Robert was born in 1956. He was educated at Colston's School, Bristol and has a Road Haulage Managers (CPC) Certificate. He is a former Managing Director of a Building and Plant Hire Group and is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Building (FCIOB). He has two children, Imogen and Nicholas, but separated from his wife Fiona in 2006.

Robert has been Member of Parliament for Poole since 1997.

He regularly serves on Bill Committees scrutinising legislation. He has recently worked on the Immigration Bill, the Anti-Social Behaviour Bill, and the Crime and Courts Bill. 

He served as a member of the Coalition Government from September 2012 to October 2013. He was a Government Whip with responsibility for the Home Office and the Energy and Climate Change Departments during this time.

He served as Assistant Whip in Her Majesty's Treasury from 2012 to 2013, as Shadow Minister for Communities and Local Government from 2005 to 2007, as Shadow Minister in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister from 2003 to 2005, as Opposition Whip in the House of Commons in 2003, and as Shadow Spokesperson for the Environment, Transport and the Regions from 1999 to 2001.

He has served on numerous select committees. As of this year, he chairs the High Speed Rail (London to West Midlands) Bill (Commons) Committee. Since last year he has served on the Finance and Services Committee and the Administration Committee. Since 2011 he has served on the Draft Detention of Terrorist Suspects (Temporary Extension) Bills Joint Committee.

From 2010 to 2012, he served on the Liaison Committee (Commons) and chaired the Regulatory Reform Committee. In 2008 he served on the Draft Marine Bill Joint Committee. From 2007 to 2010 he served on the Health Committee, from 2002 to 2003 on the Transport Committee, from 1998 to 1999 on the Procedure Committee, and from 1997 to 2000 on the Health Committee.

Robert was Vice-Chair for the Conservative Party in 2001-02.

He is interested in economic policy, constitutional matters, and local and regional government. Countries that interest him include the USA and most of the English speaking world.

In the 2010 General Election, he won Poole with 22,532 votes, representing 47.5% of the votes cast and his biggest majority to date.

Contact Robert:

Email: symsr@pooleconservatives.org
Telephone: 01202 739922
Fax: 01202 739944
Postal Address: 38 Sandbanks Road, Poole, Dorset, BH14 8BX

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