While he claimed to be "independent" and "unconnected with any party", and having the support of non-resident freemen across the country, he is recorded in various works as acting as a Whig—despite, at a dinner, expressing approval of the Tory government headed by Robert Jenkinson, 2nd Earl of Liverpool.
[3][5] He attended parliament regularly, and campaigned for tariff reforms, represented shipping interests and North American colonies, and advocated Newfoundland's claim to an independent legislative assembly.
[3] In Parliament, Robinson denounced "fraudulent schemes" of joint-stock companies, voted against the Duke of Clarence's grant, for Catholic emancipation, for revision of the Corn Laws, and against increased protection for barley.
He also advocated inquiries into electoral interference by the Leicester corporation, and Irish estimates, and seconded Thomas Davies' successful motion for the appointment of a select committee on polling—although he later rebuked Davies' suggestions of limiting the duration of polls and providing multiple booths, fearing this would "abridge the freedom of election", presenting a hostile petition from Worcester.
[3] He also moved an amendment to extend the poll to 10 days in length in order to accommodate out-voters, and threatened to "take advantage of the forms of the House" to stop the progress of reform bills, although this failed.
[3] Robinson presented numerous petitions for the repeal of the Test Acts, and voted in this way in the House of Commons, and secured accounts of government expenses in Newfoundland, calling for a "small naval force" to protect the area's fishing fleet.
He spoke and voted to reduce the pivot price of corn, supported repeal of the usury laws, and recommended use of private packets in the place of post office steam vessels.
[3] He then criticised the Grey ministry's proposals for ambassadorial pensions, condemned its civil list as "monstrous" and giving rise to potential "odium and scandal"—but also approved of much of its Budget, despite still disproving of plans to reduce duties on French wines and foreign timber.
He began to advocate a "graduated property tax", which he argued would "have the effect of relieving all branches of protective industry", and voted in favour of the reform bill caveating this action with an insistence that he was not "pledged to any of the details" but had some "approbation of the principle".
[3] Campaigning ahead of the 1831 general election, Robinson mocked those who backed "moderate reform", claiming this was the "greatest bug-bear that ever was attempted to be put upon the people".