Christopher Roy Robertshaw is an English-born Manx politician who served as Member of the House of Keys for Douglas East until August 2021. He previously served as Deputy Speaker of the House of Keys, Minister of Social Care, Minister for Community, Culture and Leisure and Minister for Policy and Reform.[1]
Chris Robertshaw | |
|---|---|
| Deputy Speaker of the House of Keys | |
| Assumed office 25 September 2016 | |
| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Governor | Richard Gozney |
| Minister for Policy and Reform | |
| In office 5 April 2014 – 16 February 2015 | |
| Preceded by | Position Established |
| Succeeded by | John Shimmin |
| Minister for Community, Culture and Leisure | |
| In office 3 March 2014 – 1 April 2014 | |
| Preceded by | Graham Cregeen |
| Succeeded by | Position Abolished |
| Minister for the Social Care | |
| In office 14 October 2011 – 3 March 2014 | |
| Preceded by | Martyn Quayle |
| Succeeded by | Howard Quayle |
| Member of the House of Keys for Douglas East | |
| In office 28 May 2010 – 12 August 2021 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1948 Chester |
| Nationality | Manx |
| Political party | Independent |
| Spouse | Joan Robertshaw |
| Children | 2 |
Early life
Robertshaw was born in 1948 in Chester, and is married with two children and five grandchildren.
He was schooled in a Roman Catholic seminary and served in the British Army in Libya, Cyprus, Germany, England and Norway. In 2005 he retired as Managing Director, Company Secretary and Registrar of Sefton Hotel Plc after a 35-year career in tourism. He is currently[when?] a director of the charity Kemmyrk and a member of the Douglas Regeneration Committee, of the Institute of Hospitality and of the Positive Action Group.[1]
Political career
In 2010, he replaced Phil Braidwood as MHK for Douglas East in a by-election, and was re-elected at the 2011 and 2016 general elections.
In 2015, he resigned as Minister for Policy and Reform after less than a year in post, to be replaced by John Shimmin.[2]
Among other issues, he has campaigned for the island's government to become a single legal entity (at present each department has its own legal identity).[3]
Following re-election in 2016, Robertshaw stated publicly that he would not contest the next election in 2021.[3]
Governmental positions
- Minister for Policy and Reform, 2014-2015
- Minister of Social Care, 2011–2014
Election results
2016
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | Claire Bettison | 561 | 18.06% | |
| Independent | Chris Robertshaw | 487 | 15.68% | |
| Independent | Jon Joughin | 480 | 15.45% | |
| Independent | Quintin Gill | 415 | 13.36% | |
| Independent | Amanda Walker | 373 | 12.01% | |
| Independent | Cat Turner | 324 | 10.43% | |
| Independent | John McBride | 303 | 9.76% | |
| Independent | Richard Halsall | 163 | 5.25% | |
| Total valid votes | 3106 | |||
| Rejected ballots | 2 | 0.12% | ||
| Registered electors | 4,251 | |||
| Turnout | 1705 | 40.11% | ||
2011
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | Chris Robertshaw | 915 | 30.87% | |
| Independent | Brenda Cannell | 757 | 25.54% | |
| Independent | Paul Moulton | 490 | 16.53% | |
| Independent | Geraldine O'Neill | 441 | 14.88% | |
| Independent | Richard Kissack | 238 | 8.03% | |
| Independent | John Karran | 123 | 4.15% | |
| Total valid votes | 2964 | |||
| Rejected ballots | 12 | 0.71% | ||
| Registered electors | 4,136 | |||
| Turnout | 1700 | 41.1% | ||
2010
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | Chris Robertshaw | 388 | 27.17% | |
| Independent | Kate Beecroft | 301 | 21.08% | |
| Independent | Kevin Woodford | 276 | 19.33% | |
| Independent | Jon Joughin | 146 | 10.22% | |
| Independent | Christopher Heath | 72 | 5.04% | |
| Total valid votes | 1428 | |||
| Registered electors | 3792[7] | |||
| Turnout | 37.82[7] | |||
2006
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | Phil Braidwood | 777 | 28.63% | |
| Independent | Brenda Cannell | 728 | 26.82% | |
| Independent | Chris Robertshaw | 574 | 21.15% | |
| Independent | William Platt | 252 | 9.29% | |
| Independent | Stephen Osborne | 194 | 7.15% | |
| Independent | Carol Jempson | 189 | 6.96% | |
| Total valid votes | 2714 | |||
| Rejected ballots | 8 | 0.78% | ||
| Registered electors | 3,035 | |||
| Turnout | 1540 | 50.74% | ||