First elected as a Member of the UK Parliament in June 2001, Mark Field is a third-term Conservative MP representing the central London constituency of the Cities of London & Westminster.
He takes a special interest in economic matters, financial services, foreign trade and international development and is currently Chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Groups on Azerbaijan; Venture Capital & Private Equity; and Business Services; as well as Vice Chairman of the Groups on Football and Bangladesh.
In September 2010 Mark was appointed by the Prime Minister to the prestigious Intelligence & Security Committee, chaired by former Foreign Secretary, Sir Malcolm Rifkind. He is the youngest MP ever to serve on this Committee, which reports directly to 10 Downing Street and oversees the UK's intelligence and security services.
Mark is a prominent broadcaster and commentator on the political scene and regularly speaks up on City and global financial/professional services matters. Since 2006 he has appeared frequently on BBC Radio 4's weekly Westminster Hour, Week in Westminster and Today programmes. He is also a regular contributor on Sky News and BBC2 shows, The Daily Politics and Newsnight, alongside being a permanent panellist on ITV's The Late Debate. He writes several times a month for prominent political blog, ConservativeHome.
Parliamentary Experience
Mark was initially promoted to the Conservative Party frontbench in June 2003 and served as an Opposition Whip until March 2004. In November 2003 he was appointed Shadow Minister for London, where his role included liaising with Greater London Assembly Conservative members and our parliamentary candidates in the Capital where we achieved the largest regional swing and secured eight MPs in seats previously held by Labour.
Between May and December 2005 Mark was the Shadow Financial Secretary to the Treasury. During a busy time in that position he served on the Finance Act (No.2) 2005 and as the main Opposition spokesman on the Floor of the House and in committee on the Registration of Financial Services (Land Transactions) Bill 2005 and National Insurance Contributions Bill 2005.
In the eleven months to November 2006 Mark Field was the Shadow Minister for Culture and the Arts. During his tenure he led for the Opposition on the National Lottery Act 2006 and promoted the policy of safeguarding lottery funds for the four original causes of the arts, heritage, charities and sport. He also led debates and strong opposition to the lack of leadership and vision in Britain's declining public library service. His other responsibilities included the Arts, Heritage, Architecture and Design, Museums and Galleries, the Royal Parks, Regional Policy and Local Government as well as aspects of broadcasting.
Throughout his time in Parliament, Mark has initiated debates on key local issues - social housing; police resourcing; immigration; the future of St Bartholomew's Hospital; the commercialisation of the Royal Parks; and various environmental and quality of life issues.
In being the Member for the City, Mark naturally has a strong interest in financial matters and has served on the Standing Committees of several important pieces of economic legislation. He has also raised in parliamentary debates concerns about the future of the City of London as a world leader in financial services; the competitiveness of our tax system; European interference in London's hedge fund industry, the problems associated with national debt; and the quality of our higher education system.
He also takes a strong interest in constitutional matters, particularly with regard to reform of the House of Lords, and was an outspoken critic of the former system for MPs' expenses and allowances.
Outside politics
Mark was born in October 1964 in the British Military Hospital, Hannover, Germany. His late father, Peter, was serving in the British Army at the time. His late mother, Ulrike, hailed from Silesia, a part of Germany which is now in Poland.
He grew up with his brother, Dominic, and sister, Antonia, and was educated in the state sector at Reading School. He later graduated with a degree in Jurisprudence (Law) from St. Edmund Hall, Oxford.
After leaving university Mark went on to practise as a solicitor with leading international law firm, Freshfields. In the mid 1990s he set up a successful publishing and recruitment business in the City, building the company up to have a staff of twelve by 2001. Following his election as MP for the Cities of London and Westminster in June 2001 he divested himself of his business interests to a consortium led by his former business partner.
Aside from politics, Mark is a fanatical football supporter and has been a Bury FC fan since he was a young boy. He also adores pop music and cricket. A devotee of London and its rich history, he normally takes the tube to the end of the line once a month and spends four or five hours wending his way home through the city, exploring new areas and learning how the capital is changing. He is also an avid reader and particularly enjoys books on political and economic history as well as sports and music biographies.
He lives in Westminster with his wife, Vicki, a celebrity agent, their son, Frederick, who was born in December 2007, and their daughter, Arabella, who was born in June 2011.