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 (1962-10-09) 9 October 1962
Canterbury, Kent, UK
Nationality British
Political party Conservative
Spouse(s) Anna, née Copson
Alma mater University of Reading
Website www.hughrobertson.org.uk
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

The King's School, Canterbury

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:

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

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
Andrew Rowe
Member of Parliament for Faversham and Mid Kent
20012015
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
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