Robin Tilbrook
{{Short description|English solicitor and political leader (born 1958)}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2023}}
{{infobox officeholder
|name = Robin Tilbrook
|office = Chairman of the English Democrats
|image = Robin Tilbrook 2017.jpg
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1958|4|8|df=y}}
|birth_place = Kuala Lumpur, Federation of Malaya
|deputy = None
|party = English Democrats
(2002–present)
Conservative Party
(prior to 1997)
|term_start = 17 September 2002
}}
Robin Charles William Tilbrook (born 1958) is a solicitorLaw Society registration, [https://solicitors.lawsociety.org.uk/organisation/people/425124/tilbrooks?Solicitors=True Robin Charles William Tilbrook] and English nationalist politician who has been chairman of the English Democrats since its foundation in 2002.
The party is a right-wing to far-right, English nationalist political party, that advocates a devolved English Parliament, having previously advocated English independence from the United Kingdom.{{cite book |last=Boothroyd |first=David |title=Politico's guide to the history of British political parties |publisher=Politico's |year=2001 |isbn=1-902301-59-5}}
- {{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7373754.stm |title=English Democrats' 'long game' |date=29 April 2008 |work=BBC News |access-date=6 December 2009}}
Early life
Tilbrook was born in Kuala Lumpur, Federation of Malaya, in 1958.{{cite web|url=http://www.englishdemocrats.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=328&Itemid=69|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090524221324/http://www.englishdemocrats.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=328&Itemid=69|url-status=dead|archive-date=24 May 2009|title=National Executive Officers|work=The English Democrats|access-date=7 December 2009}} He was educated at Wellington College, Berkshire,{{cite web|url=http://englandunited.com/our_team.php|title=Our team|work=English Democrats|access-date=7 December 2009}} gained a BA (Hons) in politics and economics from the University of Kent at Canterbury, and then studied at The College of Law, Chester.{{Citation needed|date=December 2009}}
He was a Coldstream Guardsman and has worked in a factory, in junior management, and as a teacher at primary and secondary level.{{Citation needed|date=February 2024}} By 2003, he was a solicitor and a partner in the firm of Tilbrooks in Ongar, Essex.Waterlow's Solicitors' and Barristers' Directory 2003 (Waterlow Information Services Limited, 2003), p. 399 In 2005, he commented after a case, "It is a black day in the courts when they refuse to make a declaration that St George's Day is a special occasion."{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2005/nov/28/britishidentity|title=Landlord loses St George's Day battle|agency=Press Association|date=28 November 2005|work=The Guardian|access-date=6 December 2009}}
On 27 September 2011, he became a Freeman of the City of London.[http://www.voteenglish.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=350%3Arobin-tilbrook-made-freeman-of-the-city&catid=36%3Alatest-topics&Itemid=621 Robin Tilbrook made Freeman of the City] at voteenglish.org
Politics
Tilbrook was a member of the Conservative Student Association and a member of the Conservative Party,{{cite news|url=http://www.guardian-series.co.uk/news/4430707.ONGAR__English_Democrats_leader_hails_election_success/|title=ONGAR: English Democrats leader hails election success|last=Tobin|first=Edmund|date=10 June 2009|work=East London and West Essex Guardian|access-date=6 December 2009}} at one time a Conservative candidate for Ongar Town council.{{Citation needed|date=December 2009}} He co-founded the English National Party in 1997, and then helped to relaunch the party as the English Democrats in 2002 to campaign for an English Parliament.