Mark Garnier
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British politician

Mark Robert Timothy Garnier[2] (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 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero since July 2024.[3] He was a junior minister at the Department for International Trade from July 2016 to January 2018.[4] He was previously chair of the Committees on Arms Export Controls.[5]

Early life and career

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Mark Garnier was born on 26 February 1963 in London to Peter and Patricia Garnier.[6] His mother was a founding member of UKIP. He was privately educated at the private Dulwich College Preparatory School, London and Charterhouse School, Godalming.[7]

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.[6]

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.[6][8]

Garnier was a district councillor of the Forest of Dean District Council from 2003 to 2007.[9]

Parliamentary career

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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.[10][11][12][13]

1st term as MP (2010-2015)

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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.[14][15][16]

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.[17]

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".[18]

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.[19]

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.[20]

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.[21] 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.[22]

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.[23]

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.[24]

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".[25]

2nd term as MP (2015-2017)

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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.[26] 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”.[27]

Since July 2015, Garnier has been the vice-chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Space.[28]

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.[29]

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.[30]

In the lead-up to the 2016 EU membership referendum Garnier supported Remain.[31] In October 2017, he said that 'doom-mongers like himself' had been proved wrong since the Brexit vote.[32]

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.[33]

3rd term as MP (2017-2019)

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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.[34]

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.[35][36] 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.[37]

4th term as MP (2019-2024)

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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.[38]

In July 2020, Garnier was selected as chair of the Committees on Arms Export Controls.[39] 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.[40]

In August 2021, former Carshalton and Wallington Liberal Democrat MP Tom Brake, now Director of Unlock Democracy,[41] 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.[42] In October 2021, Bryant announced a new "wide-ranging" inquiry into APPGs and into the rules regulations governing these unofficial parliamentary groups.[43]

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.[44] Garnier has urged the adoption of a "three-point strategy" that would enable the UK to have a "cohesive and coherent space policy."[44]

In 2023 Garnier voted in favour of water companies dumping sewage in British rivers, watercourses and seas.[45]

Garnier was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2024 New Year Honours for political and public service.[46]

5th term as MP (2024-)

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At the 2024 general election, Garnier was again re-elected, with a decreased vote share of 32.1% and a decreased majority of 812.[47]

Personal life

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Garnier is married to Caroline; the couple have three children, named Edward, Jemima and George.[6] His wife works as a manager in his parliamentary office.[48][49] They live near Abberley, Worcestershire, England.[50]

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

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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