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 Northern Irish unionist politician who was Minister of Health in the Northern Ireland Executive from Jan 2020 to Oct 2022. He was also leader of the Ulster Unionist Party from 2017 to 2019.[1]
Swann has been a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for North Antrim since 2011.
Swann was an unsuccessful candidate in the Ballymena South DEA, on Ballymena Borough Council, at the 2005 and 2011 elections.
He was elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly at the 2011 election, as his party’s representative in North Antrim.
He was appointed Ulster Unionist Chief Whip on 6 April 2012.
Swann 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.[2]
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.
Swann was elected unopposed as leader of the Ulster Unionist Party in April 2017, following the resignation of Mike Nesbitt.
He resigned as leader in November 2019, succeeded by Steve Aiken.
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 presided over the response of the Northern Ireland Executive to the COVID-19 Pandemic.[3]
In the 2022 election Swann went on to top the North Antrim poll.[4] 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.[5]
In August 2023, Swann welcomed progress that had been made on clamping down on some of the most expensive nursing agency costs in the local health service in Northern Ireland.[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.
July 2023 Swann was elected an Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, fellowships are awarded annually to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to psychiatry. "Robin Swann was awarded for championing mental healthcare and working closely with psychiatrists in Northern Ireland to address the enormous treatment gap that still exists."[8]
| Election | Votes | % | Elected | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assembly 2007 | 1,281 | 2.89% | Not elected | 1st run |
| Assembly 2011 | 2,518 | 6.26% | Elected | 5th of 6 |
| Assembly 2016 | 3,585 | 8.74% | Elected | 5th of 6 |
| Assembly 2017 | 6,022 | 12.52% | Elected | 2nd of 5, 1st unionist elected |
| Westminster 2019 | 8,139 | 18.5% | Not elected | runner up, increased vote by 11.3% |
| Assembly 2022 | 9,530 | 18.83% | Elected | 1st of 5, topped poll |
Swann 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.[9]
A former member of Cromkill Pipe Band, Swann was elected a Honorary Vice President of the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association Northern Ireland.[10]
On 2 February 2022 a 44-year-old man was charged with threatening to kill Swann, harassment and improper use of a telecommunications network.[11]
High Court dismissed £100m lawsuit against NI politicians over Covid-19 regulations; Dec 2022. [12]
Swann has been called as a participant in the UK Covid Inquiry [13] at the hearing to Module 1 he said "Failed reforms hindered NI Covid response."[14]
Robin Swann is "5ft 3ins-ish" tall.[15] He and his wife Jennifer have a daughter and a son. Their son was born with a congenital heart defect, and while in Birmingham, Swann recorded the events in a personal blog.[16]