Laurence Robertson

Laurence Robertson was born on 29 March 1958 in Bolton, Lancashire. His father was a miner, a postman, a delivery man then a milkman. His mother was an office worker in Manchester.

He was educated at St James's C.E. Secondary Modern School and at Farnworth Grammar School, both located in Farnworth. He the studied at Bolton Institute of Higher Education (now the University of Bolton),[https://books.google.com/books?id=tDpzBwAAQBAJ&dq=Farnworth+Grammar+School+Laurence+Robertson&pg=PA925 The Almanac of British Politics], Robert Waller, Byron Criddle, Routledge, 2007, page 925 gaining a diploma in Management Services.

Before entering Parliament, Robertson held a number of roles which included him working as a charity fundraiser, public relations consultant, company director, factory owner from 1987 to 1988, industrial management consultant from 1983 to 1989, and work study engineer from 1977 to 1983.{{Cite web

| url = http://www.laurencerobertsonmp.com/page9.html

| title = Laurence Robertson MP: Personal in Detail

| accessdate = 13 January 2010

| publisher = laurencerobertsonmp.com

}}{{Cite web

|url=http://www.conservatives.com/People/Members_of_Parliament/Robertson_Laurence.aspx

|title=People: Laurence Robertson

|accessdate=13 January 2010 |publisher=conservatives.com

|url-status=dead

|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100518120226/http://www.conservatives.com/People/Members_of_Parliament/Robertson_Laurence.aspx

|archivedate=18 May 2010 }}

From 1988 to 1991, Robertson was Chairman of Governors of a primary school, a visitor for Victim Support Scheme, and the area chairman for the Campaign for Law and Order.

Robertson was an unsuccessful candidate when he stood for Bolton Council in the Derby ward in 1983 and in the Burnden ward in 1986.{{Cite web |last1=Rallings |first1=Colin |last2=Thrasher |first2=Michael |title=Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council Election Results 1973–2012 |url=http://www.electionscentre.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Bolton-1973-2012.pdf}} At the 1987 general election, Robertson stood unsuccessfully as the Conservative candidate in Makerfield, finishing second with 27.3% of the vote behind the Labour candidate Ian McCartney.{{cite web |title=Election Data 1987 |url=http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_1987.txt |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111015054243/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_1987.txt |archive-date=15 October 2011 |access-date=18 October 2015 |publisher=Electoral Calculus}} Robertson also stood unsuccessfully in Ashfield at the 1992 general election, finishing second with 32.6% of the vote behind the Labour candidate Geoff Hoon.{{cite web |title=Election Data 1992 |url=http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_1992ob.txt |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111015054418/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_1992ob.txt |archive-date=15 October 2011 |access-date=18 October 2015 |publisher=Electoral Calculus}}{{cite web |date=9 April 1992 |title=Politics Resources |url=http://www.politicsresources.net/area/uk/ge92/ge92index.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724020412/http://www.politicsresources.net/area/uk/ge92/ge92index.htm |archive-date=24 July 2011 |access-date=6 December 2010 |work=Election 1992 |publisher=Politics Resources}}

At the 1997 general election, Robertson was elected as the Member of Parliament for Tewkesbury, winning with 45.8% of the vote and a majority of 9,234.{{cite web |title=Election Data 1997 |url=http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_1997.txt |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111015054424/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_1997.txt |archive-date=15 October 2011 |access-date=18 October 2015 |publisher=Electoral Calculus}}Percentage change and swing for 1997 is calculated relative to the Rallings and Thrasher 1992 notional constituency result, not actual 1992 result. See C. Rallings & M. Thrasher, The Media Guide to the New Parliamentary Constituencies (Plymouth: LGC Elections Centre, 1995) Robertson stood on "an unashamedly British ticket, fighting against European federalism and stressing the need for and benefits of preserving the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland."{{Cite web|title=Referendums (Scotland and Wales) Bill (Hansard, 21 May 1997)|url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1997/may/21/referendums-scotland-and-wales-bill#S6CV0294P0_19970521_HOC_397|access-date=6 November 2020|website=api.parliament.uk}} He made his maiden speech n 21 May 1997, during the Referendums (Scotland and Wales) Bill, in which he spoke out against devolution.

