{{Short description|British Conservative politician}} {{Distinguish|Robert Simms (disambiguation){{!}}Robert Simms}} {{Use British English|date=October 2019}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Robert Syms | image = Official portrait of Sir Robert Syms MP crop 2.jpg | caption = | office = Lord Commissioner of the Treasury | prime_minister = Theresa May | term_start = 17 July 2016 | term_end = 15 June 2017 | predecessor = Charlie Elphicke | successor = Mark Spencer | office1 = Member of Parliament <br /> for Poole | parliament1 = | term_start1 = 1 May 1997 | term_end1 = 30 May 2024 | predecessor1 = John Devereux Ward | successor1 = Neil Duncan-Jordan | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1956|08|15|df=yes}} | birth_place = Chippenham, Wiltshire, England | death_date = | death_place = | spouse = {{plainlist| * {{marriage|Nicola Guy<br />|1991|1999|end=div}} * {{marriage|Fiona Mellersh<br />|2000|2016|end=div}} }} | party = Conservative | relations = | children = 2 | alma_mater = | occupation = | profession = | signature = | footnotes = | website = | honorific_prefix = Sir }} '''Sir Robert Andrew Raymond Syms''' (born 15 August 1956) is a Conservative Party politician who was the Member of Parliament (MP) for Poole from 1997 to 2024. He received a knighthood in 2017.
==Early life and career == Robert Syms was born on 15 August 1956 in Chippenham, Wiltshire, and went to Collegiate School, a private school in Bristol.<ref name="politics">{{cite web|title=Robert Syms|url=http://www.politics.co.uk/reference/robert-andrew-raymond-syms|website=Politics.co.uk|access-date=10 August 2016|archive-date=18 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160818230848/http://www.politics.co.uk/reference/robert-andrew-raymond-syms|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="conservativebio" />
He was leader of North Wiltshire District Council from 1984 to 1987 and a Wiltshire County Councillor from 1985 to 1997.<ref name="politics" />
Syms has also been managing director of his family's plant hire firm on Bristol Road in Chippenham, and is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Building.<ref name="politics" /><ref name="conservativebio" /> He retains a directorship and shareholding in Marden Holdings Ltd, headquartered in Bristol Road, Chippenham.<ref name="UK Parliament website">{{cite web |title=House of Commons - The Register of Members' Financial Interests 5 Mar 2012 |url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmregmem/120305/syms_robert.htm |access-date=21 March 2012 |work=UK Parliament website |publisher=UK Parliament}}</ref>
==Parliamentary career== At the 1992 general election, Syms stood as the Conservative candidate in Walsall North, coming second with 39.4% of the vote behind the incumbent Labour MP David Winnick.<ref name="electoralcalculus1992">{{cite web |title=Election Data 1992 |url=http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_1992ob.txt |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111015054418/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_1992ob.txt |archive-date=15 October 2011 |access-date=18 October 2015 |publisher=Electoral Calculus}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=9 April 1992 |title=Politics Resources |url=http://www.politicsresources.net/area/uk/ge92/ge92index.htm |access-date=2010-12-06 |work=Election 1992 |publisher=Politics Resources}}</ref>
Syms was elected to Parliament as MP for Poole at the 1997 general election with 42.1% of the vote and a majority of 5,298.<ref name="electoralcalculus1997">{{cite web |title=Election Data 1997 |url=http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_1997.txt |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111015054424/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_1997.txt |archive-date=15 October 2011 |access-date=18 October 2015 |publisher=Electoral Calculus}}</ref> At the 2001 general election, Syms was re-elected as MP for Poole with an increased vote share of 45.1% and an increased majority of 7,166.<ref name="electoralcalculus2001">{{cite web |title=Election Data 2001 |url=http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2001ob.txt |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111015054450/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2001ob.txt |archive-date=15 October 2011 |access-date=18 October 2015 |publisher=Electoral Calculus}}</ref> He was again re-elected at the 2005 general election, with a decreased vote share of 43.4% and a decreased majority of 5,988.<ref name="electoralcalculus2005">{{cite web |title=Election Data 2005 |url=http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2005ob.txt |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111015054249/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2005ob.txt |archive-date=15 October 2011 |access-date=18 October 2015 |publisher=Electoral Calculus}}</ref>
