Mark Garnier

Mark Garnier OBE MP
Official portrait, 2024
Shadow Economic Secretary to the Treasury
Incumbent
Assumed office 6 November 2024
Leader	Kemi Badenoch
Preceded by	Alan Mak
Shadow Minister for Energy Security and Net Zero
In office 19 July 2024 – 6 November 2024
Leader	Rishi Sunak
Chair of the Committees on Arms Export Controls
In office 6 July 2020 – 30 May 2024
Preceded by	Graham Jones
Succeeded by	TBD
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for International Trade
In office 15 July 2016 – 9 January 2018
Prime Minister	Theresa May
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Graham Stuart
Member of Parliament for Wyre Forest
Incumbent
Assumed office 6 May 2010
Preceded by	Richard Taylor
Majority	812 (1.8%)
Personal details
Born	Mark Robert Timothy Garnier (1963-02-26) 26 February 1963 (age 61)[1] London, England
Political party	Conservative
Website	www.markgarnier.co.uk

Mark Robert Timothy Garnier^[2] OBE (born 26 February 1963) is a British Conservative Party politician and former banker who has been Member of Parliament (MP) for Wyre Forest since 2010 and Shadow Economic Secretary to the Treasury since November 2024.^[3] He was previously Shadow Shadow Minister for Energy Security and Net Zero from July to November 2024.^[4] He was a junior minister at the Department for International Trade from July 2016 to January 2018.^[5] He was previously chair of the Committees on Arms Export Controls.^[6]

Early life and career

Mark Garnier was born on 26 February 1963 in London to Peter and Patricia Garnier.^[7] His mother was a founding member of UKIP. He was privately educated at the private Dulwich College Preparatory School, London and Charterhouse School, Godalming.^[8]

In 1981, he joined the London Stock Exchange as a junior clerk on the Gilts Markets. In 1986, he left to join a succession of investment banks, working in the Far East Equity markets. Between 1989 and 1995 he worked as managing director for South China Securities, he followed this with a directorship for a year at the Japanese investment company Daiwa Securities Group.^[7]

Garnier subsequently worked as an associate director at Edmond de Rothschild Group and US investment bank Bear Stearns. Between 1999 and 2005, he worked as an independent hedge fund manager before becoming a partner at US equities company CGR Capital. After working for CGR Capital for three years, he became a partner at both Severn Capital and Augmentor. It is rumoured that he holds funds offshore although it is not possible to substantiate this.^[7][9]

Garnier was a district councillor of the Forest of Dean District Council from 2003 to 2007.^[10]

Parliamentary career

Garnier stood as the Conservative candidate in Wyre Forest at the 2005 general election, coming second with 28.7% of the vote behind the incumbent independent MP Richard Taylor.^{[11][12][13][14]}

1st term as MP (2010-2015)

At the 2010 general election, Garnier was elected to Parliament as MP for Wyre Forest with 36.9% of the vote and a majority of 2,643.^[15][16][17]

Garnier made his maiden speech on 7 June 2010, where he set out his scepticism about further integration in the European Union, and focused on the economic and trading gains to be had from trading relationships.^[18]

Throughout his time in Parliament, Garnier, himself a smoker, has campaigned strongly to end tobacco smuggling. In 2012 it was reported he had accepted tickets for the Chelsea Flower Show from Japan Tobacco International (JTI), costing £1,100. Commenting on this he said: "All of us who are MPs in Worcestershire have taken pay cuts of some form or other from coming out of the private sector... If we wanted to have our nose in the trough I could go back to being an investment banker. The reason I'm an MP is the complete opposite to having my nose in the trough. Two years of hundred-hour weeks. To pick on this one thing is really irritating".^[19]

In a speech on 19 January 2012, Garnier criticised a Labour proposal to set a minimum age for owning a shotgun certificate, arguing that shooting was a major competitive sport and that based on Countryside Alliance statistics there was "no reason" to feel uncomfortable with under-10s having licensed access to shotguns.^[20]

Also in January 2012, Garnier, along with fellow Conservative MP Richard Harrington, spoke about the right environment for business to be essential. He thinks can be achieved for young people through vocational courses in higher education that offer practical skills to become entrepreneurial.^[21]

Garnier was named by the ConservativeHome website as one of a minority of loyal Conservative backbench MPs not to have voted against the government in any significant rebellions in September 2012.^[22] Garner was subsequently one of 80 Conservative MPs to oppose the Coalition's Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013. Garnier voted against equal marriage (allowing same sex partners to legally marry) in spite of having promised a constituent, a gay activist, that he would vote in favour.^[23]

In 2013 Garnier caused offence when, in the Kidderminster Shuttle (local paper) he responded to the concerns of a local Anglican priest who criticised the government record that led to food banks. He said, “I am amazed she thinks foodbanks are a bad thing – if anything, they are a sign of Christianity and charity,” he added. He further commented that they gave the Church a chance to do some good.^[24]

In November 2014, Garnier voiced his support for HS2, believing that Birmingham Airport will be an increasingly significant hub for the region that will help to ease pressure on Heathrow.^[25]

