Rob Roberts (politician)

Robert Joseph Roberts[1] is a Welsh Conservative Party politician. He has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for Delyn in North Wales since the 2019 general election.[2]

Rob Roberts

MP
Roberts in 2020
Member of Parliament
for Delyn
Assumed office
12 December 2019
Preceded byDavid Hanson
Majority865 (2.3%)
Personal details
NationalityWelsh
Political partyConservative
OccupationPolitician
ProfessionFormer financial planner
Websitewww.rjroberts.co.uk

Early life and education

Roberts grew up in Northop Hall, a large village near the town of Mold, Flintshire. He attended Ysgol Maes Garmon school in Mold and is a fluent Welsh speaker.[3] Prior to being elected to Parliament, Roberts was a financial planner, working in the industry since 2003.[4]

Parliamentary career

Roberts defeated the incumbent Labour MP David Hanson at the 2019 general election. Since 2 March 2020, Roberts has been a member of the Welsh Affairs Select Committee and the Procedure Committee.[5]

Personal life

Roberts announced via a number of Tweets in May 2020 that he was gay.[6][7] During the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown police officers visited Roberts' home when an "illegal party" involving "balloons and banners" was reported to be taking place there.[8] Roberts denied any personal wrongdoing, correctly stating that he was in London at the time, but added that his family had been reminded of the government guidance.[9][10]

Allegations of inappropriate behaviour

On 21 July 2020, BBC Wales published messages attributed to Roberts propositioning two junior members of parliamentary staff in April 2020, Roberts having been referred to Parliament’s Complaints and Standards Committee in June over allegations of misconduct that resulted in one of the interns being transferred to a different department.[11][12][13]

Electoral history
General election 2019: Delyn[14][15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Rob Roberts 16,756 43.7 +2.6
Labour David Hanson 15,891 41.4 -10.8
Liberal Democrats Andrew Parkhurst 2,346 6.1 +3.5
Brexit Party Nigel Williams 1,971 5.1 N/A
Plaid Cymru Paul Rowlinson 1,406 3.7 -0.1
Rejected ballots 105
Majority 865 2.3 N/A
Turnout 38,370 70.3 -2.5
Registered electors 54,552
Conservative gain from Labour Swing

Of the 105 rejected ballots:

  • 87 were either unmarked or it was uncertain who the vote was for.[14]
  • 18 voted for more than one candidate.[14]

References
  1. "Members Sworn". Hansard.parliament.uk. 18 December 2019. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
  2. "Delyn parliamentary constituency - Election 2019". BBC News. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
  3. "About Rob Roberts". www.rjroberts.co.uk. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  4. "Meet The Team". chesterpartnership.co.uk. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
  5. "Parliamentary career for Rob Roberts - MPs and Lords - UK Parliament". members.parliament.uk. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
  6. "Conservative MP Rob Roberts Comes Out". My G Work. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
  7. "Conservative MP Rob Roberts comes out and calls for more global LGBTQ acceptance". Gay Times. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
  8. Drury, Colin (27 May 2020). "Rob Roberts: Police called to break up 'party' at Conservative MP's house". The Independent. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  9. "Coronavirus: MP says he was 200 miles away after party claims". BBC News Online. 27 May 2020. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  10. "North Wales MP denies wrongdoing after police reportedly called to 'birthday party' at his home". ITV News Online. 27 May 2020. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
  11. "Delyn MP Rob Roberts invited intern to 'fool around' with him". BBC News Online. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
  12. "Delyn MP Rob Roberts "facing allegations of inappropriate behaviour" according to the BBC". Deeside.com. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
  13. "Tory MP accused of inviting intern, 21, to 'fool around' with him". Evening Standard. 21 July 2020.
  14. "Search Results" (PDF). flintshire.gov.uk. Flintshire County Council. Retrieved 16 November 2019.
  15. "Delyn parliamentary constituency - Election 2019". BBC News. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
David Hanson		 Member of Parliament for Delyn
2019–present		 Incumbent
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