Biography

I was born in Anniesland on 17th April, 1952.
My Mother's maiden name was Agnes Millen Webster
My Father's name was Charles Robertson.

I married my wife Eleanor in 1973 and have three daughters, Wendy, Jennifer and Laura.
 
I was educated in the following schools:
Knightswood Primary (1957-1964)
Langside Primary (1964)
Shawlands Senior Secondary (1964 -1969)
Further education in the following:
Langside College (1969-1971 & 1982-1985)
Stow College (1971-1772 & 1985-1987)

Qualifications:
Nine "O" levels
City and Guild of London Institute Intermediate Certificate.
HNC in Electrical Engineering.

Employment

I left school and stated work for the GPO (P.O. then British Telecom then BT) on 14th July, 1969 as a TTA (Trainee Technician Apprentice) and three years later became a Technician 2A when my initial apprenticeship ended. I trained for a further two years and became a Technical Officer. In December 1991, I was promoted to management where I stayed until I was given Voluntary Release in September 2000. I was elected to the Westminster Parliament on the 23rd of November, 2000 at a by-election after the death of Donald Dewar

Labour Party membership

I joined the Labour Party in 1984 and have held the following posts and delegations:

Branch:
Vice-chairperson 1985-1987
Chairperson 1987-1989
Constituency:
Vice-chairperson 1989-1994
Chairperson 1994-2001
Campaign Co-ordinator 1987-2001
Election agent for Donald Dewar 1994-2000
Election agent for council wards 1987-2000

Delegations:
 Glasgow City Labour Party,
 Glasgow District Labour Party and
 Strathclyde Regional Labour Party. Various years 1984-2000
Conference Delegate:
 Scottish Conference 4 times
 National Conference 3 times
 Local Government conferences (many times)

Trade Union membership

I joined the Post Office Engineering Union in 1969 it changed its name to the National Communications Union (NCU) in 1983 and is now known as the Communications Workers Union (CWU).

Posts Held: Political and Education Officer 1985-1988

I became a member of the Society of Telecom Executives (STE), now known as Connect, in 1991 and I am still a member.

Posts Held: Chairperson 1995-2000

Political Activity

Candidate For Strathclyde Regional Council Election 1991 Milngavie & Kilmadinning Ward

Elected Parliamentary By-Election 23 rd November 2000 Glasgow Anniesland Constituency

Re-elected 7 th June 2001

Elected to the new Glasgow North West Constituency, 5 th May 2005 (boundary changes)

Parliamentary

Private Parliamentary Secretary at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to the Minister of State ( Middle East), Dr Kim Howells MP (July, 2005-Present)

Member of Select Committee Scottish Affairs (2001-2005)

Member European Scrutiny Select Committee (2001-2005)

Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme (Army-2003)

Member British-Irish Parliamentary Body (2001-Present)

Chair of apComms (2001-Present) (previously known as the Telecommunications APPG)

Secretary of All Party Parliamentary Music Group (2003-2005)

Chair of All Party Parliamentary Music Group (2005-Present)

Chair All Party Parliamentary Nuclear Energy Group (2005-Present)

Chair All Party Parliamentary Group on Nigeria (2005-Present) (previously known as the Niger Delta APPG) 

Chair All Party Parliamentary Group on Angola (July 2007-Present)

Vice Chair Shipbuilding Group (2001-Present)

Vice Chair All Party Parliamentary Group on New Media (2005-Present)

Treasurer of the All Party Parliamentary Scottish Football Group (2003-2007)

Hon Secretary Scottish PLP Group (2003-Present)

Secretary Glasgow Group of MP’s (2001-2005)

Scottish Office MP Spokesperson Trade & Industry (2001-2005)

John is also a member of a number of other all party groups.  To see which ones please visit http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmallparty/register/memi01.htm