In May 2009, ''The Daily Telegraph'' reported that Syms had claimed more than £2,000 of furniture for his designated second home in London which was delivered to his parents' address in Wiltshire.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/mps-expenses/5339776/Robert-Syms-had-furniture-delivered-to-wrong-home-MPs-expenses.html|title=Robert Syms had furniture delivered to 'wrong home': MPs' expenses|last=Gammell|first=Caroline|work=Telegraph.co.uk|date=18 May 2009|access-date=3 May 2017|language=en}}</ref> Syms denied any wrongdoing, telling the ''Bournemouth Echo'': "It was purely a matter of convenience from my point of view". Syms said the furniture was only delivered and assembled at his parents' home, then later transported to his London address.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/4377901.tory-mp-defends-expenses-claim/|title=Tory MP defends expenses claim|date=19 May 2009|work=Bournemouth Echo}}</ref>
At the 2010 general election, Syms was again re-elected, with an increased vote share of 47.5% and an increased majority of 7,541.<ref name="electoralcalculus2010">{{cite web |title=Election Data 2010 |url=http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2010.txt |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130726162034/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2010.txt |archive-date=26 July 2013 |access-date=17 October 2015 |publisher=Electoral Calculus}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=BBC NEWS – Election 2010 – Poole |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/election2010/results/constituency/d55.stm |work=BBC News}}</ref>
Syms was an assistant whip for the Coalition government between 2012 and 2013.<ref name="ParliamentUK">{{cite web |title=Robert Syms |url=http://www.parliament.uk/biographies/commons/mr-robert-syms/245 |access-date=10 August 2016 |website=UK Parliament}}</ref> He has served on a variety of select committees, acting as chair of the Regulatory Reform Committee from July 2010 to September 2012 and the High Speed Rail select committee from April 2014 to February 2016.<ref name="ParliamentUK" />
At the 2015 general election, Syms was again re-elected with an increased vote share of 50.1% and an increased majority of 15,789.<ref name="electoralcalculus2015">{{cite web |title=Election Data 2015 |url=http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2015.txt |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017112223/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2015.txt |archive-date=17 October 2015 |access-date=17 October 2015 |publisher=Electoral Calculus}}</ref>
Syms organised a letter signed by more than 80 fellow Eurosceptic Conservative MPs urging David Cameron to continue as Prime Minister regardless of the result of the EU referendum in 2016.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/06/23/eurosceptic-tory-mps-and-ministers-sign-letter-urging-david-came/ |title=Eurosceptic Tory MPs and ministers sign letter urging David Cameron to continue as Prime Minister |first1=Peter |last1=Dominiczak |first2=Steven |last2=Swinford |work=The Telegraph |date=24 June 2016}}</ref> He backed Theresa May's leadership bid following Cameron's resignation,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-36704241 |title=Conservative Party leadership: Who's backing who? |work=BBC News |date=8 July 2016}}</ref> and was appointed as a Government Whip and Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury upon May's succession.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/people/robert-syms |title=Robert Syms |website=GOV.UK |access-date=27 October 2016}}</ref>
At the snap 2017 general election, Syms was again re-elected, with an increased vote share of 57.9% and a decreased majority of 14,209.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Past election and referendum results |url=https://www.bcpcouncil.gov.uk/councillors-committees-and-elections/elections-and-voting/past-election-and-referendum-results |access-date=2024-05-18 |website=BCP |language=en}}</ref>
