Arise Sir Robert! North Yorkshire MP delighted to be knighted in New Year Honours
A North Yorkshire MP has been knighted in the New Year Honours.
Robert Goodwill has represented Scarborough and Whitby since 2005.
He told YorkMix: “I am absolutely delighted and honoured to have been included in this year’s New Year’s Honours List.
“I started delivering leaflets for the Conservatives while I was still at school in York and have always been fascinated by politics.
“Certainly, my inspiration was Margaret Thatcher whose 1979 General Election Campaign I helped in whilst at Newcastle University taking my finals.
“I have been privileged to represent Yorkshire seats both in the Commons and European Parliament where I was Deputy Leader before being selected to fight the Labour held seat of Scarborough and Whitby for the 2005 General Election.”
Sir Robert served as a minister in both David Cameron and Theresa May’s governments serving in four departments, most recently as agriculture minister.
He added: “As a farmer on a family farm in the Howardian Hills, I could never have predicted that I could become a Member of Parliament let alone a minister or be knighted.
“I could not have achieved this without the help of my wife, Maureen who has helped keep the family and business on the straight and narrow nor without the many campaigners, supporters and voters in Scarborough and Whitby.”