History of Robert Halfon in Timeline

Robert Halfon is a British Conservative politician who served as the Member of Parliament for Harlow from 2010 to 2024. As a prominent figure within the Conservative Party, his political career involved representing the Harlow constituency in the House of Commons. He is known for his advocacy on social issues and his work within the political sphere, and his role as an MP marked a significant period of his career.

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Full Timeline Career & Achievements

1922: Elected to the 1922 Committee

After the 2010 election, Robert Halfon was elected to the executive of the 1922 Committee of backbench Conservative MPs.

1968: Grandfather forced to leave Libya

In 1968, Robert Halfon's paternal grandfather, Renato Halfon, was forced to leave Libya and joined Clement in England.

March 1969: Birth in Westminster, London

Robert Halfon was born in Westminster, London, on 22 March 1969 and grew up in Hampstead.

March 1969: Robert Halfon's Birth

Robert Henry Halfon was born on March 1969.

1991: European Court of Human Rights Case

In 1991, Robert Halfon took the issue of compulsory membership of the National Union of Students to the European Court of Human Rights, which decided that his application was manifestly ill-founded.

2001: General Election Stand

In 2001, Robert Halfon stood in Harlow at the general election, coming second with 34.8% of the vote behind Bill Rammell.

2005: General Election Stand

In 2005, Robert Halfon stood in Harlow at the general election, again coming second with 41.2% of the vote behind Bill Rammell.

June 2010: Delivered maiden speech

On June 2, 2010, Robert Halfon delivered his maiden speech in the House of Commons.

July 2010: Hosted Friends of Israel Initiative launch

On 19 July 2010, Robert Halfon hosted the launch of the Friends of Israel Initiative at the House of Commons.

2010: Affair with Alexandra Paterson

From 2010 to 2014, Robert Halfon had an affair with the then-chair of Conservative Future, Alexandra Paterson.

2010: Elected as MP for Harlow

In 2010, Robert Halfon was elected as the Member of Parliament for Harlow.

2010: Election to the House of Commons

In 2010, Robert Halfon was elected to the House of Commons as the MP for Harlow at the general election.

2011: Attempt to ban MEND from House of Commons

In 2011, Robert Halfon attempted to get Muslim Engagement and Development (MEND) banned from the House of Commons.

2012: Published pamphlet on trade unions

In 2012, Robert Halfon published a pamphlet through Demos called Stop the Union Bashing: Why Conservatives Should Embrace the Trade Union Movement, which relayed the history of trade unionism in the Conservative Party and called for these links to be revived.

2013: Advocated for lower tax rates

In 2013, Robert Halfon argued for reducing the tax rate on low-paid workers by reintroducing the 10p band of income tax or increasing the National Insurance threshold.

2013: Study of water companies

In 2013, Robert Halfon published a study of water companies in East Anglia examining their profits and called for an inquiry.

2013: Spectator Campaigner of the Year Award

In 2013, Robert Halfon won The Spectator's Campaigner of the Year Award for his work fighting to keep petrol duty low.

2013: Voted against Same Sex Couples Act

Robert Halfon voted against the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013, which permitted same-sex couples to marry, and much of the secondary legislation implementing the Act.

July 2014: Appointed Parliamentary Private Secretary

On 18 July 2014, Robert Halfon was chosen by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, to be his Parliamentary Private Secretary.

September 2014: Opening of Sir Charles Kao UTC

In September 2014, Sir Charles Kao UTC, a university technical college Robert Halfon campaigned for, opened in Harlow.

2014: Affair with Alexandra Paterson

From 2010 to 2014, Robert Halfon had an affair with the then-chair of Conservative Future, Alexandra Paterson.

2014: Challenged over donation

In 2014, Robert Halfon was challenged in Parliament over money paid to his constituency office by Robert Shetler-Jones, a close associate of Dmitry Firtash, who had been recently arrested amid allegations of bribery.

May 2015: Minister without Portfolio and Deputy Chairman

Between May 2015 and July 2016, Robert Halfon served as Minister without Portfolio (attending Cabinet) and Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party.

May 2015: Appointment to Cabinet

In May 2015, Robert Halfon attended Prime Minister David Cameron's Cabinet as Minister without portfolio and Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party.

2015: Affair Admission and Blackmail Allegations

In 2015, Robert Halfon admitted to having an affair with Alexandra Paterson, the then-chair of Conservative Future, from 2010 to 2014, after being warned of a blackmail attempt.

2015: Re-election as MP for Harlow

In 2015, Robert Halfon was re-elected as MP for Harlow at the general election with an increased vote share of 48.9% and an increased majority of 8,350.

July 2016: Minister of State at Department for Education

From July 2016, Robert Halfon was Minister of State at the Department for Education.

July 2016: Minister of State for Skills

In July 2016, Robert Halfon served in Prime Minister Theresa May's government as Minister of State for Skills at the Department for Education.

2016: Brexit Referendum

In 2016, Robert Halfon voted for the UK to remain in the EU during the Brexit referendum, but expressed support for leaving in the event of a second referendum.

2016: Death in Harlow bouncy castle accident

In 2016, a seven-year-old girl died after a bouncy castle broke free from its moorings in Robert Halfon's constituency of Harlow.

June 2017: Departure from Government

In June 2017, Robert Halfon left his position as Minister of State for Skills at the Department for Education.

June 2017: Dismissal from Ministerial Role

On 12 June 2017, Robert Halfon was dismissed from his role as Minister of State at the Department for Education by Prime Minister Theresa May.

July 2017: Chair of Education Select Committee

In July 2017, Robert Halfon chaired the House of Commons Education Select Committee.

2017: Re-election in Snap Election

At the snap 2017 general election, Robert Halfon was re-elected, with an increased vote share of 54% and a decreased majority of 7,031.

July 2018: Called for investigation into bouncy castle regulation

In July 2018, following the deaths of two children on bouncy castles, Robert Halfon called for an "urgent investigation" into their regulation and a possible temporary ban.

2019: Apologised for Same Sex Couples Act vote

In 2019, Robert Halfon apologised for voting against the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act and supported same-sex marriage for residents of Northern Ireland.

2019: Re-elected at general election

Robert Halfon was re-elected at the 2019 general election, with an increased vote share of 63.5% and an increased majority of 14,063.

January 2020: Spoke Welsh in Parliament

In January 2020, Robert Halfon learned a small amount of Welsh to answer a Parliamentary question about bilingual government services in Wales.

April 2020: Accusations against the Board of Deputies

In April 2020, Robert Halfon accused the Board of Deputies of British Jews of having a "left-of-centre political agenda".

October 2020: Broke whip on free school meals vote

In October 2020, Robert Halfon broke the whip to vote for a Labour opposition day motion to extend free school meals during school holidays until Easter 2021.

November 2021: Introduced Ten Minute Rule Bill

In November 2021, Robert Halfon introduced a new Ten Minute Rule Bill to prevent future school closures, reclassifying schools as essential infrastructure.

2021: Free school meals vote

In October 2020, Robert Halfon was one of five Conservative MPs who broke the whip to vote for a Labour opposition day motion to extend the provision of free school meals during school holidays until Easter 2021.