214:, completed within two years. Parker listed this among his proudest achievements and French stated at the time that they hoped the new university would lead to "high-tech companies" starting "to come to Lincolnshire and you will begin to get more young people moving in". Parker supported the abolition of Humberside as a local authority, but opposed proposals to abolish Lincolnshire County Council and create unitary authorities of the county's district councils. Parker introduced a system of allowing the public to sit on some of the council's committees, which saw 267 applications to do so. At
234:, which returned a landslide majority for the Labour Party. However, despite increasing support in Lincoln wards at the local election, Labour lost support elsewhere and dropped back to 19 seats, the Liberal Democrats falling to 11 and the Conservatives swelling to 43 – two more than their pre-1993 number and enough to form a majority administration. Parker at least held his own seat, with an increased majority (1,081); he remained leader of the Labour group in opposition and was re-elected to the County Council at subsequent ballots in
196:
be indecisive. It would get things right." Labour's campaign focused on crime and education, proposing a greater police presence on the streets and a higher number of nursery places. The
Conservatives opposed Labour on the basis that they would not be frugal with taxpayers' money and pointed to their own record in public finances. But Parker critiqued that stance, saying that "Cuts are being made by other counties. But those areas have enjoyed much better services than we have in Lincolnshire".
281:", led to Speechley's resignation as leader (he was eventually jailed following the police investigation). Speechley's reluctance to resign led to calls from Parker for the national Conservative Party to intervene or risk the group becoming "essentially the party of sleaze". In the aftermath, Speechley's ally
206:
French, to form a joint administration. They formed a pact and Parker was appointed leader of the council, with French appointed the deputy leader. Among their first moves was to create an environment sub-committee. Over the next four years, Parker's administration saw the construction and opening of the
294:
to force Bowles' departure. After Bowles resigned, Parker called on the council to leave a nine-month "period of reflection" before appointing a successor. Another Audit
Commission investigation into the council's management led Croft and his cabinet to resign in March 2005; Parker called for a "rainbow
347:
In the lead up to the election, opposition leaders said that they expected the
Conservative government's proposed VAT on fuel would play a part in deciding the result. Wyrill himself said soon after the result that "Looking at the national scene, it's just the fact that the Government is a little bit
293:
in the
Speechley affair. In April 2004, Parker urged Croft to retract a letter stating Croft's lack of confidence in Bowles. The Labour group were barred from a mediation meeting between Bowles and Croft held the next month, after the group publicly stated that they believe it was part of an attempt
276:
in 1999 to complain about what he called the "systematic abuse of power and process for a number of years". The auditors found that severance payments which were made to Barrow and another employee were unlawful; the
Commission also went on to investigate further claims about Speechley's management
205:
described the result as "Blue 'murder'" and another newspaper called it "the most radical power shift in the authority's history". In the aftermath, Parker (who had won his seat with an increased majority of 819 votes) entered into negotiations with the leader of the
Liberal Democrat group, Maurice
195:
ruled out sharing power with them, arguing that Labour and the
Liberal Democrats would likely over-spend in power. Parker was quoted saying, "We are fighting to win. But if no party gets the 39 seats there will have to be discussions. We would have to talk to other parties. A hung council would not
121:
and worked as a civil servant for over twenty years, eventually at the
Department for Health and Social Services; he completed an undergraduate degree in applied social science with the Open University in the early 1980s and then began working as a social worker for Lincolnshire County Council. He
154:
at each election since the county council was established in 1973; the incumbent candidate, Sidney
Campbell, had held the seat since 1981. But Parker won the seat, with 1,392 votes and a 531 vote majority over Campbell. In 1991, Parker became leader of the
309:
After returning to the Labour group's leadership in 2017, Parker campaigned for greater action on environmental issues and has called on the
Conservative-led council to use its some of its reserves to fund essential public services.
