Robert Atkins (politician)

Sir Robert James Atkins (born 5 February 1946 in London) is a British Conservative politician. He was the Member of Parliament (MP) for Preston North from 1979 to 1983, and then for South Ribble from 1983 to 1997. He served as Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for the North West England region from 1999 to 2014.

The Right Honourable Sir Robert Atkins
Member of the European Parliament for North West England
In office 10 June 1999 – 2 July 2014
Preceded by	constituency established
Minister for Sport
In office 1990–1992
Preceded by	Colin Moynihan
Succeeded by	Robert Key
Member of Parliament for South Ribble
In office 9 June 1983 – 8 April 1997
Preceded by	constituency established
Succeeded by	David Borrow
Member of Parliament for Preston North
In office 3 May 1979 – 13 May 1983
Preceded by	Ronald Atkins
Succeeded by	constituency abolished
Personal details
Born	Robert James Atkins 5 February 1946
Political party	Conservative

Early life

Atkins was born on 5 February 1946 in London, England. He was educated at Highgate School, then an all-boys independent school in Highgate, London.[1]

Political career

Atkins began his political career at a local level. He served as a councillor for the London Borough of Haringey from 1968 to 1977.

After unsuccessfully fighting the new seat of Luton West in February and October 1974, he was elected the Member of Parliament for Preston North from 1979 to 1983, and for South Ribble from 1983 to 1997. From 1984 to 1987 he was President of Conservative Trade Unionists. He was made a member of the Privy Council in 1995 and was a minister in the following positions:

• Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1987 to 1989)
• Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (1989 to 1990)
• Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Environment and Minister for Sport (1990)
• Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education and Science and Minister for Sport (1990 to 1992)
• Minister of State, Northern Ireland (1992 to 1994)
• Minister of State for Environment and Countryside (1994 to 1995)

He later became a Member of the European Parliament for the North West England region in 1999. He was Deputy Leader of the Conservatives in the European Parliament until November 2007 and was Chief Whip there from November 2008 to November 2009. He was Conservative Spokesman on Industry and External Trade from 2001–2004, and was Spokesman on Regional Policy, Transport and Tourism from 1999–2001.) He is a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee and the Transport & Tourism Committee. He stood down at the 2014 European Elections.[2]

In 2019, he was elected as a councillor for the Garstang ward of Wyre Council. [3]

Honours

Atkins was knighted in the 1997 Dissolution Honours List in recognition of his service as a Member of Parliament, as Minister of State for Northern Ireland and as Minister of State for the Environment.[4] He is a Freeman of the City of London.

Family

Atkins is married to Dulcie Mary Atkins (b.1946), who is a fellow Conservative councillor in Wyre, and who served as her husband's personal assistant during his tenure as an MEP.

Their daughter Victoria Atkins was elected at the 2015 general election as the Conservative MP for Louth and Horncastle.[5]

References

1. "Robert James ATKINS". People of Today. Debrett's. Archived from the original on 28 May 2014. Retrieved 28 May 2014.
2. "MEP Sir Robert Atkins to bow out of role". Lancashire Evening Post. Retrieved 28 May 2014.
3. "Sir Robert Atkins". Wyre Council. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
4. "No. 54850". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 August 1997. p. 8911.
5. Jamieson, Sophie (29 April 2015). "Election 2015: Meet the future female front bench stars of the 2015 Parliament". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 27 May 2015.

• Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "P" (part 2)

External links

• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Robert Atkins
• Sir Robert Atkins's Home Page
• European Parliament Page for Sir Robert Atkins