In May 2001, Robertson ignored James Cran's{{cite news|last=Jones|first=George|date=2 May 2001|title=Laurence Robertson: MP in the spotlight|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1328818/Taylor-vows-to-stay-as-second-MP-apologises.html|accessdate=10 July 2017}} advice not to publicly express support for John Townend. Robertson endorsed Townend's controversial remarks about race{{cite news|date=1 May 2001|title=Laurence Robertson: MP in the spotlight|work=BBC News|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/1306373.stm|accessdate=13 January 2010}} on BBC's Newsnight saying that Townend's remarks were "basically true" and "having too many people in different multi-racial groups makes society very difficult to manage, especially in certain parts of the country. It is not that easy to manage that kind of society". Robertson was forced to apologise after being given an ultimatum to either apologise, retract his remarks, and promise not to repeat them or to be stripped of the Conservative party whip.{{cite news|date=1 May 2001|title=Second Tory says sorry in race row|work=BBC News|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/1306373.stm|accessdate=13 January 2010}} He was reported to have told colleagues that he received a lot of support, and was told by the chairman of his Tewkesbury constituency that he should not have backed down.{{cite news|last1=Watt|first1=Nicholas|last2=White|first2=Michael|date=3 May 2001|title=Race row MP denies he will speak out|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2001/may/03/conservatives.Whitehall|accessdate=10 July 2017}}

At the 2001 general election, Robertson was re-elected as MP for Tewkesbury with an increased vote share of 46.1% and a decreased majority of 8,663 votes.{{cite web |title=Election Data 2001 |url=http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2001ob.txt |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111015054450/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2001ob.txt |archive-date=15 October 2011 |access-date=18 October 2015 |publisher=Electoral Calculus}} After the election, Robertson was appointed an Opposition Whip.{{Cite web |title=Parliamentary Career for Mr Laurence Robertson |url=https://members.parliament.uk/member/253/career}}

In June 2003, he was made Shadow Minister for Trade and Industry. In November 2003, Robertson was appointed a Shadow Minister for Economic Affairs and from May 2005, he served as the Shadow Minister for Northern Ireland.https://web.archive.org/web/20060821191817/http://www.parliament.uk/directories/hciolists/opp.cfm He was not given a ministerial position in the 2010 Parliament, but served as chair of the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee until July 2017 when Andrew Murrison succeeded Robertson as chair.{{cite news |date=12 July 2017 |title=Nicky Morgan to lead Treasury committee |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-40589509 |accessdate=12 July 2017 |work=BBC News}}

Between 2004 and 2005, Robertson led a successful campaign to save Alderman Knight, a local special needs school for children additional learning difficulties, complex needs and Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD) from closure.{{Cite news |date=24 March 2005 |title=MP thrown out over Hodge remark |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/4379191.stm |access-date=6 November 2020 |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |title=Alderman Knight School |url=https://www.aldermanknight.gloucs.sch.uk/ |access-date=6 November 2020 |website=aldermanknight |language=en}}

On 24 March 2005, the Schools Adjudicator ruled that Alderman Knight would close. During a question to the Minister of Education on the matter of special schools in the House of Commons that day, Robertson accused Minister for Children, Young People and Families Margaret Hodge of providing an "inadequate" and "dishonest" answer after failing to mention the school in her figures.{{Cite web |title=House of Commons Hansard Debates for 24 Mar 2005 (pt 2) |url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200405/cmhansrd/vo050324/debtext/50324-02.htm |access-date=6 November 2020 |website=publications.parliament.uk}} When ordered by Speaker Michael Martin to withdraw the remark, Robertson declined, stating: "Mr Speaker, I am here to represent my constituents. I will not withdraw that remark." He was therefore asked to leave the chamber.

