Robert Hall Smith

http://www.libdems.org.uk/robert_smith

Sir Robert Smith MP
MP for West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine

Sir Robert Smith has been the Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament for West Aberdeenshire & Kincardine since 1997.

Prior to his election he was an Aberdeenshire Councillor, Scottish Liberal Democrat Education Spokesperson and Vice-Convener of the Grampian Joint Police Board between1995-97; he has twice served as a member of Aberdeen University Court.

Robert helped launch the SDP in the North East when the party was formed in 1981 and has been a Liberal Democrat since the merger of the SDP and Liberal Party in 1988.

Record Of Delivery
Robert has a strong record of delivering for local people. As an MP, he has:

Worked to protect local Post Office services and to ensure continued universal delivery by Royal Mail
Spoken up for the oil and gas sector to promote the economy of the North East of Scotland
Supported rural businesses and farming across the constituency
Worked with the Met Office to get more local weather monitoring stations for cold weather payments
Successfully campaigned to open Laurencekirk railway Station
Led the Fair Delivery Charges campaign against excess charges in rural and remote area through his Private Members’ Bill and petition
As a member of the Liberal Democrats Robert has worked in government to give 105,300 people in Aberdeenshire a £700 tax cut.

When he has time Robert enjoys hill walking and sailing.

Parliamentary Experience
Robert’s areas of political interest include energy policy, rural issues and international development. He has been a member of the Energy & Climate Change Select Committee since it was created in 2009, acting as Interim Committee Chair from June - November 2013. He sat on the International Development Select Committee from 2007 to 2009.

He serves as Honorary Vice-President of Energy Action Scotland, a fuel poverty charity, and is a Vice-Chair of the All-Party Group for the UK Offshore Oil and Gas Industry. He is Vice-Chair of the Post Offices APPG and Co-Chairs the APPG on Afghanistan. He represents a large rural constituency where the oil and gas industry, subsea engineering and marine renewables are major employers.

His previous portfolios include party Energy spokesperson, Deputy Chief Whip and shadowing the Scotland Office; he has served on the Trade & Industry Select Committee, Scottish Affairs Select Committee and the Procedure Committee.