Hugh Robertson (politician)

The Right Honourable
Sir Hugh Robertson
KCMG DL
Chairman of the British Olympic Association
Assumed office
24 November 2016
President The Princess Royal
Preceded by The Lord Coe
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.co.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 and Chairman of Camelot, the operator of The National Lottery. 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, having previously been the Minister for Sport and for the Olympics. As such, he was the Minister with day-to-day responsibility for the 2012 London Olympic and Paralympic Games.[3] He currently Chairs the Sports Honours Committee, is the lead independent trustee on the Chelsea FC Foundation and is a Trustee and Chairman of the Appeal at Canterbury Cathedral. He was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant of Kent in May 2015.

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. He was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Bedfordshire in November 2017 for his contribution to sport.[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. He was also honoured by the International Paralympic Committee for his work on London 2012 and holds the Emeritus Award from the Sport and Recreation Alliance.[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. He took The Equal Marriage Bill through Parliament. 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 was closely involved in John Kerry's Middle East Peace initiative, the Iran nuclear negotiations and the Geneva Peace process to end the war in Syria. He stood down from government in the 2014 reshuffle and was knighted for his work as Minister for The Olympics during London 2012 and his work in The Middle East.[9]

In January 2015 Robertson announced that he would stand down from Parliament at the next general election.[10]. He Chairs the Sports Honours Committee, Chairs the Canterbury Cathedral Appeal and is a Trustee of the Chelsea Football Club Foundation.

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

  1. ↑ "No. 59418". The London Gazette. 13 May 2010. p. 8742.
  2. 1 2 "No. 61275". The London Gazette. 24 June 2015. p. 11528.
  3. 1 2 "Minister of State for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office". Retrieved 10 April 2014.
  4. ↑ "University honours key figures from London Olympics". 25 March 2014. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
  5. ↑ Dods Parliamentary Companion
  6. ↑ Pingat Indah Kerja Baik
  7. ↑ Who's Who 2014
  8. ↑ Gibson, Owen (14 May 2010). "Conservative MP Hugh Robertson to be confirmed as new sports minister". Guardian.co.uk. Retrieved 16 May 2010.
  9. ↑ 10 Downing Street website 22 Jul 14
  10. ↑ "Hugh Robertson, former Conservative minister, to stand down". BBC News. 15 January 2015. Retrieved 15 January 2015.
  11. ↑ Assinder, Nick (10 May 2002). "Blair fights on in media battle". BBC News.
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
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