Edwin Poots

About

A longtime member of the Northern Ireland Assembly, this Democratic Unionist Party politician served as both Minister of the Environment from 2009 to 2011 and Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety from 2011 to 2014. In May 2021, he was elected Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader.

Before Fame

Before launching his political career, he studied at the Greenmount Agricultural College and worked as a farmer. Before being elected to his country's national assembly, he served on the Lisburn City Council.

Trivia

A member of the Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster, he publicly expressed his disbelief in the theory of evolution.

Family Life

He is the son of politician Charles Poots; the husband of Glynis Poots; and the father of four children.

Associated With

In 2014, fellow DUP politician Jim Wells replaced Poots as Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety.