Robin Swann

Robin Swann (born 24 September 1971) is a politician in Northern Ireland currently Minister of Health and former Leader of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP).[1] He was elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly in 2011 and was re-elected in the 2016 and 2017 Assembly Elections.

Robin Swann

MLA
Robin Swann MLA
Minister of Health
Assumed office
11 January 2020
First MinisterArlene Foster
Preceded byMichelle O'Neill
Leader of the Ulster Unionist Party
In office
8 April 2017 – 9 November 2019
Preceded byMike Nesbitt
Succeeded bySteve Aiken
Ulster Unionist Chief Whip
In office
6 April 2012 – 8 April 2017
Preceded byJohn McCallister
Succeeded bySteve Aiken
Member of the Legislative Assembly for Antrim North
Assumed office
2011
Preceded byRobert Coulter
Personal details
Born (1971-09-24) 24 September 1971
Kells, County Antrim, Northern Ireland
NationalityBritish
Political partyUlster Unionist Party
Spouse(s)Jennifer Swann
Children2
ResidenceKells, County Antrim
Alma materOpen University
WebsiteRobin Swann official website

Swann stood as the UUP candidate in North Antrim in the 2019 general election, which saw an 11.4% increase in their vote taking the party to second place in the constituency of North Antrim.

From 6 April 2012, he served as Ulster Unionist Chief Whip, a position he retained until he was elected (unchallenged) as Leader. During the short 2016 mandate he was Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee which commenced the Inquiry into the RHI scandal.

He also served as Chairman of the Employment and Learning Committee on 27 February 2013, a position he held until the Committee was dissolved on 30 April 2016. He is an active member of Kells & Connor Community Association and has served as a Board member of the Volunteer Development Agency in Northern Ireland.

Swann has served as President and County Antrim Chairman of the Young Farmers' Clubs of Ulster. He has chaired the YFCU's National Executive and Rural Affairs Committees and has been Chairman of the Rural Youth Europe organisation.[2]

Education

Robin was educated at Kells & Connor Primary School and Ballymena Academy (class of 1990), before completing a BSc degree with the Open University, plus a Certificate of Professional Management and Certificate of Mathematics.

Political activity

Elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly on 7 May 2011, he successfully defended it in the 2016 Assembly election and at the snap election in March 2017, where he was the first unionist elected in North Antrim.[3]

Current positions
  • Northern Ireland Minister of Health since January 2020
  • Leader of the Ulster Unionist Party (2017–2019)
  • Ulster Unionist Member of the British Irish Parliamentary Assembly
  • Chairman of North Antrim Association of the Ulster Unionist Party
  • Chairman of All Party Group on Congenital Heart Disease (30 April 2013 – present)

Family and personal life

He and his wife Jennifer have a daughter and a son. Their son was born with a congenital heart defect, and while in Birmingham where a corrective procedure was performed, Swann recorded the events in a personal blog.[4]

References
  1. "Ulster Unionist Party confirm Robin Swann as new leader" BBC News, 8 April 2017, accessed 11 April 2017
  2. "European chairman Delme Harries". Farmers Guardian. 30 September 2011. Archived from the original on 30 September 2011.
  3. "North Antrim". www.ark.ac.uk.
  4. "The Journey Begins: The phone call". 22 September 2013.

Succession boxes
Party political offices
Preceded by
Mike Nesbitt		 Ulster Unionist Party Leader
2017–2019		 Succeeded by
Steve Aiken
Northern Ireland Assembly
Preceded by
Robert Coulter		 MLA for North Antrim
2011–present		 Incumbent
Preceded by
John McCallister		 Ulster Unionist Chief Whip
6 April 2012 – 8 March 2017		 Succeeded by
Steve Aiken
Preceded by
Michaela Boyle		 Chairperson of Public Accounts Committee
2016 –2017		 Succeeded by
William Humphrey
Preceded by
Basil McCrea		 Chair of the Employment & Learning Committee
27 February 2013 – 30 April 2016		 Committee abolished
New title Chair of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association
Northern Ireland Assembly Branch
13 April 2015 – 13 June 2016		 Succeeded by
Jo-Anne Dobson
New title Chair of the All Party Group on Congenital Heart Disease
30 February 2013 –		 Incumbent
Preceded by
Alex Maskey		 Chair of the Chairpersons Liaison Group
October 2013 – September 2014		 Succeeded by
Patsy McGlone
Preceded by
Billy Armstrong		 Ulster Unionist Deputy Whip
9 May 2011 – 6 April 2012		 Succeeded by
Sandra Overend


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