Thomas Robinson (Northern Ireland politician)
Unionist politician from Northern Ireland (born 1950s)
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Thomas Daniel Robinson (born 1950 or 1951), known as Tom Robinson, is a former Northern Irish unionist politician who was a Larne Borough Councillor for the Larne Area A DEA from 1977 to 1985, and then for the Coast Road DEA from 1985 to 2001, representing the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) on both occasions.
Thomas Robinson | |
|---|---|
| Member of Larne Borough Council | |
| In office 15 May 1985 – 7 June 2001 | |
| Preceded by | Seat created |
| Succeeded by | Winston Fulton |
| Constituency | Coast Road |
| In office 18 May 1977 – 15 May 1985 | |
| Preceded by | D. Harper |
| Succeeded by | Seat abolished |
| Constituency | Larne Area A |
| Member of the Northern Ireland Forum for East Antrim | |
| In office 30 May 1996 – 25 April 1998 | |
| Preceded by | Forum created |
| Succeeded by | Forum dissolved |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1950-1951 Larne, Northern Ireland |
| Party | TUV (2007 - present) Ulster Unionist (1977 - 2003) |
Other political affiliations | UK Unionist (2003 - 2007) Independent Unionist (2005) |
Background
Robinson worked as an independent financial advisor.[1] He joined the Ulster Unionist Party, and was elected to Larne Borough Council at the 1977 Northern Ireland local elections. He held his seat in 1981,[2] and was elected Deputy Mayor of Larne in 1982, then Mayor in 1983.[3]
Robinson was elected for the Coast Road district at the local 1985, 1989,[4] 1993 and 1997 local elections.[5] He was also elected to the Northern Ireland Forum in 1996, representing East Antrim.[6]
By 2000, Robinson had become a prominent critic of UUP leader David Trimble.[7] He lost his council seat in 2001,[5] and subsequently defected to the UK Unionist Party (UKUP).[8] He stood for this new party at the 2003 Northern Ireland Assembly election,[8] but took only 1.8% of the vote and was not elected.[6]
Robinson stood again for Larne Borough Council at the 2005 local elections, this time as an independent candidate,[9] but took only 57 votes and was again unsuccessful.[5] He also failed to win a seat at the 2007 Northern Ireland Assembly election, standing again for the UKUP,[6] and subsequently joined the Traditional Unionist Voice party.[10]