PPC - Robert Halfon

About Robert

Robert is an adviser to a number of Conservative organizations and is currently Political Director of Conservative Friends of Israel. He has previously worked as Chief of Staff to Oliver Letwin and as a consultant to business. Robert is also an author having written essays for books and articles on subjects as diverse as Social Justice, Russia, Conservatism, and Corporate Responsibility.

Robert is passionate about social justice and how volunteers and charities can transform people's lives for the better. He has seen this at first hand in Harlow where there are tremendous community organisations like the Harlow Homeless Centre, the Gateway Christian Fellowship and Rainbow Services, helping those most in need.

Robert is an active Board Member of Iain Duncan Smith's Centre for Social Justice. A football fan, Robert is a massive supporter of Chelsea F.C. He is delighted that Harlow born Glen Hoddle was a former Chelsea manager and helped put Chelsea back to winning ways. Robert loves books and bookshops and Indian Restaurants, His favourite Curry Houses are the White Horse in Roydon and the Bengal Cottage in Old Harlow. He also enjoys the countryside and is lucky that Harlow constituency includes some of England's most beautiful villages; Nazeing, Roydon and Sheering. Robert lives in Roydon.

Robert's Experience

Robert is a Roydon Parish Councillor and a former Governor of Passmores School. He has fought Harlow twice as Conservative Parliamentary Candidate (in 2001 and 2005). He is a Patron of the Harlow Homeless Centre.

At the 2005 election, Robert lost by just 97 votes after three recounts. Harlow Constituency is now the third most marginal in the country having had a Labour majority of 10,500 in 1997.

Robert has also stood for Council and was active in Conservative Students when at Exeter University.

Campaigns

Robert is campaigning hard for more police on Harlow streets and for law abiding local residents who are forced to put up with anti social behaviour. He is also working hard to stop cuts in our local NHS. Using Freedom of Information, he recently found out that there has been a £700,000 cut in funds to the NHS Walk in Centre and has been probing the hospital trust about the huge number of cancelled operations.

Robert is fighting hard against John Prescott’s plans to bulldoze through our villages and green spaces with his plans to concrete through the countryside with thousands of extra buildings. Robert says that these plans are unnecessary because of all the brownfield land available, undemocratic because local people in Harlow and the surrounding villages have no say and unsustainable because there is no infrastructure to support all the extra developments.

Robert is passionate about education and is currently undergoing a programme to try and visit nearly every school in Harlow. He has already organised a literary competition for Harlow school children. Robert has also has been working with the Harlow Homeless Centre to raise funds including lobbying Tesco, who donated £5,000 in food vouchers and has helped the HHC procure free office equipment and furniture. He is a strong supporter of the Harlow Alzheimers Society and recently completed a two hour non-stop sponsored swim which raised over £4,000 for the charity.

He has fought hard for more Special Needs facilities and has been lobbying Essex County Council hard over education issues. Robert has also done a four month sponsored diet for Harlow Mind (where he lost two and a half stone), a remarkable charity that provides first class community facilities for those with mental health difficulties.

Robert is also campaigning for free - and more - disabled parking bays in the town centre.

Robert regularly helps constituents who contact him with a range of problems, including health matters, housing, pensions, and law and order.