Andrew Robathan

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Andrew Robert George Robathan (born 17 July 1951) is a British Conservative politician, and Member of Parliament (MP) for Blaby in Leicestershire.

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[edit] Early life

Educated at Merchant Taylors' School in Northwood, Robathan went on to Oriel College, Oxford gaining a BA in Modern History in 1973 before becoming an officer in the Coldstream Guards from 1974-89 and the SAS. He worked for BP from 1991-2.

[edit] Parliamentary career

He was first elected as MP for Blaby in 1992 succeeding Nigel Lawson, the former Chancellor of the Exchequer. Blaby is a safe seat for the Conservatives, but Robathan's majority is yet to reach the heights of the 1992 election when his majority was over 25,000. This is due to major boundary changes in 1997, a rise in Liberal Democrat support within the constituency and the problem of succeeding a very well-known and high-profile MP in Nigel Lawson. In the past two elections, Robathan has faced J. David Morgan of the Labour Party but Morgan's impact has been negligible.

Following a public enquiry by the Electoral Commission and submissions from the public including Robathan, the Blaby constituency will be known as South Leicestershire from the next general election onwards.

Robathan is in many ways a typical Conservative MP of the old school: public-school and Oxford educated, a former army officer, holding deeply Euro-Sceptic and conservative views. Nevertheless, he has a passion for the environment and is deeply committed to International Development following four years on the departmental select committee between 1997 and 2001.

He has also taken a very personal interest in the affairs of John Prescott, the Deputy Prime Minister. Their mutual antagonism is legend and is not helped by Robathan's hand in reporting Prescott to the Commissioner for Public Standards over Prescott's complicated living arrangements. At the time, the DPM had four homes and was not declaring the benefit received from a flat owned by the RMT in Clapham.

Robathan's Parliamentary career has been steady rather than spectacular. He was a mildly rebellious, John Redwood-backing PPS to Iain Sproat, Minister for Sport, in the Major administration before returning to the backbenches when the Conservatives lost the 1997 General Election. He returned to the front-bench, after a surprisingly long wait, as Trade and Industry Spokesman in 2002.

In the 2001 Conservative Party leadership election, Robathan was a keen supporter of Michael Portillo which surprised many who thought he would back Iain Duncan Smith especially given their Guards background. Unhappy with Duncan Smith's leadership he is believed - although this has not been confirmed - to have been a leading light in the campaign to replace Duncan Smith in 2003 which may explain why he was not originally given a front-bench post by Michael Howard. It was suggested that Howard excluded him to mollify an unhappy and hurt Duncan Smith. Nevertheless, after six months on the backbenches, Robathan was appointed Commons Liaison to the Lords and then a defence spokesman in which capacity he fought the 2005 General Election.

On 2 November 2004 Robathan apologised to Labour MP Chris Bryant after insulting him during the Commons debate on banning smacking of children. Mr Bryant requested an intervention in Mr Robathan's speech to which the Conservative yielded, yet in doing so stated that Mr Bryant would 'never have children so he will approach the matter differently.' Mr Bryant is openly gay and Mr Robathan's insult brought swift condemnation from his own side. Former Agriculture Minister Douglas Hogg leapt to his feet, branded the comment 'uncalled for' and demanded Mr Robathan apologise, which he did.

In the 2005 Conservative leadership election, Robathan was one of the very first MPs to declare his support for David Cameron and he was instrumental in persuading many right-wingers in the party to back Cameron. He was rewarded with one of only five paid posts in opposition, Opposition Deputy Chief Whip.

[edit] Personal life

He married Rachel Maunder in December 1991 in Westminster. They have a son (born January 1997) and daughter (born September 1999). He speaks French and German. He is a Freeman of the City of London.

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Preceded by
Nigel Lawson		 Member of Parliament for Blaby
1992 – present		 Incumbent
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