Robin Swann MP

For South Antrim constituency queries, my office is here to help: 📧robin.swann.mp@parliament.uk ☎️028 2565 9595 💻robinswannmp.com 📍Unit 1D, 55-59 High Street, Antrim, BT41 4AY

The NI Assembly was clear, with unanimous support, Trouble’s related sexual crimes must be a qualifying factor for a Legacy Commission Investigation. It’s an amendment I’ve proposed to the new Troubles Bill and an issue I’ll continue to raise this with NIO.

Great to attend the Purple Paw campaign event at Westminster. 🐾 The event highlighted the Act to Protect approach, showing how animal welfare can be used as a key indicator in safeguarding and risk identification to help keep both people and animals safe from harm.

Women on maternity leave cannot be left economically disadvantaged due to interest on student loans. This is an issue I've raised both in writing to the Treasury and on the floor of the Commons. @uuponline Leader @JonBurrowsMLA has also raised this with the NI Economy Minister.

In 9 working days, 11,000 people will lose support & 400 staff face the prospect of unemployment. Today we stood at Belfast City Hall to raise awareness of the detrimental effects of this funding cliff edge. We're calling on the NI Executive to help us & protect vital services.

Montserrat’s flag raised in the House of Commons 🇲🇸 In the presence of Mr Speaker, we marked St Patrick’s Day and commemorated the 1768 rebellion, a defining moment in Montserrat’s history. Bringing together the diaspora and friends of Montserrat, the ceremony reflected the strength of our culture, from masquerade to poetry to song.

@uuponline @UUPWestminster

🇬🇧🇪🇺At a meeting of the EU-UK Parliamentary Partnership Assembly, I spoke up for the retailers and consumers who continue to be negatively impacted by the barriers placed in front of them by the Windsor Framework. The UK Government must pause any further implementation.

Fantastic to see first-hand the massive £22m investment Hannon Steel is bringing to South Antrim with their new Nutts Corner site. A very impressive site and an example of South Antrim being an excellent place to work and invest.

Northern Ireland reps at the UK-EU Parliamentary Partnership Assembly meeting at the European Parliament, Brussels, these past 2 days:  Ciara Ferguson MLA (SF), Robin Swann MP (UUP), Baroness Margaret Ritchie (SDLP), Brian Kingston MLA (DUP)

St. Patrick's Day in Washington DC ☘️ Party Leader Jon Burrows MLA provides an update on his engagements over in the United States promoting Northern Ireland.

To celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day, we explored the story behind the Saint Patrick for Ireland mosaic in Central Lobby 👇

🇬🇧🇪🇺 Trade within the United Kingdom continues to face barriers and obstacles as a result of the Windsor Framework. This is having significant negative impacts for business and consumers. I raised this today at the EU-UK Parliamentary Partnership Assembly.

UFU Family Farm Day at Stormont 🐄 🚜 The Ulster Unionist Party is proud to support our farmers and will continue to champion our Agri-food sector.

🏆 Mini Bar Mock Trial Competition 🏆 Well done to the pupils of Ballyclare High School, winners of our Bar Mock Trial which took place at the Royal Courts of Justice yesterday. The Ballyclare students successfully advocated, cross examined and collaborated their way to the win and a new trophy for the school cabinet. A huge thank you to the students and their teachers who took time to prepare for and take part in the competition. We look forward to the possibility of some of these young people returning to us as legal professionals in the future 💫 💫 💫

Thank you to The Wallace High School, Lisburn for the invitation to speak with the Year 13 students today. I really enjoyed being part of a panel alongside Emma Little-Pengelly MLA and David Honeyford MLA. The questions were thoughtful, the discussion was robust but always respectful exactly how politics should be. It’s encouraging to see so many young people interested in the future of our society and willing to challenge those in public life. 👏📚 Thanks again for the warm welcome!

Ballymartin is low-hanging fruit. There are already ~400 park & ride spaces there. Add a rail halt and you instantly have a transport hub for Templepatrick, Ballyclare and South Antrim.

Burrows and Swann seek clarity on the future of student finance for NI students Ulster Unionist Party Leader and Education Spokesperson Jon Burrows MLA, and Robin Swann MP, have written to the Economy Minister, Caoimhe Archibald, and the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, James Murray MP, to seek clarity on the future of student finance and loan repayment arrangements affecting Northern Ireland students and graduates. @RobinSwann_MP said: “Northern Ireland graduates deserve a student finance system that is transparent and does not place an unreasonable burden on young people. With changes being explored at UK level, including a review of the sustainability of the student loan system, it is vital that students here are not left in the dark. “There is growing anxiety among borrowers about the long term financial pressures they may face. We need certainty on whether Northern Ireland students will remain on Plan 1 repayment terms or whether a shift to the new Plan 5 model is being considered.” @JonBurrowsMLA also raised concerns about interest charges during periods when borrowers are under financial strain, and how student loans could be made more affordable: “Charging interest during maternity or paternity leave is an unfair penalty at a time when families are already under strain, and it particularly disadvantages women. “The Economy Minister talks about supporting those feeling financial pressure; now she has the opportunity to do so by engaging with the Treasury to advocate for a suspension of interest when a borrower’s income drops below the repayment threshold due to illness or career breaks. Northern Ireland needs to be part of the national conversation on these issues. “I’m also asking for a system that recognises real life circumstances. That means exploring more equitable options, including aligning interest rates with either market rates or inflation, whichever is lower. This would be a game changer for many who feel the current student loans regime doesn’t work for them, and it would open the doors of education to a new generation and drive social mobility. “Together, myself and Robin recognise that this issue requires cooperation between the Department for the Economy and the Treasury. That is why the Ulster Unionist Party is working collaboratively at Stormont and Westminster to ensure Northern Ireland students are not moved to a more punitive repayment plan, and to advocate for interest on loans to be paused under certain personal circumstances.”

🚆𝐁𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧 𝐑𝐚𝐢𝐥 𝐇𝐚𝐥𝐭 The current Park & Ride, alongside a new train halt, would give South Antrim the opportunity to have its own transport hub, serving communities in Templepatrick, Ballyclare and beyond. 📹Watch more ⬇️

No more time for excuses or political pass the parcel. @Keir_Starmer is in Belfast today and this issue needs to be addressed. @moneillsf @little_pengelly

"The default answer was to wait for the CMA to look at the numbers. My message to the Treasury today was that we don’t need a report on the process, we need action on the price. Waiting on a watch-dog report offers no comfort to a constituent sitting in a cold house today."