In June 2017, Syms was criticised for using aggressive and unprofessional language on Twitter. He replied to a tweet calling the Conservative-DUP deal after the 2017 general election a "coalition" by calling the twitter user a "dick".<ref>{{cite web|last1=Nagesh|first1=Ashitha|title=Tory MP calls member of public a 'd*ck' for mistakenly calling DUP deal a coalition|url=http://metro.co.uk/2017/06/11/tory-mp-calls-member-of-public-a-dck-for-mistakenly-calling-dup-deal-a-coalition-6701979/|website=Metro|access-date=11 June 2017|date=11 June 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Grassby |first=Jade |title="It's not a coalition, you d**k": Poole MP Robert Syms criticised for response to Corbyn supporter |url=http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/15341219.___It___s_not_a_coalition__you_d__k_____Poole_MP_Robert_Syms_criticised_for_response_to_Corbyn_supporter/ |access-date=3 May 2017 |website=Bournemouth Echo |language=en}}</ref>
At the 2019 general election, Syms was again re-elected, with an increased vote share of 58.7% and an increased majority of 19,116.<ref>{{Cite web |title=SOPN |url=https://live-bcpcouncil-bournemouth.cloud.contensis.com/Council-and-Democratic/Elections-and-voting/Elections/uk-parliamentary-election-general-election-2019/docs/statement-of-persons-nominated-notice-of-poll-poole.pdf}}</ref>
In 2020, Syms became a "lockdown rebel" and a steering committee member of the lockdown-sceptic COVID Recovery Group alongside a group of Conservative MPs who opposed the UK government's December 2020 lockdown.<ref name="Hope10Nov">{{cite news |last1=Hope |first1=Christopher |title=Tory lockdown rebels unite to form Covid Recovery Group |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/11/10/headache-pm-dozens-conservative-mps-set-covid-recovery-group/ |work=The Telegraph |date=10 November 2020}}</ref> They have been seen as an "echo" of the Brexiteer European Research Group (ERG) of MPs, and a response by backbench Conservatives to Nigel Farage's anti-lockdown Reform UK party.<ref name="Hope10Nov" />
At the 2024 general election, Syms lost his seat to Labour's Neil Duncan-Jordan by a margin of 18 votes.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Recount drama in Poole as Dorset's Tory stalwarts lose seats |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ced3ldkvekvo |access-date=2024-07-06 |website=www.bbc.com |date=5 July 2024 |language=en-GB}}</ref> Syms's vote share was reduced to 31.8%.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election/2024/uk/constituencies/E14001429 | title=Poole - General election results 2024 | work=BBC News }}</ref> This was after multiple recounts.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-07-05 |title=Six votes separate candidates as recount called |url=https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/24432522.general-election-recount-poole-six-votes-separate-candidates/ |access-date=2024-07-06 |website=Bournemouth Echo |language=en}}</ref>
==Personal life== He is divorced and has two children.<ref>{{cite news|title=Tory MP's ex-wife rages at David Cameron over whip's sacking|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/oct/07/reshuffle-tory-whip-twitter-fury|date=7 October 2013|access-date=10 August 2016|work=The Guardian}}</ref><ref name="conservativebio">{{cite web|title=Robert Syms bio|url=https://www.conservatives.com/OurTeam/Members-of-Parliament/Syms-Robert|website=Conservatives|access-date=10 August 2016|archive-date=11 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160811010004/https://www.conservatives.com/OurTeam/Members-of-Parliament/Syms-Robert|url-status=dead}}</ref> Syms was appointed Knight Bachelor in October 2017.<ref>{{cite web |date=12 October 2017 |title=Knighthoods: Michael Penning and Robert Syms |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/knighthoods-michael-penning-and-robert-syms |access-date=12 October 2017 |website=GOV.UK |publisher=Prime Minister's Office}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == {{Commons category}} {{UK MP links |parliament=mr-robert-syms/245 |hansard=mr-robert-syms/ |hansardcurr=4197 |publicwhip=Robert_Syms |theywork=10582/robert_syms/poole}} * [http://www.pooleconservatives.org Poole Conservatives]
{{s-start}} {{s-par|uk}} {{s-bef|before=John Ward}} {{s-ttl|title=Member of Parliament for Poole|years=1997–2024}} {{s-aft|after=Neil Duncan-Jordan}} {{s-end}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Syms, Robert}} Category:1956 births Category:Living people Category:People from Chippenham Category:People educated at Colston's School Category:Leaders of local authorities of England Category:Members of Wiltshire County Council Category:Conservative Party (UK) councillors Category:Conservative Party (UK) MPs for English constituencies Category:Members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for Poole Category:Politics of Dorset Category:UK MPs 1997–2001 Category:UK MPs 2001–2005 Category:UK MPs 2005–2010 Category:UK MPs 2010–2015 Category:UK MPs 2015–2017 Category:UK MPs 2017–2019 Category:UK MPs 2019–2024 Category:Knights Bachelor