Robertson was again re-elected at the 2005 general election, with an increased vote share of 49.1% and an increased majority of 9,892 votes.{{cite web |title=Election Data 2005 |url=http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2005ob.txt |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111015054249/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2005ob.txt |archive-date=15 October 2011 |access-date=18 October 2015 |publisher=Electoral Calculus}}

Following the 2007 floods in Tewkesbury, Robertson spoke out against building on flood plains.{{cite news |date=18 September 2007 |title=Flood plain homes scheme deferred |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/gloucestershire/7000678.stm |accessdate=13 January 2010 |work=BBC News}} An issue that Robertson raised once again to Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in February 2020 following heavy flooding in his constituency.{{Cite web |date=25 February 2020 |title=Flooding- Question to the Environment Secretary |url=https://www.laurencerobertson.org.uk/news/flooding-question-environment-secretary |access-date=6 November 2020 |website=Laurence Robertson |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Parliamentlive.tv |url=https://parliamentlive.tv/event/index/9d063b46-396d-48c3-879b-b5f70dde2d25?in=17:41:57&out=17:42:36 |access-date=6 November 2020 |website=parliamentlive.tv}} Robertson is Vice Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Flood Prevention, and continues to lobby the government on the issue of flooding.{{Cite web |title=Registers published in 2020 |url=https://www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/standards-and-financial-interests/parliamentary-commissioner-for-standards/registers-of-interests/register-of-all-party-party-parliamentary-groups/registers-published-in-2020/ |access-date=6 November 2020 |website=parliament.uk |language=en}}

At the 2010 general election, Robertson was again re-elected, with a decreased vote share of 47.2% and a decreased majority of 6,310 votes.{{cite web |title=Election Data 2010 |url=http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2010.txt |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130726162034/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2010.txt |archive-date=26 July 2013 |access-date=17 October 2015 |publisher=Electoral Calculus}}Percentage change and swing for 2010 is calculated relative to the PA (Rallings and Thrasher) 2005 notional result, not actual 2005 result {{cite web |title=Press Association Elections |url=http://election.pressassociation.com/Constituencies/general.php |access-date=17 July 2017 |publisher=Press Association}} After the election, Robertson served as chair of the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee until July 2017.

During the expenses scandal, it was flagged that between 2001 and 2011, Robertson had claimed more than £1 million in MP's expenses and criticised plans to overhaul the system of claims for MPs.{{cite news|last=Morris|first=Nigel|date=13 September 2013|title=MPs' expenses surpass pre-scandal levels as 150 give jobs to family|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/mps-expenses/10306675/MPs-expenses-surpass-pre-scandal-levels-as-150-give-jobs-to-family.html|accessdate=8 July 2017}}

In December 2014, Robertson along with six other male Conservative Party MPs voted against the Equal Pay (Transparency) Bill which would require all companies with more than 250 employees to declare the gap in pay between the average male and average female salaries.{{cite news |last=Saul |first=Heather |date=16 December 2014 |title=Equal Pay: Seven male Tory MPs vote against bill to make big companies reveal gender pay gap |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/equal-pay-seven-male-tory-mps-vote-against-bill-to-make-big-companies-reveal-gender-pay-gap-9928964.html |accessdate=18 April 2015 |newspaper=The Independent}}

At the 2015 general election, Robertson was again re-elected, with an increased vote share of 54.5% and an increased majority of 21,972 votes.{{cite web |title=Election Data 2015 |url=http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2015.txt |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017112223/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2015.txt |archive-date=17 October 2015 |access-date=17 October 2015 |publisher=Electoral Calculus}}{{cite web |date=8 May 2015 |title=Statement of Results |url=http://www.tewkesbury.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=3537&p=0 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304061357/http://www.tewkesbury.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=3537&p=0 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |access-date=14 May 2017 |publisher=Tewkesbury Borough Council}}{{Cite web |date=2015 |title=Tewkesbury |url=http://ukpollingreport.co.uk/2015guide/tewkesbury/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305042016/http://ukpollingreport.co.uk/2015guide/tewkesbury/ |archive-date=5 March 2016 |access-date=14 May 2017 |work=UK Polling Report 2015 |publisher=YouGov}}

