Robin Swann
Robin Swann | |
|---|---|
 Swann in 2020 | |
| Minister of Health | |
| In office 11 January 2020 – 27 October 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Michelle O'Neill |
| 16th Leader of the Ulster Unionist Party | |
| In office 8 April 2017 – 9 November 2019 | |
| Deputy | Steve Aiken |
| Preceded by | Mike Nesbitt |
| Succeeded by | Steve Aiken |
| Ulster Unionist Chief Whip | |
| In office 6 April 2012 – 8 April 2017 | |
| Leader | Mike Nesbitt |
| Preceded by | John McCallister |
| Succeeded by | Steve Aiken |
| Member of the Legislative Assembly for Antrim North | |
| Assumed office 5 May 2011 | |
| Preceded by | Robert Coulter |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 24 September 1971 Kells, County Antrim, Northern Ireland |
| Nationality | British |
| Political party | Ulster Unionist Party |
| Spouse | Jennifer Swann |
| Children | 2 |
| Residence(s) | Kells, County Antrim |
| Alma mater | Open University |
Robin Swann (born 24 September 1971) is a politician from Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland's Minister of Health from Jan 2020 to Oct 2022, he was the leader of the Ulster Unionist Party from 2017 to 2019.[1]
Swann was first elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly at the 2011 election, representing North Antrim, and was re-elected in 2016, 2017 and 2022.[2]
From 6 April 2012, he served as Ulster Unionist Chief Whip, a position he retained until he was elected unopposed as UUP leader in April 2017. He resigned as UUP leader in November 2019. Swann stood as the UUP candidate in North Antrim in the December 2019 general election, which saw their vote more than double to 18.5%, taking the party to second place in the constituency. In 2020, he was appointed Minister of Health and has since been leading the response of the Northern Ireland Executive to the COVID-19 Pandemic.[citation needed]
Political activity
Elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly on 7 May 2011, he successfully defended his seat in the 2016 Assembly election and at the snap election in March 2017, where he was the first unionist elected in North Antrim.[3]
During the short 2016 Assembly mandate he was Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee[citation needed] which commenced the Inquiry into the RHI scandal. He also served as Chairman of the Committee for Employment and Learning on 27 February 2013, a position he held until the committee was dissolved on 30 April 2016.
He is a member of Kells & Connor Community Association and has served as a board member of the Volunteer Development Agency in Northern Ireland.[citation needed] 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.[4]
In the 2022 election Swann went on to top the North Antrim poll.[5] His increased vote was attributed to his work as health minister during the COVID-19 pandemic. Swann credited his success to the work of those in the health service.[6]
Swann was Awarded Politician of the Year 2022, by Civility in Politics, an award he shared with Chris Bryant MP.[7] He nominated three local charities to receive the financial part of the award, Good Morning Ballymena, Good Morning Ballycastle and CAN Ballymoney.
Death threats
On 2 February 2022 a 44-year-old man was charged with threatening to kill Swann, harassment and improper use of a telecommunications network.[8]
Current positions
- Northern Ireland Minister of Health since January 2020 - October 2022
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.[9]
References
- ^ "Ulster Unionist Party confirm Robin Swann as new leader" BBC News, 8 April 2017, accessed 11 April 2017
- ^ https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Antrim_(Assembly_constituency).
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ^ "North Antrim". www.ark.ac.uk.
- ^ "European chairman Delme Harries". Farmers Guardian. 30 September 2011. Archived from the original on 30 September 2011.
- ^ "Election 2022: Swann tops the poll in North Antrim".
- ^ McCambridge, Jonathan (6 May 2022). "Robin Swann credits North Antrim Assembly Election poll-topping success to work of the health service". The Irish News. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
- ^ "Congratulations to Our 2022 Awards Winners".
- ^ Young, David (2 February 2022). "Man charged with threatening to kill Northern Ireland health minister". Irish Examiner. PA. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
- ^ "The Journey Begins: The phone call". 22 September 2013.