Peter Robinson (Northern Ireland politician) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Peter Robinson
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Robinson in 2011
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| First Minister of Northern Ireland | |
| In office 5 June 2008 – 11 January 2016 Serving with Martin McGuinness
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| Preceded by | Ian Paisley |
| Succeeded by | Arlene Foster |
| Leader of the Democratic Unionist Party | |
| In office 31 May 2008 – 17 December 2015 |
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| Deputy | Nigel Dodds |
| Preceded by | Ian Paisley |
| Succeeded by | Arlene Foster |
| Leader of the Democratic Unionist Party in the House of Commons | |
| In office 31 May 2008 – 6 May 2010 |
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| Preceded by | Ian Paisley |
| Succeeded by | Nigel Dodds |
| Deputy Leader of the Democratic Unionist Party | |
| In office 31 May 1980 – 31 May 2008 |
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| Leader | Ian Paisley |
| Preceded by | William Beattie |
| Succeeded by | Nigel Dodds |
| Minister of Finance and Personnel | |
| In office 8 May 2007 – 5 June 2008 |
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| First Minister | Ian Paisley |
| Preceded by | Sean Farren |
| Succeeded by | Nigel Dodds |
| Minister for Regional Development | |
| In office 24 October 2001 – 11 October 2002 |
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| First Minister | David Trimble |
| Preceded by | Gregory Campbell |
| Succeeded by | Conor Murphy |
| In office 29 November 1999 – 27 July 2000 |
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| First Minister | David Trimble |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Succeeded by | Gregory Campbell |
| Member of the Legislative Assembly for Belfast East |
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| In office 25 June 1998 – 7 May 2016 |
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| Preceded by | Constituency established |
| Succeeded by | Joanne Bunting |
| In office 20 October 1982 – 1986 |
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| Preceded by | Assembly re-established |
| Succeeded by | Assembly abolished |
| Member of Parliament for Belfast East |
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| In office 3 May 1979 – 12 April 2010 |
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| Preceded by | William Craig |
| Succeeded by | Naomi Long |
| Member of Castlereagh Borough Council |
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| In office 15 May 1985 – 2 January 2007 |
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| Preceded by | District created |
| Succeeded by | Carole Howard |
| Constituency | Castlereagh Central |
| In office 18 May 1977 – 15 May 1985 |
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| Preceded by | C.R. Beacon |
| Succeeded by | District abolished |
| Constituency | Castlereagh Area C |
| Northern Ireland Forum Member for Belfast East |
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| In office 30 May 1996 – 25 April 1998 |
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| Preceded by | Forum created |
| Succeeded by | Forum dissolved |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Peter David Robinson
29 December 1948 Belfast, Northern Ireland |
| Political party | Democratic Unionist Party |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 3 |
| Alma mater | Castlereagh College |
| Signature |  |
| Website | Peter Robinson |
| Arlene Foster served as Acting FM from 11 January 2010 to 3 February 2010 and 10 September 2015 to 20 October 2015. Robinson served alongside John O'Dowd in his capacity as Acting dFM from 20 September 2011 to 31 October 2011. | |
Peter David Robinson (born 29 December 1948) is a retired politician from Northern Ireland. He served as the First Minister of Northern Ireland from 2008 to 2016. He was also the leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) from 2008 to 2015.
Peter Robinson was involved in Northern Irish politics for over 40 years. He was one of the people who helped start the DUP, along with Ian Paisley. From 1975 to 1979, he was the General Secretary of the DUP. This role gave him a lot of influence in the new political party.
In 1977, Robinson was elected as a local councillor for the Castlereagh Borough Council. In 1979, he became one of the youngest Members of Parliament (MP). He was elected for the Belfast East area. He held this seat for 31 years until 2010. This made him the longest-serving MP for Belfast since the 1800 Act of Union.
In 1980, Robinson became the deputy leader of the DUP. After the Good Friday Agreement helped bring back a local government in Northern Ireland, Robinson was elected. In 1998, he became a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Belfast East. He then served as a minister in the Northern Ireland government. He was the Minister for Regional Development and later the Minister of Finance and Personnel.
Peter Robinson was chosen to take over from Ian Paisley as leader of the DUP in 2008. He then became the First Minister of Northern Ireland on 5 June 2008.
In January 2010, Robinson temporarily stepped down as First Minister. This was to allow an investigation into allegations related to his wife. Arlene Foster took over his duties during this time. After a police investigation, it was recommended that Robinson should not be prosecuted. He then returned to his role as First Minister. An official investigation also cleared him of any wrongdoing.