{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1407497/New-party-seeks-English-parliament.html|title=New party seeks English parliament|last=Sparrow|first=Andrew|date=18 September 2002|work=Daily Telegraph|access-date=7 December 2009}} He is also the leader and nominating officer.{{cite web|url=http://registers.electoralcommission.org.uk/regulatory-issues/regpoliticalparties.cfm?frmGB=1&frmPartyID=114&frmType=partydetail|title=English Democrats Party|work=Register of political parties|publisher=The Electoral Commission|access-date=6 December 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091214235454/http://registers.electoralcommission.org.uk/regulatory-issues/regpoliticalparties.cfm?frmGB=1&frmPartyID=114&frmType=partydetail|archive-date=14 December 2009}} He has stood as a candidate for the English Democrats in local, parliamentary and European elections. Standing in Epping Forest, he received 1.4% of the vote in the 2005 general election, 4.4% at 2005 Essex County Council election,{{cite web|url=http://www.eppingforestdc.gov.uk/local_democracy/elections/2005/election_2005.asp|title=Parliamentary and County Council Elections|year=2005|work=Epping Forest District Council|access-date=7 December 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090429113036/http://www.eppingforestdc.gov.uk/local_democracy/elections/2005/election_2005.asp|archive-date=29 April 2009}} 18.2% in the 2007 Epping Forest District Council election,{{cite web|url=http://www.eppingforestdc.gov.uk/local_democracy/elections/2007/District_Election_Results.asp|title=District Election Results 3 May 2007|date=4 May 2007|work=Epping Forest District Council|access-date=7 December 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080503105716/http://www.eppingforestdc.gov.uk/local_democracy/elections/2007/District_Election_Results.asp|archive-date=3 May 2008}} and 11.3% in the 2009 County Council election.{{cite web|url=http://www.guardian-series.co.uk/news/4422699.EPPING_FOREST__Live_election_results/|title=EPPING FOREST: Live election results|last=Tobin|first=Edmund|date=5 June 2009|work=East London and West Essex Guardian|access-date=7 December 2009}} He gained 2.01% of the vote as the lead candidate for the East of England region in the 2009 European election.{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/eu/5291334/European-elections-2009-Eastern-region.html|title=European elections 2009: Eastern region|date=June 2009|work=Daily Telegraph|access-date=6 December 2009}}
- {{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8058022.stm|title=Democrats 'putting England first'|last=Wheeler|first=Brian|date=20 May 2009|work=BBC News|access-date=6 December 2009}}
By 2006, the English Democrats, based in Norwich and chaired by Tilbrook, had adopted the policies of campaigning for a devolved English parliament, opposing membership of the European Union, opposing further immigration, and wishing to make St George's Day a national holiday.Searchlight, Issues 367-378 (2006), p. 57
Tilbrook said of the English Democrats in 2006 that the party "agitates for anyone living in England" and that Englishness was "akin to American notions of "Americanness": that you can be from any ethnic background and still wrap yourself in the flag." In the same year, he criticised spending on St Patrick's Day in London and added that too little was spent on St George's Day.{{cite news|url=http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/0630/p25s02-woeu.html|title=In a 'green and pleasant land,' English nationalism stirs|last=Rice-Oxley|first=Mark|date=30 June 2006|work=Christian Science Monitor|access-date=6 December 2009}} In 2009, he said, "We're hoping to do what the Scottish National Party managed to do in the 1970s and break through to being able to influence what happens in Parliament about England".{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8274384.stm|title=English Democrats eye 120 seats|date=25 September 2009|work=BBC News|access-date=6 December 2009}}