In March 2016, Robertson was accused of "cash for access" after it was reported that he sponsored a parliamentary pass for a lobbyist, Jennifer Bryant-Pearson, in 2014 whose company paid him £7,500 for consultancy advice in 2009 and 2010. Robertson was paid between £9,000 and £10,000 a year by the environmental services company Veolia, which is among Bryant-Pearson's major clients. Robertson went onto clarify: "I received and registered payments from Westminster Parliamentary Research, the last of which was received by me on 28th May 2010. Jennifer Bryant-Pearson held a Parliamentary pass through me from 6th January 2014 to 30th March 2015. There was therefore a gap of almost four years between the ending of my consultancy work with the company and her obtaining a pass".{{Cite web|date=2 March 2016|title=Tory MP facing 'cash for access' accusations|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/laurence-robertson-tory-mp-faces-cash-access-accusations-after-sponsoring-parliamentary-pass-lobbyist-a6908016.html|access-date=6 November 2020|website=The Independent|language=en}}

At the snap 2017 general election, Robertson was again re-elected with an increased vote share of 60% and an increased majority of 22,574 votes.{{cite web |date=12 May 2017 |title=Known candidates for Tewkesbury in the 2017 general election |url=https://whocanivotefor.co.uk/elections/parl.2017-06-08/post-WMC:E14000990/tewkesbury |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170514204923/https://whocanivotefor.co.uk/elections/parl.2017-06-08/post-WMC:E14000990/tewkesbury |archive-date=14 May 2017 |access-date=14 May 2017 |publisher=Democracy Club}}

In 2019, Robertson along with his colleagues, led a successful campaign to save Cheltenham's Accident and Emergency Department from closure.{{Cite web|title=Accident and Emergency will remain in Cheltenham, health secretary confirms|url=https://www.punchline-gloucester.com/articles/aanews/accident-and-emergency-will-remain-in-cheltenham-health-secretary-confirms|access-date=6 November 2020|website=punchline-gloucester.com}}

At the 2019 general election, Robertson was again re-elected, with a decreased vote share of 58.4% and a decreased majority of 22,410 votes.{{cite news |title=Tewkesbury Parliamentary constituency |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/E14000990 |access-date=29 November 2019 |website=BBC News |publisher=BBC}}

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Cheltenham A&E was temporarily closed.{{Cite web|last=Boobyer|first=Leigh|date=15 September 2020|title=Cheltenham's A&E will remain shut until next year|url=https://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/news/cheltenham-news/cheltenham-general-hospitals-ae-remain-4518341|access-date=6 November 2020|website=GloucestershireLive|language=en}} On 30 September 2020, Robertson brought the issue to light during Prime Minister's Questions, asking the prime minister to ensure the return of the A&E at Cheltenham General Hospital, to which the Prime Minister confirmed that the closure was a "temporary measure".{{Cite web|title=Prime Minister's Questions: Cheltenham A&E|url=https://www.laurencerobertson.org.uk/news/prime-ministers-questions-cheltenham-ae|access-date=6 November 2020|website=Laurence Robertson|date=October 2020 |language=en}}{{Cite web|title=Engagements - Hansard|url=https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2020-09-30/debates/5CB98FF5-DC7B-45EF-9F9C-214D925D7EFE/Engagements#contribution-15EBA627-CC6A-4AF5-B007-8035D8BA7867|access-date=6 November 2020|website=hansard.parliament.uk}}

