About Mark

Mark Garnier: Member of Parliament for Wyre Forest

Mark Garnier MP is Member of Parliamentary for Wyre Forest.

Mark’s job is to be Wyre Forest’s representative within the Conservative Party; to make sure that Wyre Forest has a strong voice at the heart of the policy making process in the Conservative Party in Westminster; to make sure that Wyre Forest’s interests are served before policy is made, not just when Parliament votes.

A committed local activist, Mark Garnier stood as the Conservative candidate in the 2005 general election where his efforts and achievements were rewarded with the biggest swing to Conservatives in the country. Indeed, Mark was the only candidate in Wyre Forest who saw an increase in his vote, enlarging the Conservative support at the election by a massive 45%. And, despite Mark coming second, the sitting MP returned to Westminster with the biggest drop in popular support amongst all MPs re-elected, losing one out of every three of his voters. Mark became MP for Wyre Forest in 2010.

Mark is a family man. Married to Caroline, they have three young children; Eddie, Jemima and George. With a background in finance, Mark is currently a partner in a business consultancy practice, helping small and medium-sized businesses create strategic plans and get through the current economic enviornment. Because of his extensive experience of business and economics, Mark brings a wealth of knowledge to Wyre Forest. Mark also has experience of local government having served as a district councillor on the Forest of Dean District Council. Whilst there, he has served on the Executive Committee (the leading decision making body) and as chairman of the resources advisory panel – the body responsible for the spending of taxpayer's money – and has developed a full understanding of local government budgeting and management.

Mark is also involved with the local community in Wyre Forest, working closely with local councillors and sitting as a governor of Kidderminster College.

As Member of Parliament, it is Mark’s job to make sure Wyre Forest has a voice in Westminster.

“I worry that Wyre Forest’s interests are not being heard when it comes to policy making. For too long now, Wyre Forest’s political interests have centred around one issue. Of course people are still angry about the hospital downgrading under the Labour Government, but people come to me worried about other, non health, issues and these concerns are not being fed properly into the policy making machine.”

Mark is also a strong local campaigner, striving to improve the lives of local residents. One of his key platforms is the local transport infrastructure. "There is no doubt about it,” says Mark. “The road system around the south of Kidderminster and Stourport on Severn is not up to the job. We have a golden opportunity to bring jobs and businesses to the Stourport Road with the redevelopment of the sugar beet site, but without the transport links, that opportunity may wither on the vine. In order to help our existing businesses; in order to make sure our tourist attractions maintain their world class status; we must have a good road system. This is one of my top priorities.”

Mark has also demonstrated that he has holds law and order as another of his priorities.

In 2005, he led a campaign to open Bewdley and Stourport police stations 24 hours a day and this resulted in Stourport police station opening far longer than the previous 16 hours per week. And in 2006, Mark and his local colleagues collected nearly three thousand signatures of Wyre Forest residents opposed to the merger of West Mercia Police into a West Midlands regional force.

Mark is also a strong campaigner for the environment, campaigning vigorously for a change in the law surrounding telephone masts. This resulted in a Conservative MP tabling a private member’s bill seeking changes in the planning law. The bill was defeated by Government philibustering, but the campaign continues.

Mark and family