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Robbie Butler Set to Be Appointed Stormont’s Health Minister

Robbie Butler takes over as the Ulster Unionist Party says it will move quickly to restore leadership after the hospital dispute.

  • On Thursday, Ulster Unionist Party MLA Robbie Butler was appointed Northern Ireland Health Minister, replacing Mike Nesbitt, who resigned Tuesday following a disagreement with UUP leader Jon Burrows.
  • Nesbitt resigned Tuesday after Burrows publicly opposed removing emergency general surgery from Causeway Hospital in Coleraine, stating at a town hall meeting last week he would 'never agree' to the plan.
  • Nesbitt's resignation letter criticized the lack of transparency, stating he was "not the sort of minister who is happy to discover the leader's view of issues under my purview by having to monitor the media," and accused Burrows of introducing a "red line" on health policy.
  • SDLP health spokesperson Colin McGrath noted Butler is "taking on one of the toughest jobs in the executive" while facing "urgent action required" on pay disputes and lengthy waiting times.
  • With assembly elections in nine months, Butler has limited time to enact change; former UUP leader Doug Beattie remarked that any worthwhile progress would likely involve continuing work Nesbitt already started before the May 2027 polls.
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Robbie Butler set to be new NI health minister

·London, United Kingdom
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Evening StandardEvening Standard
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Robbie Butler named Stormont health minister

It comes after Mike Nesbitt resigned from the post amid a fallout with UUP leader Jon Burrows.

·London, United Kingdom
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RTÉ broke the news in Ireland on Thursday, August 20, 2026.
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