[1][2] Robert Mervyn Storey was born in Armoy, County Antrim on 4 September 1964.

His father Nat was a founder member of the Protestant Unionist Party and an election worker for Ian Paisley.

On leaving school in 1980 he worked in a bacon factory, rising to production manager.

He resigned from this post several times during September and October 2015 in the context of a political crisis.

[3][4] As a young earth creationist,[3] and a member of the "Council of Reference" of the creationist Caleb Foundation,[6] he petitioned the then Northern Irish education minister, Caitríona Ruane, to have intelligent design taught in schools in Northern Ireland, as well as objecting to an exhibition on evolution in the Ulster Museum and signs at the Giants Causeway in his North Antrim constituency.