In October 2020, Robertson spoke out against the IPSA proposed pay rise for Members of Parliament in a statement on his website.{{Cite web |title=Other |url=https://www.laurencerobertson.org.uk/other |access-date=6 November 2020 |website=Laurence Robertson |language=en}}

Robertson began a job at the Betting and Gaming Council in October 2020 as the parliamentary advisor on sport and safer gambling. He is paid £2,000 for 10 hours of work a month, equivalent to £24,000 a year. He lost his Tewkesbury seat at the 2024 general election to the Liberal Democrat candidate, Cameron Thomas.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election/2024/uk/constituencies/E14001542 |title=Tewkesbury results |author= |date=5 July 2024 |website=bbc.co.uk |publisher=BBC |access-date=6 July 2024}}

Robertson notes that although "the events in the Province [Northern Ireland] didn't immediately affect me, they had an impact on my thinking and ended up having an enormous influence on my career."{{Cite web|title=About Laurence|url=https://www.laurencerobertson.org.uk/about-laurence|access-date=6 November 2020|website=Laurence Robertson|language=en}}

In Parliament, Robertson was Chairman of the Northern Ireland Affairs Select Committee between 2010 and 2017.{{Cite web|title=Northern Ireland Affairs Committee: Chair nominations close - Committees - UK Parliament|url=https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/120/northern-ireland-affairs-committee/news/103738/northern-ireland-affairs-committee-chair-nominations-close/|access-date=6 November 2020|website=committees.parliament.uk|language=en}}{{Cite news|date=9 June 2010|title=New Northern Ireland Affairs committee chair appointed|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10274902|access-date=6 November 2020}} The committee contained 13 members, including members from the Conservative and Labour Parties, the DUP, UUP, and SDLP. During his time as chair, the subjects of the inquiries and reports included the Saville Inquiry (Bloody Sunday),{{Cite web|title=Report of the Bloody Sunday Inquiry|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/report-of-the-bloody-sunday-inquiry|access-date=6 November 2020|website=GOV.UK|language=en}} the Letters of Comfort Inquiry, Corporation Tax, Banking, Leaving the EU and others.{{Cite web|title=Northern Ireland Affairs Committee - Summary - Committees - UK Parliament|url=https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/120/northern-ireland-affairs-committee|access-date=6 November 2020|website=committees.parliament.uk|language=en}}

Robertson was also Chairman of the British Irish Parliamentary Assembly between 2012 and 2016. This group included MPs and Lords, as well as TDs and Senators, from both British and Irish Parliaments, as well as members of the devolved administrations.{{Cite web|title=PLATFORM: Laurence Robertson MP, co-chair of British Irish Parliamentary Assembly|url=http://www.irishnews.com/news/politicalnews/2015/11/16/news/platform-laurence-robertson-mp-co-chair-of-british-irish-parliamentary-assembly-324248/|access-date=6 November 2020|website=The Irish News|date=16 November 2015 |language=en}}{{Cite web|title=House of Commons Hansard Debates for 21 Jun 2012 (pt 0001)|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201213/cmhansrd/cm120621/debtext/120621-0001.htm#12062137000665|access-date=6 November 2020|website=publications.parliament.uk}}

In 2017, Robertson received a Metropolitan Police shield for his work championing IRA bomb victims.{{Cite news|title=Met Police award for MP Laurence Robertson for championing IRA bomb victims|language=en-GB|work=belfasttelegraph|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/met-police-award-for-mp-laurence-robertson-for-championing-ira-bomb-victims-36128042.html|access-date=6 November 2020|issn=0307-1235}} Robertson continues to lead calls for compensation to be given to victims of IRA attacks that used Libyan explosives.{{Cite web|title=Debate on compensation of victims of Libyan-sponsored IRA terrorism|url=https://www.laurencerobertson.org.uk/news/debate-compensation-victims-libyan-sponsored-ira-terrorism|access-date=6 November 2020|website=Laurence Robertson|date=10 May 2018 |language=en}}

Robertson created the All-party parliamentary group on the Union in September 2019 which seeks "To promote the economic, social, cultural and constitutional benefits of the union of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; To foster good relations between the four countries of the UK and their devolved administrations; and for connected purposes". He is chairman of the group.

