John Robertson (politician)

This article is part of the Nuclear Spin project of Spinwatch.

John Robertson

John Robertson was elected Labour MP for Glasgow Anniesland, as it was then called – where he was born and grew up – in a by-election in 2000 following the death of former First Minister Donald Dewar, who he had been election agent for. His constituency has been known as Glasgow North West since the May 2005 general election.

Business and trade union career

Before becoming an MP Robertson worked for British Telecom for 31 years, working his way up from an apprentice to management. He was highly active in the Communications Workers Union (CWU) and was West of Scotland chairman of the union Connect for three years, until elected to Parliament.

Pro-nuclear

Robertson has been chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Nuclear Energy since 2005,

due to my firm belief that nuclear energy is our best option in terms of tackling climate change. The industry in fast moving, and our group invites various companies in the industry to provide briefings and information on what is happening. This year [2013] we also had the previous Energy Minister address the group, for a discussion on nuclear in the UK’s energy mix.

Commons career

John Robertson with Yvette Cooper MP, Shadow Home Secretary

• Parliamentary Private Secretary to Yvette Cooper MP, when she was Chief Secretary to the Treasury (2008-2010) and again as Shadow Home Secretary in 2013. His job in the latter is 'to find out what the Party thinks about Labour Party policies and keep our policy relevant to the whole party'.

• Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) to Kim Howells as Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office 2005-2008

Commons Select Committees

• Member: Scottish Affairs (Jan 2001 - May 2005)
• European Scrutiny (Mar 2003 - May 2005)
• Select Committee Energy and Climate Change 2009-

All party groups (office-holding)

Current Posts

• Vice-chair All Party Parliamentary Group on Unconventional Oil and Gas 2013 -
• Chair All-Party Nuclear Energy Group 2005 - present
• Chair: All-Party Parliamentary Group on Nigeria
• Vice Chair: Associate Parliamentary Corporate Responsibility Group
• Chair: All-Party Parliamentary Group on Communications
• Chair All-Party Telecommunications Group 2002-;
• Vice-chair All-Party Shipbuilding and Ship Repair Group 2002-;
• Treasurer All-Party Scottish Football Group 2003-;
• Secretary/ Vice-chair All Party Smoking and Health Group 2003- present
• Chair All Party Parliamentary Music Group 2005-
• All Party Parliamentary Group on Gibraltar

Register of members' interests

Trips to Nigeria

• 3-10 August 2005, to Nigeria, with delegation from All-Party Parliamentary Group on the Niger Delta. Flights and accommodation were paid by Shell International Limited. (Registered 14 July 2005)

• 4-7 May 2008, to Washington DC, as chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Nigeria, to consult with US policy and law makers on Nigeria. Flights, accommodation and other costs were met by Chatham House. (Registered 6 June 2008)

• 30 November-2 December 2007, to Nigeria as chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Nigeria, to speak at the Nigeria Leadership Initiative first Christopher Kolade Symposium on Public Service. Flights, accommodation and other costs were met by the Nigeria Leadership Initiative. (Registered 13 December 2007)

• 30 November-6 December 2008, to Nigeria as a member of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Nigeria, on a fact-finding and relationship building visit. Costs of the visit including flights and accommodation were met by Virgin Nigeria Airways and Shell International. (Registered 15 December 2008)

Israel and Palestine

• 10-14 February 2008, to Israel and Palestine with Labour Friends of Israel (LFI). Travel and hospitality paid for by LFI. Accommodation paid for by LFI at a rate discounted through the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Some hospitality provided by the Palestinian Legislative Council/Palestinian Authority. Travel within Israel and Palestine provided by LFI. (Registered 25 February 2008)

Gibraltar

Date of visit: 6-11 September 2012 Name of donor: H M Government of Gibraltar Address of donor: 150 Strand, London, WC2R 1JA Amount of donation (or estimate of the probable value): air fare for myself and my wife with a value of £999.01 and hotel accommodation with a value of £445; total: £1,444.01 Destination of visit: Gibraltar Purpose of visit: Visit as part of a Parliamentary Delegation with the APPG on Gibraltar, to celebrate Gibraltar Day. (Registered 1 November 2012)

Nuclear freebies

• 22-29 August 2005, to Canada as member of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Nuclear Energy UK delegation. Travel and accommodation paid for by Atomic Energy Canada Ltd (AECL). (Registered 7 September 2005)

• 25-27 June 2003, to Finland with All-Party Group on Nuclear Energy. Travel and accommodation paid for by BNFL and Nirex Ltd. (Registered 3 November 2003)

• 10-12 August 2008, to Oskarshamn, Sweden, to visit nuclear power and nuclear waste research and storage facilities with the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Nuclear Energy. The costs of the trip were met by E.ON. (Registered 22 August 2008)

Affiliations

• All-Party Parliamentary Group on Nuclear Energy
• All-Party Parliamentary Scotch Whisky and Spirits Group - 2011
• All Party Parliamentary Group on Unconventional Oil and Gas, set up 2013