Mark Francois
| The Right Honourable Mark Francois MP |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Minister for Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 4 September 2012 |
|
| Preceded by | Andrew Robathan |
| Vice-Chamberlain of the Household | |
| In office 11 May 2010 – September 2012 |
|
| Prime Minister | David Cameron |
| Preceded by | Helen Jones |
| Succeeded by | Greg Knight |
| Shadow Minister for Europe | |
| In office 29 May 2007 – 11 May 2010 |
|
| Leader | David Cameron |
| Preceded by | Graham Brady |
| Member of Parliament for Rayleigh and Wickford Rayleigh (2001–2010) |
|
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 7 June 2001 |
|
| Preceded by | Michael Clark |
| Majority | 22,338 (42.7%) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 14 August 1965 Islington, London, England |
| Nationality | British |
| Political party | Conservative |
| Spouse(s) | Karen Thomas |
| Residence | Rayleigh |
| Alma mater | University of Bristol King's College London |
| Religion | Church of England |
Mark Gino Francois (born 14 August 1965) is a British Conservative Party politician. He is the Member of Parliament (MP) for Rayleigh and Wickford. On 4 September 2012 he was appointed Minister for Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans, a ministerial role in the Ministry of Defence.[1]
Contents |
Early life [edit]
Mark Gino Francois was born in Islington, London. He was educated at the Nicholas Comprehensive School in Basildon, Essex and at the University of Bristol where he was awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree in History in 1986. He was also the chairman of the University's Conservative Association. He completed his studies at King's College London where he earned a MA in War Studies in 1987.
On leaving university he became a management trainee with Lloyds Bank. In 1988 he joined lobbying company Market Access International, leaving as a director in 1996 to set up his own lobbying firm Francois Associates.
Councillor and parliamentary candidate [edit]
He was a member of Basildon District Council for four years from 1991. He stood for Brent East during the 1997 general election, and lost to Ken Livingstone (who later became the Mayor of London). Following the death of Alan Clark in 1999, he narrowly lost out to Michael Portillo in the selection for the 1999 Kensington and Chelsea by-election. On the retirement of Dr. Michael Clark at the 2001 general election he beat Boris Johnson to be selected to fight the safe Tory seat of Rayleigh.
Member of Parliament [edit]
Francois won in Rayleigh in 2001 with a majority of 8,290 and was re-elected in 2005 and 2010 with increased majorities.[2][3] He made his maiden speech on 4 July 2001.[4]
He served as a member of the Environmental Audit Select Committee for the duration of his first term in Parliament. He was promoted to become an Opposition Whip in 2003 by Michael Howard; to Shadow Economic Secretary in September 2004; and later to Shadow Paymaster General scrutinising HMRC. He was promoted to be Shadow Minister for Europe in May 2007 and joined the Shadow Cabinet at the January 2009 reshuffle.
When the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats joined in a coalition government following the United Kingdom general election, 2010 he was appointed Vice-Chamberlain of the Household, a sinecure given to a Government Whip that entails being kept as 'captive' at Buckingham Palace when the Queen opens Parliament. He joined the Privy Council on 9 June 2010.[5] He is a Vice-President of Conservative Friends of Poland.[6]
Territorial Army [edit]
Francois served as an officer the Territorial Army from 1985 - 1991, including with the local Royal Anglian Regiment. He lives in Rayleigh. He has been a member of the International Institute for Strategic Studies since 1999, a member of the Lions Club, President of the Rayleigh Conservative Club and Honorary President of the Rayleigh Brass.
Personal life [edit]
He married Karen Thomas in June 2000 in Langdon Hills, Basildon.
References [edit]
- ^ http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/AboutDefence/People/Ministers/MinisterOfStateForDefencePersonnelWelfareAndVeterans.htm
- ^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "R" (part 1)[self-published source][better source needed]
- ^ BBC News 2010
- ^ [1]
- ^ "Privy Council Orders". Privy Council. 9 June 2010. Retrieved 26 July 2010.
- ^ Conservative Friends of Poland website
External links [edit]
- Guardian Unlimited Politics - Ask Aristotle: Mark Francois MP
- Mark Francois MP
- TheyWorkForYou.com - Mark Francois MP
- Rayleigh Conservatives
- Rayleigh Conservative Club
- BBC Politics page
| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Michael Clark |
Member of Parliament for Rayleigh 2001–present |
Incumbent |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by Graham Brady |
Shadow Minister for Europe 2007–2010 |
Succeeded by Chris Bryant |
| Preceded by Helen Jones |
Vice-Chamberlain of the Household 2010–2012 |
Succeeded by Greg Knight |
- 1965 births
- Living people
- Royal Anglian Regiment officers
- Members of the United Kingdom Parliament for English constituencies
- Conservative Party (UK) MPs
- UK MPs 2001–2005
- UK MPs 2005–2010
- UK MPs 2010–
- Alumni of King's College London
- Alumni of the University of Bristol
- People from Basildon
- Members of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom
