A science teacher has been selected as UKIP’s first parliamentary candidate for Huddersfield.
Father-of-two Rob Butler, 57, taught at All Saints Catholic College at Bradley and Holmfirth High School.
Married for more than 30 years to special needs teacher Sarah, 54, he is now head of science, technology, engineering and mathematics at a Manchester comprehensive.
The couple, who have two sons Sam, 28, and Jake, 25, live in Holmfirth.
Prior to becoming a teacher, Mr Butler spent more than 20 years in sales and marketing with blue chip companies. He obtained his post graduate diploma in marketing from the University of Huddersfield.
Mr Butler trained as a teacher at Huddersfield University and started his career at what is now All Saints College.
He is a published author of science text and teacher resource books and was involved in the National Curriculum Review Committee for science.
Mr Butler’s key interest is education and he said: “As a life long learner I passionately believe that education is the key to unlock the potential of all UK citizens.
“My dad started out as a miner and my mum a nurse and it is through education that ordinary people, without access to large amounts of capital, can thrive in today’s inter-connected world.”
On immigration Mr Butler said that the UK’s borders should have controls “to allow in only those individuals, who by their skills and aptitude, can help raise the living standards of those who already live here.
“We need to trade freely and openly with the rest of the world and not be trapped in a declining trade bloc.”
Since being adopted as UKIP’s prospective parliamentary candidate Mr Butler has helped set up a local branch of Young Independence, the youth wing of UKIP.
He added: “Young people are the future and their betrayal with regards to university tuition fees by Labour, the Tories and the Liberal Democrats needs to be righted and I will work hard to remove these fees.”
