Hugh Robertson (politician)
The Right Honourable Sir Hugh Robertson KCMG DL | |
---|---|
Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs | |
In office 7 October 2013 – 14 July 2014 | |
Prime Minister | David Cameron |
Preceded by | Alistair Burt |
Succeeded by | Tobias Ellwood |
Minister for Sport | |
In office 14 May 2010 – 7 October 2013 | |
Prime Minister | David Cameron |
Preceded by | Gerry Sutcliffe |
Succeeded by | Helen Grant |
Member of Parliament for Faversham and Mid Kent | |
In office 7 June 2001 – 30 March 2015 | |
Preceded by | Andrew Rowe |
Succeeded by | Helen Whately |
Personal details | |
Born |
Canterbury, Kent, UK | 9 October 1962
Nationality | British |
Political party | Conservative |
Spouse(s) | Anna, née Copson |
Alma mater | University of Reading |
Website |
www |
Military service | |
Allegiance | United Kingdom |
Service/branch | British Army |
Years of service | 1982–1995 |
Rank | Major |
Unit | Life Guards |
Sir Hugh Michael Robertson KCMG PC DL,[1][2] (born 9 October 1962, Canterbury, Kent) is the Chairman of the British Olympic Association. He was formerly a British Conservative Party politician who was the Member of Parliament (MP) for Faversham and Mid Kent from 2001 to 2015. He was the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs until July 2014, and was previously the Minister for Sport and for the Olympics and was the Minister with day-to-day responsibility for the 2012 London Olympic and Paralympic Games.[3] He currently heads the London office of Falcon and Associates (www.acoba.independent.gov.uk) and is a Trustee and Chairman of the Appeal at Canterbury Cathedral (www.canterbury-cathedral.org). He was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant of Kent in May 2015 (www.kent-lieutenancy.org.uk).
Education
Robertson was educated at The King's School, Canterbury. He then read Land Management at the University of Reading from 1982–85, obtaining a BSc (Hons) degree, before attending the RMA Sandhurst between 1985-86.
In April 2014, Robertson was awarded a Distinguished Fellowship by the University of Reading in recognition of the role he played in the London 2012 Olympics.[4]
Early career
Robertson served as an officer in the Life Guards from 1982–95, rising to the rank of Major. Robertson saw active service in Northern Ireland, Cyprus, The Gulf War and served with the UN peacekeeping force UNPROFOR in Bosnia and Herzegovina. He also commanded The Household Cavalry on the 1993 Queen's Birthday Parade and at the 1993 State Opening of Parliament.[3]
From 1995 until 2001, he was a banker with the investment management division of Schroders, then head of new business development for the property division.[5]
Honours
Sir Hugh has received the following decorations:
- KCMG
- General Service Medal
- UNFICYP Medal
- Gulf War Medal
- UNPROFOR Medal (Bosnia)
- NATO Medal (Former Yugoslavia)
- Brunei Meritorious Service Medal.[6]
With effect from 18 June 2015, it was announced that Sir Hugh had been appointed to the role of Deputy Lieutenant of Kent.[2]
Parliamentary career
Robertson was the Member of Parliament for the constituency of Faversham and Mid Kent, a large constituency in Kent, which stretches from the ouskirts of east Maidstone to the rural areas of The Weald and Faversham.He doubled his majority at both the 2005 and 2010 elections.[7]
Having shadowed this post in Opposition, he was appointed a Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State as the Minister for Sport and the Olympics in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport in May 2010.[8] In September 2012, he was promoted to Minister of State in the Department of Culture, Media and Sport as the Minister for Sport, Olympic Legacy Tourism and was appointed a Privy Councillor. In 2013, he moved to be Minister of State at The Foreign and Commonwealth Office responsible for The Middle East, North Africa and Counter Terrorism. He stood down from government in the 2014 reshuffle and was knighted for his work as Minister for The Olympics during London 2012.[9]
In January 2015 Robertson announced that he would stand down from Parliament at the next general election.[10]
Personal life
He married Anna Copson on 17 May 2002 at the Church of St. Margaret, Westminster. The wedding had to be rescheduled at short notice from 5 April after the death of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother.[11] They have one son: James.
Robertson is a playing member of the prestigious Marylebone Cricket Club.
References
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 59418. p. 8742. 13 May 2010.
- 1 2 The London Gazette: no. 61275. p. 11528. 24 June 2015.
- 1 2 "Minister of State for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office". Retrieved 10 April 2014.
- ↑ "University honours key figures from London Olympics". 25 March 2014. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
- ↑ Dods Parliamentary Companion
- ↑ Pingat Indah Kerja Baik
- ↑ Who's Who 2014
- ↑ Gibson, Owen (14 May 2010). "Conservative MP Hugh Robertson to be confirmed as new sports minister". Guardian.co.uk. Retrieved 16 May 2010.
- ↑ 10 Downing Street website 22 Jul 14
- ↑ "Hugh Robertson, former Conservative minister, to stand down". BBC News. 15 January 2015. Retrieved 15 January 2015.
- ↑ Assinder, Nick (10 May 2002). "Blair fights on in media battle". BBC News.
External links
- Hugh Robertson MP official site
- Debrett's People of Today
- Guardian Unlimited Politics - Ask Aristotle: Hugh Robertson MP
- TheyWorkForYou.com - Hugh Robertson MP
- BBC Politics page
Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
---|---|---|
Preceded by Andrew Rowe |
Member of Parliament for Faversham and Mid Kent 2001–2015 |
Succeeded by Helen Whately |
Political offices | ||
Preceded by Gerry Sutcliffe |
Minister for Sport 2010–2013 |
Succeeded by Helen Grant |
Preceded by Alistair Burt |
Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 2013–2014 |
Succeeded by TBA |