1996 Northern Ireland Forum election.[2] He was elected as a DUP member of the Northern Ireland Assembly for East Belfast in 2003.[1]

After the 1998 Northern Ireland Assembly election, he was the deputy chair of the Development Committee. He takes particular interest in housing matters, the elderly, health services and employment opportunities. Newton is the DUP party spokesperson for Enterprise, Trade and Investment.[3] On 12 May 2016 he was elected Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly.[4]

Executive

First Minister and DUP leader Peter Robinson announced on 22 June 2009 that Robin Newton would replace Jeffrey Donaldson as junior minister in the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister at the beginning of the new assembly term in September 2009.[5] This reshuffle took place due to Robinson's plans to phase out "double jobbing" amongst elected representatives. Newton was sworn in as junior minister by the speaker, William Hay, on 1 July 2009, and served until 16 May 2011. From 2011 until 2012, he was a Political Member of the Northern Ireland Policing Board.[6]

References
  1. "Biography". Robinnewton.co.uk. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  2. "1996 Candidates - East Belfast". Ark.ac.uk. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  3. "Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) - Northern Ireland". DUP. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  4. "NI Assembly: Foster and McGuinness are NI first and deputy first ministers, UUP to form opposition". BBC News. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  5. "DUP reshuffles NI Assembly ministers". Rte.ie. 24 June 2009. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  6. "Previous Policing Board Members | Northern Ireland Policing Board". Nipolicingboard.org.uk. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
Civic offices
Preceded by
Jim Clarke		 High Sheriff of Belfast
1999–2000		 Succeeded by
Tom Campbell
Political offices
Preceded by
Jeffrey Donaldson		 Junior Minister
2009–2011		 Succeeded by
Jonathan Bell
Northern Ireland Assembly
Preceded by
Sammy Wilson		 MLA for Belfast East
2003–present		 Incumbent
Preceded by
Mitchel McLaughlin		 Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly
2016–2020		 Succeeded by
Alex Maskey
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