In September 2015, Robinson again stepped aside, and Arlene Foster became acting First Minister. This happened after a member of Sinn Féin, another party in the Northern Ireland government, was questioned about a murder. Robinson returned to his duties in October 2015. On 19 November 2015, he announced he would be leaving his roles. He stepped down as First Minister on 11 January 2016. He has now fully retired from politics. He is the longest-serving Northern Irish First Minister since the Good Friday Agreement of 1998.
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Early Life and Education
Peter David Robinson was born on 29 December 1948 in Belfast, Northern Ireland. His parents were Sheila and David McCrea Robinson.
He went to Annadale Grammar School and Castlereagh College. This college is now part of the Belfast Metropolitan College. In 1966, Robinson heard Ian Paisley speak at an event. Soon after, he left school to focus on his political interests. Robinson worked as an estate agent before becoming the DUP's first general secretary in 1975.
Political Journey
Joining the DUP
By 1970, Peter Robinson had caught Ian Paisley's attention. He wrote a pamphlet that supported the government in Northern Ireland at the time. Robinson became chairman of a local branch of the Protestant Unionist Party, which was a party before the DUP. He also worked as Paisley's private secretary for a while.
In 1971, Robinson was one of the people who helped create the DUP. He was the General Secretary of the DUP from 1975 to 1979. He was also active in the 1974 Ulster Workers' Council strike. This strike was against the Sunningdale Agreement, which aimed to share power in Northern Ireland.
Robinson was elected as a councillor for Castlereagh Borough Council in 1977. He held this local government seat until 2007.
Becoming a Member of Parliament
In the 1979 United Kingdom general election, Robinson was chosen as the DUP candidate for Belfast East. He won the seat, even though it had been held by another party for a long time. He became a Member of Parliament (MP) on 3 May 1979.
He was re-elected to the House of Commons several times. This included elections in 1983, 1986, 1987, 1992, 2001, and 2005. In the 2010 United Kingdom general election, he lost his Belfast East seat to Naomi Long.
In 2001, his wife, Iris, also became an MP for Strangford. This meant they were the first husband and wife to represent Northern Ireland in the UK Parliament.
Leading the Democratic Unionist Party
Robinson's political success continued when he was elected Deputy Leader of the DUP in 1980. He was also elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly for Belfast East in 1982.
In 1996, he was elected to the Northern Ireland Forum. He served there until 1998. On 25 June 1998, he was elected as an MLA for Belfast East in the Northern Ireland Assembly election. He was re-elected in 2003 and 2007.
Robinson served as Minister for Regional Development from 1999 to 2000 and again from 2001 to 2002. He helped introduce free public transport for older people. He also worked on plans for Northern Ireland's development and transport for the next 10 to 25 years.
He was also Minister of Finance and Personnel from 2007 to 2008.
On 4 March 2008, Ian Paisley announced he would step down as DUP leader and First Minister. On 14 April 2008, Peter Robinson was chosen as the new leader. Nigel Dodds became his deputy. They officially took on their roles on 31 May 2008.
Serving as First Minister
As the leader of the largest party, Robinson was confirmed as First Minister by the Northern Ireland Assembly. This happened on 5 June 2008, with Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness as his deputy.
On 5 February 2010, Robinson and McGuinness worked together to transfer policing and justice powers from the UK Parliament to the Northern Ireland Assembly. This was a big step in completing the local government in Northern Ireland.
In the 2011 Northern Ireland Assembly election, both the DUP and Sinn Féin gained more seats. Robinson led the DUP to its best election result ever in the Assembly. Robinson and McGuinness began their second term as First Minister and Deputy First Minister.
In 2012, Robinson was part of a historic visit by Queen Elizabeth II to Northern Ireland. She shook hands with Martin McGuinness. Robinson supported this event, saying it was a "significant step for republicans" and a "step forward for Northern Ireland."
On 19 November 2015, Robinson announced he would step down as First Minister and DUP leader. He had recently had a heart attack, but he said his health was not the main reason for his decision. He did not run in the 2016 Northern Ireland Assembly election.
Personal Life
Peter Robinson married Iris Collins on 26 July 1970. They have three children: Jonathan, Gareth, and Rebekah.
His wife, Iris, also became a councillor, an MLA, and an MP. Their son, Gareth, was also a local councillor. Their daughter, Rebekah, worked as his private secretary.
Robinson is a fan of football teams Rangers and Tottenham Hotspur. He also supports his local Belfast team, Glentoran.
He is a Christian and belongs to the Elim Pentecostal Church and the Assemblies of God. He has written several books and pamphlets about local politics and history.
In May 2015, he had a suspected heart attack and was taken to the hospital.
See also
- Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister
- List of Northern Ireland members of the Privy Council