267:
that Speechley had launched a "scorched earth" campaign against council employees who had been hired by the Labour-Liberal Democrat administration, including the firing of the council's chief executive
218:, Parker also highlighted greater public spending in social services and education, especially nursery provision. However, the Conservatives criticised his administration for accruing £47m of
250:. He stepped down as the group's leader in 2013, and was unanimously elected its deputy leader. By that time, the party had 11 members on the council. Parker was re-elected to the Council in
191:, the Liberal Democrats were hoping to become "power brokers" and stated that they were open to discuss supporting either the Conservatives or Labour. But the Conservative leader
171:, the Conservative group had been in power since the Council's establishment in 1974; they held 41 of the 75 seats, just two more than a majority; Labour held 18 and the
901:
986:
981:
961:
684:
701:
199:
In the event, the 1993 election saw the Conservatives lose their majority and ending up with 31 seats; Labour took 25 and the Liberal Democrats 15. The
884:
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243:
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168:
147:
976:
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254:; his successor as group leader, John Hough, had not contested that election and Parker was re-elected group leader in his place.
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278:
933:"Leadership in a hung authority: Robert Parker: Lincolnshire County Council, 1993–97", in Steve Leach and David Wilson,
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102:
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179:. Labour contested 50 seats across the county, including Conservative-held wards around Lincoln. Parker told the
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became the new Leader, but he too came under criticism for his treatment of the chief executive
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and published a highly critical report in 2002; this, along with a police investigation into "
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702:"Lincolnshire Labour group officially opposes proposed Lincoln Walk-in-Centre closure"
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that his party focused the most intensive campaigning on six seats. According to the
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857:
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unpopular at present. Nationally most of the counties have lost more than we have."
263:
935:
685:"These leading Lincolnshire county councillors are not standing for re-election"
298:" of all the main parties to form an administration in the six weeks before the
269:
902:"Lincolnshire council faces ‘uncertain times’ as it approves 4.98% tax hike"
282:
885:"Lincolnshire County Councillors reject climate emergency declaration"
836:"Lincolnshire 'period of reflection' mooted after Bowles upheaval",
670:"Victory shocker but... 'services will be maintained' say Tories",
536:
Richard Orange, "Labour, Liberal Democrats talk of power broking",
257:
In opposition, Parker criticised the council's Conservative leader
219:
101:(1947–2023) was a British local politician. He was leader of
727:"Our friends in the Fens: Lincolnshire Tories in disarray"
518:"Consensus rules as uncertain future looms for counties",
473:, (The Elections Centre, 2015). Retrieved 4 December 2019.
318:
In 2011, Parker was named "Scrutineer of the Year" by the
657:"Lincolnshire locals eager to join county's committees",
471:"Lincolnshire County Council Election Results, 1973–2009"
369:"Councillor details - Councillor Robert Bernard Parker"
109:
group on the Council twice (1991–2013 and 2017-2023).
806:"Analysis - Bowles' dignity versus Croft's bluster",
159:
group on the council, which was then in opposition.
88:
80:
72:
64:
54:
46:
38:
31:
629:"Lincolnshire Labour leader Rob Parker steps down"
908:, 25 February 2019. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
306:opted for a Conservative-only administration.
230:The 1997 election was held on the same day as
105:between 1993 and 1997, and was leader of the
8:
735:, 6 October 2004. Retrieved 8 December 2019.
644:"Lincolnshire welcomes neighbour's demise",
68:Lecturer, Lincolnshire County Council Leader
42:11 December 2023 (aged 76) Lincoln, England.
917:"Best and brightest councillors honoured",
691:, 19 April 2017. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
505:Richard Orange, "The race to County Hall",
122:later became a lecturer in politics at the
771:. 2 April 2004. Retrieved 8 December 2019.
28:
891:, 17 May 2019. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
635:, 6 May 2013. Retrieved 12 November 2017.
487:"They're off: 173 line up for 66 seats",
208:University of Lincolnshire and Humberside
148:1989 Lincolnshire County Council election
870:"New leader chosen for ailing council",
987:Leaders of local authorities of England
360:
340:
982:Members of Lincolnshire County Council
962:Academics of the University of Lincoln
853:"Troubled council in leadership limbo"
821:"Bowles committee bars Labour group",
623:
621:
619:
609:"Tories sweep back into County Hall",
605:
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561:
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302:, but in the event Croft's successor
7:
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322:in their annual awards ceremony at
175:12, with a further 3 seats held by
399:"Councillor Robert Bernard Parker"
25:
780:"Lincs urged to oust Speechley",
763:"Former council leader is jailed"
320:Local Government Information Unit
138:Parker stood for election as the
565:"Handshake seals power 'deal'",
793:"Leader could face challenge",
747:"Commission slams Tory bully",
435:Steve Leach and David Wilson,
371:. 25 July 2021. Archived from
1:
977:Labour Party (UK) councillors
967:Alumni of the Open University
426:. Retrieved 12 November 2017.
