Robert Jackson

Labour (Defected from Conservatives January 2005) MP Wantage

Date of birth

24 September 1946

Political profile

Robert Jackson was involved in Tory politics for many years, serving as a political advisor to Willie Whitelaw during the Heath government and to Sir Christopher Soames.

He also sat as an MEP for four years before his election to the Commons in 1983.

His parliamentary career has largely been spent on the backbenches.

He joined the Thatcher government as minister for higher education in 1987.

However, his three years were marked by controversy over his proposals for reform to university funding and public clashes with academics.

He was moved to a few more low-key posts before quietly returning to the backbenches in 1993 where he continued to retain a low profile.

The treasurer of Conservative Mainstream, he is an intellectual Europhile, married to the Tory MEP Caroline Jackson.

He is interested in constitutional matters and supported Lord Cranborne's deal which kept hereditary peers in the House of Lords.

He has also supported PR for European and devolved assemblies, though not for Westminster.

He is something of a social liberal and was one of the few Conservatives who supported the reduction in the age of consent for gay men.

In November 2001, he announced his intention to stand down at the next election, and in January 2005 he announced he was quitting the Conservative Party and joining Labour.

Contact

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