Peter David Robinson was born on 29th December 1948 to the late David McCrea Robinson and Sheila Robinson. He was educated at Annadale Grammar School and Castlereagh College of Further Education before joining an Estate Agency. Peter married Iris Collins on 26th July 1970 and they have three children, Jonathan, Gareth and Rebekah. Iris has now joined him as a Councillor, an Assembly Member and a Member of Parliament. They are the first husband and wife team ever to represent Northern Ireland at Westminster.

Peter became a member of the DUP at its foundation and has been an Executive member from 1973. He was elected Secretary of the Central Executive Committee in 1974 and appointed as the first General Secretary of the party in 1975 and was later elected Deputy Leader of the Party in 1980.

Peter was first elected to Castlereagh Council in 1977 and has served continuously since. During his period on the council he has been Deputy Mayor (1978), Mayor (1986) and an Alderman since 1988. Peter has also been DUP Group leader during his time on the council. Peter's leadership of the council has taken it from an unknown and unremarkable district council to now being recognised as the premier local authority in Northern Ireland. The council consistently provides the best facilities and enviously low rates. The Dundonald Ice Bowl is amongst Peter's proudest achievements on the council. In recognition of Peter's contribution to the council in 2003 both political colleagues and opponents on the Council voted to bestow upon him the 'Freedom of the Borough'. One of the Borough's main leisure facilities The Robinson Centre is called after him.

He was first elected to Parliament in May 1979 overturning an Ulster Unionist majority of 17,000 by 64 votes. Along with other Unionist MPs Peter resigned his seat in protest at the Anglo Irish Agreement in 1985 and was re-elected in the subsequent by-election. Despite boundary changes Peter has successfully defended the seat six times and East Belfast is now a safe DUP seat. At Westminster Peter has served on the Northern Ireland Select Committee since it was established in 1994 - he is its longest serving member.

Peter Robinson is the longest serving Member of Parliament for any Belfast constituency since Parliamentary representation began after the Act of Union in 1800.

As well as his political profile Peter has a reputation for providing what is probably the best constituency service in the United Kingdom. Now operating two full time advice centres trained staff assist in looking after the needs of the people of East Belfast. Tens of thousands of people have benefited from this service over the years.

During his time in Parliament Peter has consistently voted against deeper involvement in the European Union and in favour of the death penalty.

Peter was also elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly established in 1982 where he served as Chairman of the Environment Committee until it was dissolved in 1986.

In 1996 he was elected to the Northern Ireland Forum and served in it until it completed its work in 1998.

Peter was elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly in 1998 and when powers were devolved in 1999 he became Minister for the Department for Regional Development

He was responsible for the Assembly's most significant measure taken over this period with the introduction of free fares on public transport for older people. Independently recognised as the best Minister in the Devolved Government Peter also helped formulate the 25 year Regional Development Strategy for Northern Ireland and devised the 10 year Regional Transport Strategy. Both received the unanimous support of the Assembly.

Peter enjoys playing golf and bowling, he also breeds Japanese Koi fish, a variety of fresh water ornamental pond fish, from the carp family.

Peter has authored numerous publications during his political life on the history and politics of Ulster.

Few politicians have successfully offered themselves to the electorate for election. Peter has won 18 elections in a row and has been described by the press as one of Northern Irelands most talented and articulate politicians and probably unionism best strategist.