Paul Frew

Paul Frew (born 20 September 1974) is a Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) politician who served as Minister for the Economy from June to July 2021. He has been a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for North Antrim since 2010. Frew is the DUP's Tourism and Hospitality Spokesperson.^[1]

Paul Frew MLA
Frew in 2024
Minister for the Economy
In office 14 June 2021 – 6 July 2021
Preceded by	The Lady Dodds of Duncairn
Succeeded by	Gordon Lyons
Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly for North Antrim
Incumbent
Assumed office 21 June 2010
Preceded by	Ian Paisley, Jr
Personal details
Born	(1974-09-20) 20 September 1974 (age 50) Kells, Northern Ireland
Political party	DUP

Frew was previously a Ballymena Borough Councillor for the Braid DEA from 2005 to 2014.

Background

A native of Kells, he is an electrician by trade and did not go to third-level education, commenting in one interview "my university was the building sites of Belfast".^[2]

He served in the Royal Irish Regiment.^[3]

Frew joined the DUP in 2000, and was elected at the 2005 local elections to Ballymena Borough Council, representing the Braid District.

In 2010, he replaced Ian Paisley, Jr as a Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly for North Antrim.^[4]

He plays the spoons.^[2]