Hugh Robertson Replaced by Helen Grant as British Sports Minister

October 7, 2013

Hugh Robertson’s three-year occupation as British sports minister is at an end as former junior judo champion Helen Grant has been announced as his replacement in a political reshuffle.

Robertson leaves his post to join the Foreign Office.

“Hugh Robertson has been a passionate advocate of the high performance system UK Sport has built in this country thanks to Government and National Lottery funding,” said Rod Carr, UK Sport Chair.

“He has worked tirelessly on behalf of all sport and been a wonderful ambassador when bidding to bring major sporting events to this country such as the World Athletics Championships in 2017.

“Hugh leaves behind a strong legacy from the outstanding success of London 2012 and is part of the Government that committed record funding for Olympic and Paralympic sports preparing for Rio 2016 to help build on those incredible achievements.”

“We wish him well in his new role and look forward to working closely with new Sport and Equalities Minister, Helen Grant, as we move towards the Sochi Winter Olympics and Rio 2016.”

Grant, 52, represented Cumbria in hockey, tennis, athletics and cross-country before becoming under-16 judo champion in the north of England and southern Scotland.

A qualified solicitor, until now she has worked at the Ministry of Justice and on women’s and equality issues.

Robertson was given the sports brief by the Conservatives in 2005, and became minister following the 2010 general election.