- {{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/the_daily_politics/8274899.stm|title=Democrats want to be 'English SNP'|date=25 September 2009|work=Daily Politics|publisher=BBC News|access-date=7 December 2009}} He argues that the money given by the UK to the EU is given to other parts of the country at the expense of England, which makes his party Eurosceptic.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8077709.stm|title=English 'lose out to rest of UK'|date=2 June 2009|work=BBC News|access-date=6 December 2009}}
Tilbrook has reportedly had associations with the far-right. In 2013, he confirmed that a tenth of the English Democrats membership was former BNP members and stood by comments at the party's 10th annual conference in 2011 that BNP supporters will "help us become an electorally credible party".{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-politics-22264904 |title=English Democrats: Robin Tilbrook on ex-BNP members |date=23 April 2013 |work=BBC News |access-date=5 February 2024}} In a 2015 interview with the BBC, Tilbrook confirmed that he had had meetings with groups on the far-right and far-left.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-politics-31766684 |title=English Democrat Robin Tilbrook on 'independent state' |date=6 March 2015 |work=BBC News |access-date=5 February 2024}} This meeting was reportedly organised by the then leader of Britain First, Jim Dowson, and attended by members of the English Defence League.{{cite news |url=https://hopenothate.org.uk/2013/01/14/english-democrats-link-up-with-thugs-nazis/ |title=English Democrats Link Up With Thugs & Nazis |date=14 January 2013 |work=Hope Not Hate |access-date=5 February 2024}} In 2023, it was reported that activists from Patriotic Alternative, a neo-Nazi party, had canvased for him in the Epping Forest District Council elections.{{cite news |url=https://hopaenothate.org.uk/2023/05/17/local-elections-2023-far-right-far-off/ |title=Local Elections 2023: Far Right, Far Off. |date=17 May 2013|work=Hope Not Hate |access-date=5 February 2024}}
Tilbrook has adopted a pro-Brexit stance, claiming that the United Kingdom had left the European Union on 29 March 2019. He reasoned that Theresa May had the authority to begin Britain's two-year withdrawal process from the European Union, but did not have the power to amend it, meaning that the extension granted by Brussels until 31 October 2019 was unlawful.{{Cite web|url=https://unitynewsnetwork.co.uk/shock-as-robin-tilbrook-eu-case-thrown-out-by-judge/|title=SHOCK as Robin Tilbrook EU case THROWN OUT by Judge|last=Clews|first=David|date=27 June 2019|website=Unity News Network|access-date=19 September 2019}} The case, however, was rejected for a hearing on the grounds of lack of legal merit and cannot lead to a conclusion that the UK left the EU on 29 March 2019,{{Cite web|url=https://endthechaos.co.uk/blog/the-tilbrook-case-is-about-polemical-and-not-legal-argument/|title=Weaknesses of the 'Exit Day' Legal Challenge Exposed|website=End The Chaos|access-date=20 September 2019}} but has been appealed to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.
Personal life
Tilbrook is the elder son of the late Brigadier Thomas William Tilbrook, Queen's Royal Irish Hussars, by his marriage to Jacqueline Mackillican. In 1988, Tilbrook became engaged to Claire Breed."Miss Claire Breed" in Country Life, Volume 182 (1988), p. 145: "Miss Claire Breed, youngest daughter of the late Mr John Breed, and of Mrs Breed, of The Oaks, Pevensey, East Sussex, is to be married to Mr Robin Tilbrook, elder son of Brigadier and Mrs Tom Tilbrook, of Pond Farm, Little Cornard, Sudbury, Suffolk." They married and had three children. He is a member of the Church of England.
