George Robertson, Baron Robertson of Port Ellen
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This article is about the contemporary politician. For the president of the Court of Session see James Robertson, Baron Robertson
George Islay MacNeill Robertson, Baron Robertson of Port Ellen, KT, GCMG, FRSA, PC (born 12 April 1946, in Port Ellen, Isle of Islay, Scotland) was the Secretary-General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, between October 1999 and early January 2004; he succeeded Javier Solana in that position.
He served as Defence Secretary for the United Kingdom from 1997 to 1999, before taking up his NATO position and becoming a life peer as Baron Robertson of Port Ellen, of Islay in Argyll and Bute.
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[edit] Early life
He was educated at Dunoon Grammar School and later the University of Dundee, graduating in 1968 with a Master's degree (M.A.) in Economics. He is the father of three children, they are called Malcom, Martin and Rachel. He married Sandra on 1 June 1970. Robertson survived a serious car crash in January 1977 with a Navy Land Rover carrying 100lb of gelignite and a box of detonators, which hit his car head-on in the Drumochter Pass, leaving him with two wrecked knees and a broken jaw. Robertson was wearing a seat belt at the time and attributes his survival to this factor.
[edit] Political career
He was six times elected to the United Kingdom House of Commons, was Chairman of the Labour Party in Scotland, and was appointed to the Privy Council.[1]
[edit] Infamous quote on devolution
Robertson infamously said that "Devolution will kill Nationalism stone dead"[2] while he was Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland before the 1997 General Election. This quote was designed to assuage fears that devolution would provide a greater platform for the SNP. Robertson's quote has been frequently recalled (usually in a mocking fashion), particularly after the SNP's victory in the 2007 Scottish election.
[edit] Allegations surrounding the Dunblane massacre
In 2003, the Sunday Herald newspaper ran an article entitled "Should the Dunblane dossier be kept secret?", a reference to documents relating to the Cullen Inquiry into the 1996 Dunblane massacre which are to remain classified for 100 years. In a discussion board on the newspaper's website, anonymous contributors claimed that Robertson had signed a recommendation for a gun licence for Thomas Hamilton in his capacity as his MP. In fact, Robertson had never been the gunman's MP, and the claims were totally unfounded. Robertson successfully sued the newspaper. The case became in important test case as to whether publishers can be held responsible for comments posted on their websites.[3][4]
Additionally, The Scotsman and the Mail on Sunday published allegations that Robertson had intervened to help Hamilton out of trouble after Hamilton was accused of showing 'perverted behaviour' towards boys at clubs he ran.[5]
[edit] After NATO
He has received numerous honours (including a total of 11 Honorary doctorates from various universities). Currently he holds directorships of several notable companies, including the Weir group and Cable and Wireless in his home country.
[edit] Career
- 1968–1978, Official of the GMB Union for the Scottish whisky industry.
- 1978–1999, Member of the United Kingdom House of Commons, member for Hamilton or Hamilton South, elected six times.
- 1979, Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Secretary of State for Social Services.
- 1979–??, Opposition Spokesman on Scottish Affairs.
- 19??–82, Opposition Spokesman on Defence.
- 1982–93, Opposition Spokesman on Foreign Affairs.
- 1983–93, Chief Opposition Spokesman on Europe.
- 1993–97, Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland.
- May 1997, Appointed to the Privy Council
- May 1997 – October 1999, Defence Secretary of the United Kingdom
- October 1999 – January 2004, 10th Secretary General of NATO and Chairman of the North Atlantic Council.
[edit] Other former or present posts
- Chairman of the Labour Party in Scotland
- Vice-chairman of the Westminster Foundation for Democracy
- Vice-Chairman of the British Council for nine years
- Vice-Chairman of the Britain/Russia Centre
- Member of the Council of the Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House) seven years, now President
- Member of the Pilgrims Society
- Governor of the Ditchley Foundation
- Trustee of the 21st Century Trust
- Patron to the British-American Project
- Currently serves on the Board of Cable & Wireless International
- Non-Executive Director of Merseyside PCT
[edit] Honours and Awards
- 4th recipient of the Hanno R. Ellenbogen Citizenship Award
- 30 November 2004 – Knight of the Order of the Thistle
- 12 November 2003 – Presidential Medal of Freedom (United States)
- 8 September 2003 – Ridder Grootkruis in de Orde van Oranje Nassau (Knight Grand Cross in the Order of Orange-Nassau).
- 2003 – Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George
- 2000 – Grand Cross of the Order of the Star of Romania
- 24 August 1999 – created a life peer as Baron Robertson of Port Ellen.
- 1993 – joint Parliamentarian of the Year for his role in the Maastricht Treaty ratification
- 1991 – Grand Cross of the German Order of Merit
- Honorary Regimental Colonel of the London Scottish (Volunteers)
- Honorary Doctorate from the University of Paisley (awarded 5 July 2006)
- Honorary Doctorate from the University of Dundee
- Honorary Doctorate from the University of Bradford
- Honorary Doctorate from Cranfield University (Royal Military College of Science)
- Honorary Doctorate from the Baku State University, Azerbaijan
- Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA)
- Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh (FRSE)
- Elder Brother of Trinity House.
- 2003 - Atlantic Solidarity Award bestowed by the Manfred Wörner Foundation
[edit] References
- ^ NATO (6 January 2004). NATO Secretary General (1999–2003) The Rt. Hon. Lord Robertson of Port Ellen. Who is who at NATO?. NATO. Retrieved on 2007-02-22.
- ^ Warner, Gerald (6 May 2007). How Bulldog Brown could call Braveheart Salmond's bluff. Scotland on Sunday. Retrieved on 2007-05-06.
- ^ McDougall, Dan (October 2005). Robertson sues over Dunblane killer allegations. The Dunbane Shootings and Gun Law. Martin Frost. Retrieved on 2007-02-22.
- ^ Thompson, Bill (10 September 2004). Be careful what you say on the net. BBC News. Retrieved on 2007-02-22.
- ^ Denholm, A.: "Robertson considers action over web allegation", The Scotsman, March 10, 2003.
| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Alexander Wilson | Member of Parliament for Hamilton 1978–1997 | Succeeded by (constituency abolished) |
| Preceded by (new constituency) | Member of Parliament for Hamilton South 1997–1999 | Succeeded by William Tynan |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by Michael Portillo | Secretary of State for Defence 1997–1999 | Succeeded by Geoff Hoon |
| Preceded by Javier Solana | Secretary General of NATO 1999–2004 | Succeeded by Jaap de Hoop Scheffer |
Secretaries General of NATO | |
|---|---|
| Hastings Ismay | Paul-Henri Spaak | Dirk Stikker | Manlio Brosio | Joseph Luns | Peter Carington | Manfred Wörner | Sergio Balanzino | Willy Claes | Sergio Balanzino | Javier Solana | George Robertson | Jaap de Hoop Scheffer | |
nl:George Robertson no:George Robertson pl:George Robertson fi:George Robertson uk:Робертсон Джордж
Categories: NATO Secretaries General | Secretaries of State for Defence (UK) | Members of the United Kingdom Parliament for Scottish constituencies | Labour MPs (UK) | Members of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom | Life peers | Fellows of the Royal Society of Arts | Knights Grand Cross of the Order of Orange-Nassau | Knights Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George | Knights of the Thistle | Alumni of the University of Dundee | Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients | People from Argyll and Bute | Recipients of the Star of Romania Order | 1946 births | Living people | UK MPs 1974-1979 | UK MPs 1979-1983 | UK MPs 1983-1987 | UK MPs 1987-1992 | UK MPs 1992-1997 | UK MPs 1997-2001
