Mark Garnier was first elected as the Conservative Member of Parliament for Wyre Forest in 2010. On entering Parliament, he served for over 6 years on the Treasury Select Committee as well as the influential Parliamentary Commission for Banking Standards. Mark is the Prime Minister's Trade Envoy for Thailand, Myanmar, Brunei and Vietnam.
In 2016, after a short spell as the Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy for Thailand, Myanmar and Brunei, Mark was appointed Minister for Investment at the newly formed Department for International Trade.
On leaving government in 2018, Mark took up new positions in Parliament and now serves on the International Trade Select Committee, chairs the Committee for Arms Export Control.
He chairs the All Party Group for the Association of South East Asian Nations, and the All Party Corporate Governance Group. He is also the vice chair of the All Party China Group, and the All Party Space Group.
Prior to coming to parliament, Mark had a 27 year career in the City, 15 years of which were specialising as an investment banking covering South East Asia and other emerging markets, and a further 10 years as an asset manager. Through his extensive career, Mark brings a wealth of practical and specific business and economic experience to his role as Wyre Forest’s MP.
Political History
Mark served as a councillor of the Forest of Dean District Council between 2003 and 2007, where he gained valuable experience of local government, especially with regard budget setting and use of resources.
In January 2004, Mark was selected to fight the seat of Wyre Forest and secured the largest gain in the country, with a 14% swing to Conservatives and an increase in the Conservative vote of 45%. Mark went on to fight the 2010 election, winning the seat from incumbent independent hospital campaigning MP.
In the 2015 General Election Mark held Wyre Forest increasing his majority from around 2,500 votes to nearly 13,000.
In the 2017 General Election Mark held Wyre Forest increasing his majority to 58% of the vote share with over a 13,000 majority.
In the 2019 General Election Mark again held Wyre Forest increasing his majority to 65% with a majority of over 21,000
Campaigning in Wyre Forest
With extensive experience in business and finance, Mark is championing the cause of the local economy and business in Wyre Forest. But it is the plight of business and commerce that drives Mark’s local agenda and Mark is actively involved with the local business community, seeking ways to improve the local economy.