Robert Moreland

Robert John Moreland (born 21 August, 1941) is a British management consultant and politician. After a single term as a Conservative Party Member of the European Parliament, he served on the Economic and Social Committee for twelve years and had a career on two local authorities.

Education

Moreland was educated at the Glasgow Academy and Dean Close School (in Cheltenham), both independent schools. He then studied at the University of Nottingham for an undergraduate degree in Economics and at the Institute of World Affairs in Connecticut and the University of Warwick where he obtained postgraduate qualifications.

Early career

In 1966 Moreland started work in the Civil Service in Canada, at first in the government of Nova Scotia but from 1967 in the government of New Brunswick where he became Assistant Budget Director."The Times Guide to the House of Commons, October 1974" (Times Books), p. 217-8.] In 1972 he returned to Britain to become Senior Economist on the West Central Scotland Planning Study, a job which took two years. In 1974 he began work as a management consultant for Touche Ross, where he remains.

Political involvement

Moreland became interested in politics, and at the October 1974 general election he was selected as Conservative Party candidate for Pontypool, a safe Labour seat in south Wales. He was a member of the Bow Group and the Conservative Group for Europe. At the 1977 Conservative Party conference, Moreland spoke in favour of sales of council houses, arguing that up to 70% of tenants would like the opportunity to buy their home."Quick action promised to enable tenants to buy homes at discount", "The Times", 13 October 1977.]

European Parliament

Having chaired the Bow Group's European Committee in 1977-78, Moreland was interested in playing his part in European politics. At the 1979 election to the European Parliament, Moreland was elected for the Conservative Party in the constituency of Staffordshire East. He was a moderate MEP, criticising the slow pace of reform in South Africa in an emergency debate in June 1980."S Africa urged to make reforms", "The Times", 21 June 1980.] He also showed a willingness to see the situation from the ground, travelling in 1983 in the cab of long-distance lorries to see the bureaucratic situation which resulted at border crossings."Taking the red tape road to Turin", "The Times", 12 August 1983.] He wrote a pamphlet called "Transport for Europe" based on what he learnt.

Economic and Social Committee

Moreland lost his seat in the 1984 election, but remained interested in the European Union. He wrote to "The Times" in 1985 to urge British membership of the European Monetary System."Decline of sterling" (letter), "The Times", 15 January 1985.] He became a member of the British delegation to the Economic and Social Committee from 1986, and was Chairman of the Regional Policy and Town and Country Planning Section of the Committee from 1990 to 1998.

Local politics

In 1990, Moreland was elected to Westminster City Council from Knightsbridge ward. He was deputy chief whip for the Conservative group in 1991-93, moving to be Chief Whip in 1993-94. He served as chairman of the Environment committee of the council in 1994-95 and of Planning and the Environment from 1995 to 1997. His involvement in the council also brought him appointments as Deputy Chairman of the London Research Centre and as a Director of the Albert Memorial Trust from 1997 to 2000.

Moreland was on the Conservative Party list for election to the London Assembly in the 2000 election but was too far down to be elected. He was involved in the London Europe Society and became its Deputy Chairman in 1997 and Chairman in 2000. He has also been treasurer of the European Movement from 2003. Moreland also served briefly on Gloucester City Council from 2001 to 2002. He has been Chairman of Governors of Archbishop Tenison's C of E School, Lambeth since 2003 and was made Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Group for Europe in 2006.

References

*"Who's Who", A & C Black
*"Debrett's People of Today"