Robert Atkins (politician)
Encyclopedia
Sir Robert James Atkins (born 5 February 1946 in London
) is a British
Conservative
politician. Educated at Highgate School
, he served as a councillor for the London Borough of Haringey
from 1968 to 1977. He was the Member of Parliament
for Preston North
and South Ribble
from 1979 to 1997 and became a Member of the European Parliament
for the North West England
region in 1999. He was Deputy Leader of the Conservatives in the European Parliament until November 2007 and was Chief Whip from November 2008 to November 2009. He was Conservative Spokesman on Industry and External Trade from 2001–2004, and was Spokesman on Regional Policy, Transport and Tourism from 1999-2001.) He is a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee and the Transport & Tourism Committee. From 1984 to 1987 he was President of Conservative Trade Unionists
. He was knighted in 1997 for services to the country and is a Freeman of the City of London
.
He was made a member of the Privy Council
in 1995 and was a minister in the following positions:
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
) is a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
politician. Educated at Highgate School
Highgate School
-Notable members of staff and governing body:* John Ireton, brother of Henry Ireton, Cromwellian General* 1st Earl of Mansfield, Lord Chief Justice, owner of Kenwood, noted for judgment finding contracts for slavery unenforceable in English law* T. S...
, he served as a councillor for the London Borough of Haringey
London Borough of Haringey
The London Borough of Haringey is a London borough, in North London, classified by some definitions as part of Inner London, and by others as part of Outer London. It was created in 1965 by the amalgamation of three former boroughs. It shares borders with six other London boroughs...
from 1968 to 1977. He was the Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Preston North
Preston North (UK Parliament constituency)
Preston North was a parliamentary constituency in Lancashire, which returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom...
and South Ribble
South Ribble (UK Parliament constituency)
South Ribble is a county constituency in Lancashire, England represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.-History:...
from 1979 to 1997 and became a Member of the European Parliament
Member of the European Parliament
A Member of the European Parliament is a person who has been elected to the European Parliament. The name of MEPs differ in different languages, with terms such as europarliamentarian or eurodeputy being common in Romance language-speaking areas.When the European Parliament was first established,...
for the North West England
North West England (European Parliament constituency)
North West England is a constituency of the European Parliament. For the 2009 elections it elects 8 MEPs using the d'Hondt method of party-list proportional representation.-Boundaries:...
region in 1999. He was Deputy Leader of the Conservatives in the European Parliament until November 2007 and was Chief Whip from November 2008 to November 2009. He was Conservative Spokesman on Industry and External Trade from 2001–2004, and was Spokesman on Regional Policy, Transport and Tourism from 1999-2001.) He is a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee and the Transport & Tourism Committee. From 1984 to 1987 he was President of Conservative Trade Unionists
Conservative Trade Unionists
Conservatives at Work, formerly Conservative Trade Unionists , is an organisation within the British Conservative Party made up of Conservative-supporting trade unionists.Under Margaret Thatcher's leadership there was a drive for recruitment...
. He was knighted in 1997 for services to the country and is a Freeman of the City of London
City of London
The City of London is a small area within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which the modern conurbation grew and has held city status since time immemorial. The City’s boundaries have remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, and it is now only a tiny part of...
.
He was made a member of the Privy Council
Privy Council of the United Kingdom
Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, usually known simply as the Privy Council, is a formal body of advisers to the Sovereign in the United Kingdom...
in 1995 and was a minister in the following positions:
- Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1987 to 1989)
- Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (1989 to 1990)
- Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Environment and Minister for Sport (1990)
- Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education and Science and Minister for Sport (1990 to 1992)
- Minister of State, Northern Ireland (1992 to 1994)
- Minister of State for Environment and Countryside (1994 to 1995)