A strong Eurosceptic, Robertson campaigned for John Redwood in the Conservative leadership contest in 1995 and as of 2012 was active in the EU pressure group Better Off Out.{{cite book |last1=Heppell|first1=Timothy|last2=Seawright|first2=David|title=Cameron and the Conservatives: The Transition to Coalition Government|year=2012|publisher=Palgrave Macmillan|page=156|isbn=978-0230314108}} He is a member of the pressure group The Freedom Association.

In mid-November 2018, following publication of the draft UK Brexit Withdrawal Agreement, Robertson submitted to the Chairman of the 1922 Committee of the Conservative Party a letter confirming he had no confidence in the Conservative Party leader and Prime Minister Theresa May. Robertson became the first of a long list to confirm his letter, after the government announced details of its draft Withdrawal Agreement with the EU.{{Cite news|date=12 December 2018|title=Who do we know has written a no confidence letter?|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-46237174|access-date=6 November 2020}}

Throughout his life, Robertson has had a particular interest in Africa.{{Cite web|title=Department for International Development - Hansard|url=https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2019-07-01/debates/9B63BD3F-A849-420A-B1BF-7B376EB6DCC7/DepartmentForInternationalDevelopment?highlight=africa#contribution-74816683-6F23-4F9C-A9A8-698B3C40833B|access-date=5 November 2020|website=hansard.parliament.uk}}

He is a member of multiple All-party parliamentary groups (APPGs) for African nations, including: Chairman of the APPG for Ethiopia and Djibouti, Vice Chairman of the APPG for Angola and Vice Chairman of the APPG for Nigeria.{{Cite web|title=Register of All-Party Parliamentary Groups|url=https://www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/standards-and-financial-interests/parliamentary-commissioner-for-standards/registers-of-interests/register-of-all-party-party-parliamentary-groups/|access-date=5 November 2020|website=parliament.uk|language=en}}

As Chairman of the APPG for Ethiopia, Robertson has worked with the Ethiopian Embassy, committing to further strengthen Ethio-UK relations in the UK.{{Cite web|date=16 November 2018|title=Annual Parliamentary dinner recognises Ethiopia's latest developments|url=https://www.ethioembassy.org.uk/annual-parliamentary-dinner-recognises-ethiopias-latest-developments/|access-date=5 November 2020|website=Embassy of Ethiopia, London|language=en-US}}

In October 2020, Robertson was appointed as the Prime Minister's Trade Envoy to Angola and Zambia.{{Cite web|title=Prime Minister's Trade Envoy to Angola and Zambia|url=https://www.laurencerobertson.org.uk/news/prime-ministers-trade-envoy-angola-and-zambia|access-date=5 November 2020|website=Laurence Robertson|date=9 October 2020 |language=en}} Robertson is one of 29 trade envoys covering 67 markets who are appointed by the Prime Minister to promote trade and encourage investment within the UK.{{Cite web|title=Trade envoys|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/trade-envoys|access-date=5 November 2020|website=GOV.UK|language=en}}

Before being appointed, Robertson led trade missions across the African continent. Notable trips include his missions to Nigeria, Rwanda, Uganda and Ethiopia and Djibouti.{{Cite web|title=Trade mission to Rwanda and Uganda|url=https://www.laurencerobertson.org.uk/news/trade-mission-rwanda-and-uganda|access-date=5 November 2020|website=Laurence Robertson|date=8 October 2018 |language=en}}{{Cite web|title=APPG Visit to Djibouti and Ethiopia|url=https://www.bgipu.org/all-party-groups/reports/appg-visit-to-djibouti-and-ethiopia/|access-date=5 November 2020|website=BGIPU|language=en-GB}}

