| Mark Lancaster TD MP | |
|---|---|
| Member of Parliament for Milton Keynes North North East Milton Keynes (2005-2010) |
|
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 5 May 2005 |
|
| Preceded by | Brian White |
| Majority | 8,961 (16.6%)[1] |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 12 May 1970 [1] Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England |
| Nationality | English |
| Political party | Conservative |
| Residence | Olney, Buckinghamshire |
| Alma mater | University of Buckingham |
| Website | lancaster4mk.com |
John Mark Lancaster TD (born 12 May 1970) is a British Conservative Party politician. He was elected as Member of Parliament for the North East Milton Keynes constituency at the 2005 general election and held its successor seat, Milton Keynes North, at the 2010 general election. He is currently the PPS to the Secretary of State for International Development.[2]
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Lancaster was educated at Kimbolton School. He has graduated as a BSc in Business Studies from the University of Buckingham and MBA from the University of Exeter Business School. He was awarded an Honorary PhD from Buckingham University in 2008.[3]
He was a company director for the family fireworks firm Kimbolton Fireworks before he was elected to Parliament.[4]
Between 1988 and 1990 Lancaster served in the Army on an extended gap-year Commission in Hong Kong with the Queens Gurkha Engineers before going up to university. He then transferred his Commission to the Territorial Army where he continues to serve as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Royal Engineers. He is a qualified EOD operator (Bomb Disposal Officer) and has been on active service three times in Kosovo (1999–2000), Bosnia (2001–2002) and Afghanistan (2006).
Lancaster was a Member of Huntingdonshire District Council (1995–1999) where he served as the Chairman of the Leisure Committee (1996–1999). At the 2001 general election, Lancaster stood as the Conservative candidate for Nuneaton. He was beaten by Labour candidate Bill Olner.
Lancaster was elected as Member of Parliament for the North East Milton Keynes in the 2005 general election, unseating former MP Brian White of the Labour Party.
Lancaster was a Conservative Party whip between November 2006 until July 2007, when he was appointed Shadow Minister for International Development under the then Leader of the Opposition David Cameron.[3][5][6]
He has served on the Office of Deputy Prime Minister Select Committee, (2005), Defence Select Committee (2006)[7] and the International Development Select Committee (2009–10).[8]
In 2005 he introduced a Ten Minute Rule Bill in the House that would allow local councils to ban glasses and bottles in late night clubs and bars and replace them with plastic in support of his constituent Blake Golding. Lancaster also submitted an early day motion in 2006 calling for the government to ban sales of alcohol in glass containers in bars after 11pm.[9]
Lancaster was instrumental in helping to reverse the Government cut to the Territorial Army funding in 2009.
He is the (unpaid) Parliamentary Advisor to the Royal Society of Chemistry.[10]
Shortly after his re-election in 2010 he was appointed as the Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) to the Secretary of State for International Development.
Lancaster has stated his disagreement with the UK Government's policy on the 2003 invasion of Iraq. In an interview with the BBC, he stated "It may well be much harder to get the British public to back other overseas adventures by the military because of what's happened in Iraq."[11]
In the 2005-2010 Parliament Lancaster made 1007 verbal contributions to Parliament and tabled 1131 written questions, both well above average for MPs. He voted in 61% of parliamentary votes. According to the Public Whip, he voted strongly against the introduction of ID cards and in favour of a smoking ban and an investigation into the Iraq war. In votes involving transparency of parliament (including MPs expenses),[12] gay rights, and climate change his voting record is not easily categorized by obvious stereotypes.[10]
In 2011 Lancaster introduced his own Private Members Bill, which enabled special Olympic 1 kg gold and silver coins to be struck by the Royal Mint as part of the 2012 Olympic legacy.
Initially under new Parliamentary rules introduced after the 2010 General Election Lancaster did not qualify for the second homes allowances as was considered to be a 'London Area MP' during which time he had no second home or London accommodation. The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) reversed this decision following their review in April 2011.
In the 2005-10 Parliament Lancaster was left unscathed by the expenses investigation, he did not feature in the Daily Telegraph's investigation and was one of a minority of MP's not asked to pay back any money as a result of the Sir Thomas Legg Enquiry.[13]
Lancaster was married for 12 years and later had a daughter in a different relationship.
Lancaster is a supporter of MK Dons, and enjoys playing cricket, including for the House of Commons team.[4][14]
| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Brian White |
Member of Parliament for North East Milton Keynes 2005–present |
Incumbent |