Born in North Yorkshire, Robert  was educated in York and at Newcastle University where he read agriculture before coming home to the 250 acre family farm at Terrington near Malton.

Between 1999 and 2004, Robert was one of Yorkshire's three Conservative Members of the European Parliament, standing down following his selection by local Conservatives as their candidate in Scarborough and Whitby. From 2003 to 2004, Robert was the Deputy Leader of our 36 Conservative MEPs as well as spokesman on environmental policy.

A staunch Eurosceptic, Robert's commitment to restore vital powers back to this country has been reinforced by his spell in Brussels.

Robert has leant his support local people's campaigns in the Scarborough and Whitby area. Most notably pressing for the upgrading of the A64 which currently limits business and tourism development on the East Coast and campaigning to halt cuts to local health services.

Married to Maureen, they have three children, Bob 17, Harry 15 and Lucy 12 who all attend local state schools. Robert's other passion is his steam traction engines and "Sentinel" steam lorry which can be seen at many local steam events sporting its "Keep the Pound" livery.

He was elected as a Member of Parliament in May 2005 and appointed to the front bench as an oppostion whip by David Cameron in November 2006. 

In July 2007 he was appointed as a Shadow Roads Minister for Transport.