Elections contested
General elections
Police and Crime Commissioner
{{Election box supplementary vote begin
|title = Essex Police and Crime Commissioner election, 2012
|source = {{cite web|title=Election of a Police and Crime Commissioner for Essex on Thursday 15 November 2012 Announcement of Result of Poll|url=http://www.chelmsford.gov.uk/sites/default/files/documents/files/Announcement%20of%20Results%20-%20PARO.pdf|publisher=Chelmsford City Council}}{{Dead link|date=March 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{cite web|url=http://www.itv.com/news/anglia/update/2012-11-16/essex-news-police-and-crime-commissioner-elected/ |title=ITV News |publisher=Itv.com |date=16 November 2012 |access-date=13 February 2018}}
}}
{{Election box supplementary vote candidate with party link
|party = Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate = Nick Alston
|fullwidthvotes = 62350
|r1votes = 51325
|r1votespercent = 30.5
|r2votes = 11025
|totalpercent = 51.5%
}}
{{Election box supplementary vote candidate with party link
|party = Independent politician
|candidate = Mick Thwaites
|fullwidthvotes = 62350
|r1votes = 40132
|r1votespercent = 23.9
|r2votes = 18532
|totalpercent = 48.5%
}}
{{Election box supplementary vote candidate with party link
|party = Labour Party (UK)
|candidate = Val Morris-Cook
|fullwidthvotes = 62350
|r1votes = 27926
|r1votespercent = 16.6
}}
{{Election box supplementary vote candidate with party link
|party = Independent politician
|candidate = Linda Belgrove
|fullwidthvotes = 62350
|r1votes = 22163
|r1votespercent = 13.2
}}
{{Election box supplementary vote candidate with party link
|party = UK Independence Party
|candidate = Andrew Smith
|fullwidthvotes = 62350
|r1votes = 15138
|r1votespercent = 9.0
}}
{{Election box supplementary vote candidate with party link
|party = English Democrats Party
|candidate = Robin Tilbrook
|fullwidthvotes = 62350
|r1votes = 11550
|r1votespercent = 6.9
}}
{{Election box supplementary vote turnout
|votes = 168,234
|percentage = 12.8%
}}
{{Election box rejected
|votes = 3,452
|percentage = 2.0%
|change =
}}
{{Election box total|
|votes = 171,686
|percentage = 13.1
|change =
}}
{{Election box Registered electors|
|reg. electors = 1,313,745
}}
{{Election box supplementary vote win
|winner = Conservative Party (UK)
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box supplementary vote begin
|title = Essex Constabulary Police and Crime Commissioner election, 2021
}}
{{Election box supplementary vote candidate with party link
|party = Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate = Roger Hirst
|fullwidthvotes = 235346
|r1votes = 235346
|r1votespercent = 54.0
}}
{{Election box supplementary vote candidate with party link
|party = Labour and Co-operative
|candidate = Chris Vince
|fullwidthvotes = 235346
|r1votes = 80832
|r1votespercent = 22.9
}}
{{Election box supplementary vote candidate with party link
|party = Liberal Democrats (UK)
|candidate = John Whitehouse
|fullwidthvotes = 235346
|r1votes = 58131
|r1votespercent = 13.3
}}
{{Election box supplementary vote candidate with party link
|party = English Democrats
|candidate = Robin Tilbrook
|fullwidthvotes = 235346
|r1votes = 42831
|r1votespercent = 9.8
}}
{{Election box supplementary vote total
|votes = 436,020
|percentage =
}}
{{Election box supplementary vote hold
|winner = Conservative Party (UK)
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin|title=2024 Essex police, fire and crime commissioner election{{cite web |url=https://www.colchester.gov.uk/elections/pfcc-election-results/ |title=Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner election results |publisher=Colchester City Council |accessdate=9 May 2024}}}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
| party = Conservative Party (UK)
| candidate = Roger Hirst
| votes = 126,447
| percentage = 37.1
| change = {{decrease}} 16.9
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
| party = Labour Co-operative
| candidate = Adam Fox
| votes = 116,875
| percentage = 34.3
| change = {{increase}} 11.4
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
| party = Liberal Democrats (UK)
| candidate = Kieron Franks
| votes = 52,922
| percentage = 15.5
| change = {{increase}} 2.2
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
| party = English Democrats
| candidate = Robin Tilbrook
| votes = 44,909
| percentage = 13.2
| change = {{increase}} 3.4
}}
{{Election box supplementary vote total
|votes = 341,153
|percentage =
}}
{{Election box hold with party link|
| winner = Conservative Party (UK)
| swing =
}}
{{Election box end}}
See also
References
{{reflist|2}}
{{Leaders of political parties in the United Kingdom}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tilbrook, Robin}}
Category:People educated at Wellington College, Berkshire
Category:Alumni of the University of Kent
Category:People from the City of Chelmsford
Category:Kuala Lumpur politicians