Andrew Robathan Andrew Robert George Robathan ( born 17 July 1951 ) is a British Conservative politician , and Member of Parliament ( MP ) for UK Parliament constituency ( previously UK Parliament constituency ) in Leicestershire . He is currently the Minister of State for Northern Ireland . Early life . Robathan was born on 17 July 1951 . He was educated at Merchant Taylors ' School , an all - boys public school in Northwood , London . He went on to read Modern History at Oriel College , University of Oxford . He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts ( BA ) in 1973 , later promoted to Master of Arts . Military career . Robathan was commissioned into the Coldstream Guards as a second lieutenant ( on probation ) ( University Candidate ) on 6 October 1974 . He was given the service number 498738 . His commission was confirmed and he was given seniority as a second lieutenant from 6 April 1971 . He was promoted to lieutenant , back dated to 6 October 1974 , with seniority from 6 Apr 1973 . Having attended the Staff College , Camberley , he was promoted to major on 30 September 1984 . He served for a period of time with the Special Air Service ( SAS ) . He retired on 27 August 1989 and was appointed to the Reserve of Officers . He worked for BP from 1991 – 92 , but volunteered to return to the Army between January and April 1991 during the First Gulf War , serving as chief of staff of the Prisoner of War Guard Force in Saudi Arabia , Iraq and Kuwait . Parliamentary career . Robathan was elected to Hammersmith and Fulham Council in May 1990 , defeating the Labour mayor in Eel Brook ward . He resigned in late 1991 to fight the 1992 general election , elected as MP for Blaby in 1992 succeeding Nigel Lawson , the former Chancellor of the Exchequer . Blaby had a 37 % majority in 1992 , but it was considerably reduced by major boundary changes in 1997 , creating a rise in Liberal Democrat support within the constituency . In the past two elections , Robathan has faced J . David Morgan of the Labour Party . Following a public enquiry by the Electoral Commission and submissions from the public including Robathan , the Blaby constituency will be known as South Leicestershire from the next general election onwards . Robathan spent four years on the departmental select committee between 1997 and 2001 . He is a former chairman , currently Vice chairman , of the All Party Cycling Group , and vice chairman of the All Party Renewable and Sustainable Energy Group . Robathan was John Redwood ' s Parliamentary Private Secretary to Iain Sproat , Minister for Sport , in the Major administration before returning to the backbenches when the Conservatives lost the 1997 general election . He returned to the front - bench as Trade and Industry Spokesman in 2002 . In the 2001 Conservative Party leadership election , Robathan was a keen supporter of Michael Portillo . After six months on the backbenches , Robathan was appointed Commons Liaison to the Lords and then a defence spokesman in which capacity he fought the 2005 general election . In the 2005 Conservative leadership election , Robathan was one of the very first MPs to declare his support for David Cameron and was rewarded with one of only five paid posts in opposition , Opposition Deputy Chief Whip . In May 2010 , he was appointed Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Ministry of Defence with responsibility for Welfare and Veterans . In 2011 , he was a member of the special Select Committee set up to scrutinise the Bill that became the Armed Forces Act 2011 . In December 2011 , campaigners called for him to be sacked after he compared the medal claims of 66 , 500 veterans of the Arctic convoys of World War II to the proliferation of honours made by " authoritarian regimes " and " dictators " Some 3000 sailors died on the convoys - which Winston Churchill described as the " worst journey in the world . " Portsmouth MPs described his behaviour as " shameful " and " sickening . " In October 2012 Robathan was told to calm down by the deputy speaker after complaining about noise levels from the public gallery . Soldiers from the " historic " 2nd Battalion Royal Regiment of Fusiliers who face being disbanded were " politely applauding MPs who spoke up on their behalf " . A former captain contrasted MOD advice that they went to Afghanistan and Iraq to help democracy with the reality of their own threatened ejection from Parliament . Expenses . Robathan claimed the maximum second home entitlement of £24 , 006 in the period 2008 – 09 though he was not one of the 343 MPs required to repay money by the Legg Report . He was one of 177 MPs listed by the Daily Telegraph who employed family members . The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority report published 2 years later , whilst tightening the rules , confirmed that a member may employ one relative subject to general conditions relating to expenses . Robathan ' s expenses have generally been in the bottom half of all MPs On 24 August 2009 , he was quoted in " The Times " newspaper suggesting that MP ' s salaries be increased to £110 , 000 . These comments were heavily frowned upon by his colleagues in Parliament and the media . On 4 November 2013 , it was reported in " Leicester Mercury " newspaper and on " BBC Radio Leicester " that Robathan had claimed £4 , 587 expenses to pay for energy bills for his second home . Personal life . He married Rachel Maunder in December 1991 in Westminster . They have a son ( born December 1996 ) and daughter ( born July 1999 ) . He speaks French and German , and is a Freeman of the City of London .