George Robertson, Baron Robertson of Port Ellen

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This article is about the contemporary politician. For the president of the Court of Session see James Robertson, Baron Robertson

The Right Honourable
 George Robertson
George Robertson, Baron Robertson of Port Ellen
In office
3 May 1997 – 11 October 1999
Leader Tony Blair
Preceded by Michael Portillo
Succeeded by Geoff Hoon
Political party Labour

George Islay MacNeill Robertson, Baron Robertson of Port Ellen, KT GCMG FRSA FRSE PC (born 12 April 1946, in Port Ellen, Isle of Islay, Scotland) was the Secretary-General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, between October 1999 and early January 2004; he succeeded Javier Solana in that position.

He served as Defence Secretary for the United Kingdom from 1997 to 1999, before taking up his NATO position and becoming a life peer as Baron Robertson of Port Ellen, of Islay in Argyll and Bute.

Contents

[edit] Early life

He was educated at Dunoon Grammar School and later the University of Dundee, graduating in 1968 with a Master's degree (M.A.) in Economics. When he was 15 years of age, he was involved with protests against US nuclear submarines docking in the UK. (*) He married Sandra on 1 June 1970. They are the parents of three children, Malcolm, Martin and Rachael. The children are former pupils of the school in Dunblane where a gunman went on the rampage in 1996, murdering 16 children and their teacher. After the massacre, Mr Robertson, a long-time resident of the town, acted as spokesman for the victims' families. He was also a key figure in the subsequent campaign that led to the UK ban on handguns.[1]

Robertson survived a serious crash in January 1977 of his car with a Navy Land Rover, which was carrying 100lb of gelignite and a box of detonators, and hit his car head-on in the Drumochter Pass, leaving him with two wrecked knees and a broken jaw. Robertson was wearing a seat belt at the time and attributes his survival to this factor.

[edit] Political career

He was six times elected to the United Kingdom House of Commons, was Chairman of the Labour Party in Scotland, and was appointed to the Privy Council.[2]

[edit] Infamous quote on devolution

Robertson infamously said that "Devolution will kill Nationalism stone dead"[3] while he was Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland before the 1997 General Election. This quote was designed to assuage fears that devolution would provide a greater platform for the SNP. Robertson's quote has been frequently recalled (usually in a mocking fashion), particularly after the SNP's victory in the 2007 Scottish election.


[edit] After NATO

He has received numerous honours (including a total of 11 Honorary doctorates from various universities). Currently he holds directorships of several notable companies, including the Weir group and Cable and Wireless in his home country.

[edit] Career

[edit] Other former or present posts

[edit] Honours and Awards

[edit] References

  1. ^ BBC profile, 1999
  2. ^ NATO (6 January 2004). NATO Secretary General (1999–2003) The Rt. Hon. Lord Robertson of Port Ellen. Who is who at NATO?. NATO. Retrieved on 2007-02-22.
  3. ^ Warner, Gerald (6 May 2007). How Bulldog Brown could call Braveheart Salmond's bluff. Scotland on Sunday. Retrieved on 2007-05-06.
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
Alexander Wilson		 Member of Parliament for Hamilton
1978–1997		 Succeeded by
(constituency abolished)
Preceded by
(new constituency)		 Member of Parliament for Hamilton South
1997–1999		 Succeeded by
William Tynan
Political offices
Preceded by
Michael Portillo		 Secretary of State for Defence
1997–1999		 Succeeded by
Geoff Hoon
Preceded by
Javier Solana		 Secretary General of NATO
1999–2004		 Succeeded by
Jaap de Hoop Scheffer
v • d • e
Secretaries General of NATO