About Mark

Mark has lived in Shropshire for the last 22 years. He is married to Tamuna and has one daughter and one step-daughter.

He has been the Member of Parliament for The Wrekin since 2005.  

After leaving school, Mark studied theology. He then gained two Master's degrees in International Diplomacy, Marketing & Management, and a post-graduate Diploma in Marketing (Chartered Institute of Marketing) and a Diploma in Public Relations from the (Institute of Public Relations).

Before entering Parliament in 2005, Mark ran a successful marketing business - advising a range of blue-chip clients and international businesses. He continues to run his own business, which he says "keeps me rooted in the real world - not just in the Westminster bubble".

Mark's hobbies include tennis, writing on economic and foreign policy issues, and comedy. A keen footballer, Mark played one match for Hereford United Reserves - and still plays for the Parliamentary football team.

Political Biography

  • 2005 (19 years): Elected MP for The Wrekin. Longest serving MP in its history. *Re-elected in 2024 for a sixth time*
     
  • 2005 - 2010: UK representative to NATO Parliamentary Assembly
     
  • 2010-2012: Secretary of the 1922 Committee (under Prime Minister Cameron)
     
  • 2005 - 2011: Served on 8 Select Committees. Joint National Security Strategy Committee Joint-Human Rights International Development
     
  • 2012 – present (12 years): Speaker's Panel of the House of Commons. Chairing and overseeing Parliamentary debates and bills (e.g. chaired Modern Slavery Bill, Ivory Bill, Australia & New Zealand Trade Bill)
     
  • 2012-2015: Member of the UK's delegation to the Council of Europe (PACE)
     
  • 2016-2018: Prime Minister's Trade & Investment Envoy to Armenia and Georgia
     
  • 2017-2020: Leader of UK delegation to Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE PA)
     
  • 2018-2020: Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe’s Special Envoy to Southeast Europe
     
  • 2020-2022: Member of the UK’s Intelligence and Security Committee - overseeing the work of MI6, MI5, Defence Intelligence et al
     
  • 2021: Appointed by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II to the Privy Council. *This appointment continues under King Charles III*
     
  • 2019-2022: Chairman of the UK Parliament’s Ukraine Caucus
     
  • 2022 – present: ‘Vice President’ of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE PA). Elected by 57 nations in this security alliance
     
  • 2023 – present: Appointed OSCE’s Special Representative to the Arctic and High North (alongside role as OSCE PA Vice President)