Robert Oulds
Robert Oulds MA, FRSA is a British Conservative Party politician and military historian and Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. He is also the Director of the Bruges Group a think tank based in the United Kingdom.
Set up in February 1989, its original aim was to promote the idea of a less centralised European structure than that emerging in Brussels. Its inspiration was Margaret Thatcher's Bruges speech in September 1988, in which she remarked that, "We have not successfully rolled back the frontiers of the state in Britain, only to see them re-imposed at a European level". The Bruges Group's research now includes looking into alternative international relationships for the UK and a complete restructuring of Britain’s relationship with other European countries. [1]
Contents
Military historian
Robert Oulds is the author of Montgomery and the First War on Terror, published by Bretwalda Books. Bernard Law Montgomery, later Field Marshal Viscount Montgomery of Alamein, faced guerrilla forces in Ireland in the early 1920s and Palestine on the eve of the Second World War. The book aims to detail this little-known period of Montgomery's career, and also explore the lessons of Montgomery's victories in those conflicts and how they should be applied today in the modern "War on Terror" in Afghanistan.[2]
He is also the author of Knife Edge: Montgomery and the Battle of the Bulge published by Endeavour Press. Oulds attempts to puncture myths about the battle, examining controversy surrounding Montgomery’s role in the confrontation, in the belief that Montgomery's contribution has been overlooked by some historians.[3]
In November 2013 he was invited to become a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.
Politics
Robert Oulds is the Director of the Bruges Group, a think tank which for the last 20 years has been involved in the debate about the UK’s relationship with the European Union and the wider world.
He is the author of Everything you wanted to know about the EU - But were afraid to ask[4]
The book explores the EU discussing key issues to do with Britain and its European Union membership. It includes explaining the costs, the benefits, why the EU is supported, how it works and why it has the policies it does. The choices for Britain are also looked at as are the issues of how Britain can leave the EU, the way out and the implications of withdrawal. The alternatives to the EU are also examined.
On 22 March 2013 Robert Oulds was elected the Chairman of the Brentford & Isleworth Conservative Association. He is also a local government Councillor in that constituency.[5]
From 2006–2008 Robert Oulds was the Chairman of Slough Conservative Association. Prior to becoming Chairman of the Conservative Association, he was Slough’s Parliamentary candidate but was removed after false allegations appeared in the Sun and the Financial Times regarding him and firearms. Those newspapers had to apologise to Robert Oulds and paid him damages and legal costs.[6]
Television appearances
Robert Oulds makes frequent media appearances discussing issues relating to the European Union[7] and the euro crisis.[8][9]
Local Government
Since 2002 Robert Oulds has served as a local government Councillor in the London Borough of Hounslow.[10] From 2006–2009 he was the Chairman of a Planning Committee and from 2009–2010 he was the Cabinet Member with responsibility for Education and Children’s Services.[11]
Royal British Legion
He is a Standard Bearer and Treasurer for the Chiswick branch of The Royal British Legion (RBL). This is an organisation established to help the welfare of ex-Servicemen and campaign on issues relating to the armed forces. The RBL are also the custodians of the nation’s Remembrance services; and they also organise and run the annual Poppy Appeal which raises funds for the aid of Britain's soldiers, sailors and airmen and women as well as their dependents.[12][13]
References
- ↑ Bruges Group website http://www.brugesgroup.com/about/index.live
- ↑ Bretwalda Books http://bretwaldabooks.com/book.php?p=98
- ↑ KNIFE EDGE: MONTGOMERY AND THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE BY ROBERT OULDS - Endeavour Press
- ↑ Bretwalda Books http://bretwaldabooks.com/book.php?p=173
- ↑ Brentford & Isleworth Conservative Association http://www.brentfordandisleworthconservatives.org.uk/
- ↑ Sun Apology http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/108858/Robert-Oulds-an-apology.html
- ↑ Daily Politics with Andrew Neil http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/the_daily_politics/8340299.stm
- ↑ BBC http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/business_edition/8701045.stm
- ↑ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2avtliF6mGQ
- ↑ The London Borough of Hounslow www.hounslow.gov.uk
- ↑ London Borough of Hounslow http://democraticservices.hounslow.gov.uk/(S(b32yevf52wigss55a4iy4dan))/mgConvert2PDF.aspx?ID=45293
- ↑ Royal British Legion http://www.britishlegion.org.uk/
- ↑ http://democraticservices.hounslow.gov.uk/mgDeclarationSubmission.aspx?UID=215& HID=1283&FID=0
External links
- The Bruges Group Website
- London Borough of Hounslow
- Bretwalda Books
- Endeavour Press
- Commenting on the costs of EU membership
- [1]
/ The costs of EU membership
