13 Facts About Robert Syms

Sir Robert Andrew Raymond Syms was born on 15 August 1956 and is a Conservative Party politician who was the Member of Parliament for Poole from 1997 to 2024.

Robert Syms was born on 15 August 1956 in Chippenham, Wiltshire, and went to Collegiate School, a private school in Bristol.

Robert Syms was leader of North Wiltshire District Council from 1984 to 1987 and a Wiltshire County Councillor from 1985 to 1997.

Robert Syms retains a directorship and shareholding in Marden Holdings Ltd, headquartered in Bristol Road, Chippenham.

Robert Syms denied any wrongdoing, telling the Bournemouth Echo: "It was purely a matter of convenience from my point of view".

Robert Syms said the furniture was only delivered and assembled at his parents' home, then later transported to his London address.

Robert Syms was an assistant whip for the Coalition government between 2012 and 2013.

Robert Syms 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.

Robert 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.

In June 2017, Robert Syms was criticised for using aggressive and unprofessional language on Twitter.

Robert Syms replied to a tweet calling the Conservative-DUP deal after the 2017 general election a "coalition" by calling the twitter user a "dick".

In 2020, Robert 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.

At the 2024 general election, Robert Syms lost his seat to Labour's Neil Duncan-Jordan by a margin of 18 votes.