In December 2014, Garnier was criticised by Labour's Jonathan Ashworth for comments he made during a speech at the Institute of Economic Affairs. Garnier said of the need for a stronger message to Conservative supporters: "We need to be giving a much clearer message to them that they don't have to worry about politicians mucking around with tax rates in order to try and attract a few dog-end voters in the outlying regions of the country." Garnier later said: "If I used slack language in order to make a point, I am sorry if I caused any offence to anybody. I believe every voter is important everywhere".^[26]

2nd term as MP (2015-2017)

At the 2015 general election, Garnier was re-elected as MP for Wyre Forest with an increased vote share of 45.3% and an increased majority of 12,871.^[27] This was after Garnier was criticised for his derogatory comments about voters; he was reported to have said there is no need for his party to worry about attracting “dog-end voters” who live in “the outlying regions” of Britain”.^[28]

Since July 2015, Garnier has been the vice-chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Space.^[29]

In December 2015, Garnier expressed disappointment at the decision of the regulator not to investigate the incentives, pay and culture of banks and their potential association with misconduct including the Libor scandal.^[30]

Garnier was the local MP of Natalie Connolly, a woman killed in 2016. Garnier, alongside MP Harriet Harman have since taken action to resolve the issues of the "rough sex" defence by advocating amendments to the Domestic Abuse Bill in England and Wales.^[31]

In the lead-up to the 2016 EU membership referendum Garnier supported Remain.^[32] In October 2017, he said that 'doom-mongers like himself' had been proved wrong since the Brexit vote.^[33]

On 17 July 2016, he was appointed to the newly created position of Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for International Trade but was dismissed on 9 January 2018 after the cabinet reshuffle.^[34]

3rd term as MP (2017-2019)

Garnier was again re-elected at the snap 2017 general election with an increased vote share of 58.4% and an increased majority of 13,334.^[35]

In October 2017, the Cabinet Office began an investigation into a potential breach of the ministerial code after The Mail on Sunday revealed he had sent an aide, whom he called "sugar tits", to buy two vibrators from a sex shop while he waited outside, allegedly one for his wife and one for a colleague who worked at his constituency office.^[36][37] The investigation, which reported on 21 December 2017, concluded that Garnier did not break the ministerial code (the incidents having occurred before he was appointed) and had not acted inappropriately since becoming a minister.^[38]

4th term as MP (2019-2024)

At the 2019 general election, Garnier was again re-elected with an increased vote share of 65.2% and an increased majority of 21,413.^[39]

In July 2020, Garnier was selected as chair of the Committees on Arms Export Controls.^[40] The committee examines export licensing decisions, such as the decision to resume exports to Saudi Arabia. Private Eye reported that, in 2018, Garnier had taken a 5-day trip to the kingdom, with Saudi Arabia paying the £7,000 cost.^[41]

In August 2021, former Carshalton and Wallington Liberal Democrat MP Tom Brake, now Director of Unlock Democracy,^[42] wrote to Chris Bryant MP, the Chair of the Commons Select Committee on Standards, to examine the dual roles of those MPs who sit on APPGs while also having paid appointments in the sectors of interest of the APPG.^[43] In October 2021, Bryant announced a new "wide-ranging" inquiry into APPGs and into the rules regulations governing these unofficial parliamentary groups.^[44]

In November 2021, Sky News political reporter Sophie Morris reported how Garnier had spoken in the Commons on 22 separate occasions since November 2019, and in three of those appearances had urged fellow MPs to give more support to the space sector.^[45] Garnier has urged the adoption of a "three-point strategy" that would enable the UK to have a "cohesive and coherent space policy."^[45]

In 2023 Garnier voted in favour of water companies dumping sewage in British rivers, watercourses and seas.^[46]

Garnier was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2024 New Year Honours for political and public service.^[47]

5th term as MP (2024-)

At the 2024 general election, Garnier was again re-elected, with a decreased vote share of 32.1% and a decreased majority of 812.^[48]

Personal life

Garnier is married to Caroline; the couple have three children, named Edward, Jemima and George.^[7] His wife works as a manager in his parliamentary office.^[49][50] They live near Abberley, Worcestershire, England.^[51]

His cousin, Sir Edward Garnier KC, was Solicitor General from 2010 until 2012 and was the Member of Parliament for Harborough from 1992 until 2017.

