Harold Burge Robson
# Harold Burge Robson

Hon. Harold Burge Robson (10 March 1888 – 13 October 1964) was a British soldier, barrister and Liberal Party politician.

## Background

Robson was born the son of former Liberal Minister Lord Robson. He was educated at Eton and New College, Oxford.

## Professional career

Robson was called to the Bar in 1910. He was awarded the Croix de Guerre during World War I.

## Political career

Robson was Liberal candidate at the 1923 Berwick-upon-Tweed by-election. This was a Liberal seat which had been won by a supporter of the Coalition Government in 1922. In the by-election, a Unionist won the seat. He was Liberal candidate again for the Berwick-upon-Tweed division at the 1923 General Election, when he came within 2,000 votes of defeating the Unionist. He fought the seat a third time in 1924 without success. He was Liberal candidate for the South Shields division at the 1929 General Election. This was a Liberal seat won previously due to the absence of a Unionist candidate. This time a Unionist intervened and he lost the seat to the Labour Party by just 40 votes. He did not stand for parliament again. He was Vice-Chairman of Northumberland County Council from 1935 to 1937.

### Electoral record

1923 Berwick-upon-Tweed by-election :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Unionist | Mabel Philipson | 12,000 | 55.0 | n/a |
| | Liberal | Harold Burge Robson | 5,858 | 26.8 | -11.3 |
| | Labour | Gilbert Oliver | 3,966 | 18.2 | n/a |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,142 | 28.1 | +4.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 21,824 | 74.9 | +8.7 |
| | Unionist gain from National Liberal | Unionist gain from National Liberal | Swing | n/a | |

General Election 1923: Berwick-upon-Tweed :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Unionist | Mabel Philipson | 10,636 | 48.0 | -7.0 |
| | Liberal | Harold Burge Robson | 8,767 | 39.5 | +12.7 |
| | Labour | Edna Martha Penny | 2,784 | 12.5 | -5.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,869 | 8.5 | -19.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 73.4 | -1.5 |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | -9.9 | |

General Election 1924: Berwick-upon-Tweed :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Unionist | Mabel Philipson | 12,130 | 50.9 | +2.9 |
| | Liberal | Harold Burge Robson | 8,165 | 34.3 | -5.2 |
| | Labour | J. Adams | 3,521 | 14.8 | +2.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,965 | 16.6 | +8.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 77.7 | +4.3 |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | +4.0 | |

General Election 1929: South Shields :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Labour | James Chuter Ede | 18,938 | 42.2 | +0.1 |
| | Liberal | Harold Burge Robson | 18,898 | 42.0 | -15.9 |
| | Unionist | William Nunn | 7,110 | 15.8 | n/a |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 40 | 0.2 | 16.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 72.9 | -2.4 |
| | Labour gain from Liberal | Labour gain from Liberal | Swing | +8.0 | |

## Other

Robson was a Member of the Committee of Management of the Royal National Life-Boat Institution from 1936 and Vice-President from 1955.