405:. Retrieved 12 November 2017.
279:misconduct in a public office
972:People from Lincoln, England
591:"County Council elections",
169:1993 County Council election
150:. The ward had been held by
457:"Around the ballot boxes",
403:Lincolnshire County Council
103:Lincolnshire County Council
1008:
936:Local Political Leadership
919:Local Government Chronicle
839:Local Government Chronicle
824:Local Government Chronicle
809:Local Government Chronicle
782:Local Government Chronicle
750:Local Government Chronicle
659:Local Government Chronicle
646:Local Government Chronicle
520:Local Government Chronicle
437:Local Political Leadership
420:"Councillor Robert Parker"
182:Local Government Chronicle
216:the next election in 1997
113:Early life and employment
18:Rob Parker (councillor)
797:, 22 April 2004, p. 2.
272:. Parker wrote to the
906:Gainsborough Standard
689:Lincolnshire Reporter
611:Gainsborough Standard
324:Westminster City Hall
124:University of Lincoln
99:Robert Bernard Parker
613:, 9 May 1997, p. 13.
582:, 14 May 1993, p. 5.
569:, 28 May 1993, p. 1.
553:, 13 May 1993, p. 8.
300:2005 local elections
232:the general election
424:Lincolnshire Labour
117:Parker was born in
921:, 8 February 2011.
723:Peter Hetherington
683:Stefan Pidluznyj,
900:Calvin Robinson,
883:Calvin Robinson,
872:Spalding Guardian
795:Lincolnshire Echo
672:Lincoln Chronicle
593:Lincolnshire Echo
551:Sleaford Standard
549:"Blue 'murder'",
538:Lincolnshire Echo
507:Lincolnshire Echo
489:Lincolnshire Echo
459:Lincolnshire Echo
289:, who had been a
202:Sleaford Standard
188:Lincolnshire Echo
173:Liberal Democrats
96:
95:
16:(Redirected from
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915:
909:
898:
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889:Grantham Journal
881:
875:
874:, 29 March 2005.
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861:, 21 March 2005.
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843:28 October 2004.
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812:, 29 April 2004.
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709:
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627:Daniel Ionescu,
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580:Lincoln Standard
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547:
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274:Audit Commission
134:Political career
29:
21:
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768:BBC News Online
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669:
665:
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652:
648:, 21 June 1993.
643:
639:
626:
617:
608:
599:
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578:"Tories lose",
577:
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557:
548:
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540:, 7 April 1993.
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509:, 5 April 1993.
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375:on 25 July 2021
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128:Open University
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73:Political party
59:Open University
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773:
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706:The Lincolnite
700:Emily Norton,
693:
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633:The Lincolnite
615:
597:
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291:whistleblower
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259:Jim Speechley
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210:'s campus at
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377:. Retrieved
373:the original
363:
343:
317:
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287:David Bowles
264:The Guardian
262:
256:
229:
222:since 1993.
200:
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186:
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177:independents
166:
157:Labour Party
146:ward in the
137:
116:
98:
97:
76:Labour Party
26:
992:1947 births
304:Martin Hill
270:Jill Barrow
193:Bill Wyrill
167:Before the
47:Nationality
951:Categories
379:10 January
330:References
261:, telling
84:Sue Parker
33:Rob Parker
356:Citations
296:coalition
283:Ian Croft
55:Education
943:, 2000).
144:Carholme
126:and the
89:Children
212:Lincoln
119:Lincoln
50:British
314:Awards
140:Labour
107:Labour
81:Spouse
335:Notes
381:2024
252:2017
248:2013
246:and
244:2009
240:2005
236:2001
220:debt
39:Died
953::
904:,
887:,
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740:^
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326:.
242:,
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130:.
939:(
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439:(
383:.
92:3
20:)
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