Career
Robinson worked as an Independent Financial Advisor. He joined the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP), and was elected to Larne Borough Council at the Northern Ireland local elections, 1977. He held his seat in 1981, and was elected Deputy Mayor of Larne in 1982, then Mayor in 1983.
Robinson was elected for the Coast Road district at the Northern Ireland local elections, 1985, 1989, 1993 and 1997.
He was also elected to the Northern Ireland Forum in 1996, representing East Antrim. By 2000, Robinson had become a prominent critic of UUP leader David Trimble.
He lost his council seat in 2001, and subsequently defected to the United Kingdom Unionist Party (UKUP). He stood for this new party at the Northern Ireland Assembly election, 2003, but took only 1.8% of the vote and was not elected.
Robinson stood again for Larne Borough Council at the Northern Ireland local elections, 2005, this time as an independent candidate, but took only 57 votes and was again unsuccessful.