Laurence Anthony Robertson (Conservative Party), Minister of Parliament for Tewkesbury

Laurence Anthony Robertson, the Conservative MP for Tewkesbury, has had a political career marked by several controversial moments and actions, some of which have drawn significant criticism.

Controversy and Scandals

  1. Support for Racially Charged Remarks: In May 2001, Robertson endorsed John Townend’s controversial remarks about race on BBC’s Newsnight, stating that having too many people in different multi-racial groups makes society difficult to manage. This endorsement led to considerable backlash, and Robertson was forced to apologize after being threatened with the loss of the Conservative party whip. Despite this, he reportedly received considerable support for his stance within his constituency.

  2. Expenses Scandal Involvement: During the expenses scandal, Robertson was criticized for claiming more than £1 million in MP’s expenses between 2001 and 2011. Though he later criticized plans to overhaul the system of claims for MPs, his involvement in this scandal raised questions about his use of public funds.

  3. ‘Cash for Access’ Accusations: In March 2016, Robertson faced accusations of “cash for access.” He sponsored a parliamentary pass for a lobbyist, Jennifer Bryant-Pearson, whose company had paid him for consultancy advice. This raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest, especially as Robertson was being paid by environmental services company Veolia, a major client of Bryant-Pearson.

Views on LGBTQ Rights and Equality

Robertson has consistently voted against equal rights for homosexual couples and opposes gay marriage. In December 2012, during the consultation on plans to extend marriage to same-sex couples, he expressed that many people of all faiths and no faith were deeply offended by these proposals.

Opposition to Equal Pay Transparency

In December 2014, Robertson was among seven Conservative MPs who voted against the Equal Pay (Transparency) Bill, which required companies with more than 250 employees to declare the pay gap between average male and female salaries. This action was seen as a step back in the fight for gender pay equality.

Environmental and Infrastructure Stance

Robertson has also shown opposition to environmental and infrastructure progress by consistently voting against new high-speed rail infrastructure, including HS2. This stance could be perceived as not aligning with modern environmental and transportation needs.

Political Allegiance

Regarding his political allegiance within the Conservative Party, Robertson supported Liz Truss during the Tory leadership race. This support aligned him with a particular faction of the party, distinct from the Boris Johnson camp.

In summary, Laurence Anthony Robertson’s political career is characterized by controversial remarks on race, involvement in the expenses scandal, accusations of cash for access, opposition to LGBTQ rights and equal pay transparency, and a stance against environmental and infrastructural advancements. His support for Liz Truss in the Conservative Party leadership race further cements his positioning within the party dynamics.