Outside of Parliament, Robertson is chairman of the Westminster Africa Business Group, who bring together both business and political activities across Africa to encourage trade relationships.{{Cite web|title=Westminster Africa Business Group|url=http://www.wabgroup.org/about.htm|access-date=5 November 2020|website=wabgroup.org}}

The group regularly hold events at the House of Commons, including lunches, receptions and other meeting attended by businesses, ministers, MPs, ambassadors and High Commissioners from both the UK and Africa.{{Cite web|title=Westminster Africa Business Group|url=http://www.wabgroup.org/speakers.htm|access-date=5 November 2020|website=wabgroup.org}}

Robertson is a practising Christian. In May 1989, Robertson married Susan Lees at All Saints Church in Farnworth. By 2011 he was estranged from his wife and with a new partner.{{cite web | url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/despite-the-expenses-scandal-136-mps-still-employ-family-members-2350952.html | title=Despite the expenses scandal, 136 MPS still employ family members | website=Independent.co.uk | date=7 September 2011 }}

On 7 February 2015, Robertson married Annie Adams, in St Mary Undercroft by the Chaplain to the Speaker of the House of Commons.{{Cite web|title=Tributes to the Speaker's Chaplain - Hansard|url=https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2019-10-31/debates/B8B6CAB9-6F64-4C4B-BE04-39BF40827DD8/TributesToTheSpeaker%E2%80%99SChaplain?highlight=annie#contribution-4C9CEB26-4980-4922-837F-1AE9FC832B88|access-date=6 November 2020|website=hansard.parliament.uk}} The couple live in Tewkesbury and own a pair of award-winning Miniature Dachshunds.{{Cite web|title=Westminster Dog of the Year competition - in pictures|url=http://home.bt.com/pictures/uk-news/westminster-dog-of-the-year-competition-in-pictures-41363938856509|access-date=6 November 2020|website=BT.com}}{{Cite news|date=25 October 2012|title=Quiz: Match the MP and their dog|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-20079030|access-date=6 November 2020}}

In July 2024, Robertson and his wife founded Theoc Consultancy Ltd, a political consultancy company.{{Cite web|title=Theoc Consultancy Ltd.|url=https://theoc-consultancy.co.uk/|access-date=13 November 2024|website=theoc-consultancy.co.uk}}

{{Reflist}}

{{commons category}}

• {{Official website|http://www.laurencerobertson.org.uk}}{{UK MP links |parliament=mr-laurence-robertson/253 |hansardcurr=402 |hansard=mr-laurence-robertson |publicwhip=Laurence_Robertson |theywork=laurence_robertson}}
• [https://www.conservatives.com/OurTeam/Members_of_Parliament/Robertson_Laurence Laurence Robertson MP] Biography at the site of the Conservative Party
• [http://www.gloucestershireconservatives.org/person/laurence-robertson-mp Gloucestershire Conservatives – Laurence Robertson MP]
• [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/2175523.stm BBC News – Laurence Robertson] profile 10 February 2005
• [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4379191.stm Ordered out of the Commons in March 2005]
• [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/3958877.stm Naming an irish bomber in October 2004]

{{s-start}}

{{s-par|uk}}

{{s-new | constituency}}

{{s-ttl

| title = Member of Parliament for Tewkesbury

| years = 1997–2024

}}

{{s-aft|after=Cameron Thomas}}

{{s-end}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Robertson, Laurence}}

Category:1958 births

Category:Living people

Category:English Christians

Category:Conservative Party (UK) MPs for English constituencies

Category:British Eurosceptics

Category:Politicians from Bolton

Category:People educated at Farnworth Grammar School

Category:Alumni of the University of Greater Manchester

Category:UK MPs 1997–2001

Category:UK MPs 2001–2005

Category:UK MPs 2005–2010

Category:UK MPs 2010–2015

Category:UK MPs 2015–2017

Category:UK MPs 2017–2019

Category:UK MPs 2019–2024