References

1. "Mark Garnier MP". BBC Democracy Live. BBC. Retrieved 25 July 2010.
2. "No. 59418". The London Gazette. 13 May 2010. p. 8746.
3. "Kemi Badenoch appoints Shadow Ministerial Team". policymogul.com. Retrieved 7 November 2024.
4. "Conservative Party announces interim Opposition Front Bench". policymogul.com. Retrieved 25 July 2024.
5. Agerholm, Harriet (9 January 2018). "-Mark Garnier sacked: Tory minister who admitted asking secretary to buy sex toys loses job". The Independent. Retrieved 9 January 2018.
6. "Committees on Arms Export Controls - Membership - Committees - UK Parliament". committees.parliament.uk. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
7. Hume, Lucy (5 October 2017). People of Today 2017. Debrett's. p. 2373. ISBN 978-1-9997670-3-7.
8. Mikhailova, Anna (20 March 2016). "Mark Garnier: the political village beats a City salary". The Times.
9. "Garnier vows to keep up fight against advice gap". Citywire. 9 October 2013.
10. "Wyre Forest". UK Polling Report. Retrieved 30 October 2017.
11. "Result: Wyre Forest". BBC News. 6 May 2005. Retrieved 30 October 2017.
12. "Wyre Forest". UK Polling Report. Retrieved 30 October 2017.
13. "Result: Wyre Forest". BBC News. 6 May 2005.
14. "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
15. "Wyre Forest". BBC News. Retrieved 30 October 2017.
16. "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
17. "Wyre Forest". BBC News Online. Retrieved 7 May 2010.
18. "Mark Garnier, Simon Kirby, Julian Sturdy and Gareth Johnson all set out their scepticism about further European integration in their maiden speeches". Conservative Home. 7 June 2010. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
19. Cadisha Brown (13 January 2012). "Garnier defends tickets 'gifts' (From Kidderminster Shuttle)". Kidderminstershuttle.co.uk. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
20. "Mark Garnier MP: Young people should not be denied the opportunity to take part in shooting as a sport". Conservative Home. 18 January 2012. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
21. "Richard Harrington MP and Mark Garnier MP: The economy needs a new generation of new entrepreneurs to set up their own businesses". Conservative Home. 31 January 2012. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
22. Barrett, Matthew (14 September 2012). "The 24 Conservative MPs who are still on the backbenches and have never rebelled". Conservative Home. Retrieved 19 March 2015.
23. "Garnier in minority vote against same-sex marriage bill". 6 February 2013.
24. "Vicar hits out at Government 'attack on poor'". 14 March 2013.
25. "Archived copy". centrallobby.politicshome.com. Archived from the original on 5 November 2014. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
26. Mason, Rowena (2 December 2014). "Tory MP: we have no need to attract 'dog-end voters in the outlying regions'". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
27. "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
28. Mason, Rowena (2 December 2014). "Tory MP: we have no need to attract 'dog-end voters in the outlying regions'". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
29. "Space APPG". www.parallelparliament.co.uk. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
30. "Banking culture inquiry shelved by regulator FCA". BBC News. 31 December 2015. Retrieved 31 December 2015.
31. R v Brown [1993] UKHL 19, 1 AC 212 (11 March 1993), House of Lords (UK)
32. Tom Goodenough (16 February 2016). "Which Tory MPs back Brexit, who doesn't and who is still on the fence?". Blogs.spectator.co.uk. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
33. "Doom-mongers like me have been proved wrong". BBC News. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
34. Gordon Rayner (9 January 2018). "Night of the blunt stiletto". Daily Telegraph.
35. "Wyre Forest results". BBC News. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
36. Farand, Chloe (29 October 2017). "Tory MP 'admits making aide buy sex toys'". The Independent. Retrieved 30 October 2017.
37. Stewart, Heather; Siddique, Haroon (29 October 2017). "Cabinet Office to investigate after minister admits asking assistant to buy sex toys". The Guardian.
38. Jackson, Russell (21 December 2017). "Mark Garnier cleared over Westminster sleaze allegations". The Scotsman. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
39. "Wyre Forest Parliamentary constituency". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
40. "Committees on Arms Export Controls (CAEC) selects Mark Garnier as chair". UK Parliament. 6 July 2020. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
41. "Garnier's Makeover". Private Eye. No. 1526. 17 July 2020. p. 14.
42. "Tom Brake, former MP, appointed as Director of Unlock Democracy". Unlock Democracy. 6 October 2020. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
43. "MPs who sit on parliamentary groups face scrutiny over lobbying". the Guardian. 2 August 2021. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
44. "Commons launches inquiry into APPGs". 12 October 2021.
45. "Mark Garnier: Conservative MP in paid space sector roles urged Commons to give more support to the industry". Sky News. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
46. "Every UK MP who voted to ALLOW water companies to continue dumping RAW SEWAGE in rivers and the sea". 26 January 2023.
47. "No. 64269". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 December 2023. p. N13.
48. "Wyre Forest". BBC. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
49. "IPSA". Retrieved 4 March 2018.
50. Hope, Christopher; Wilkinson, Michael (29 June 2015). "One in five MPs employs a family member: the full list revealed". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 30 October 2017.
51. "Mark Garnier". Politics.co.uk. Retrieved 30 October 2017.

External links

• Mark Garnier MP official constituency website
• Mark Garnier MP Conservative Party profile
• Wyre Forest Conservatives
• Profile at Parliament of the United Kingdom
• Contributions in Parliament at Hansard
• Voting record at Public Whip
• Record in Parliament at TheyWorkForYou
• Mark Garnier at Wyfopedia
• Appearances on C-SPAN

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Richard Taylor	Member of Parliament for Wyre Forest 2010–present	Incumbent