Mark was born in 1970 and was educated at the Headlands School, Swindon College and Brasenose College, University of Oxford. He qualified as a Chartered Accountant with KPMG in 1995. Until 2002, he worked for Intel Corporation in a variety of roles including finance, business operations and marketing before establishing his own chartered accountancy business in the Forest of Dean.
Mark is married to Margaret. Mark has two Labradors, Cara and Darci, and keeps fit by walking them in the Forest near his home at Newham Bottom.
Mark enjoys travelling, keeping fit and the cinema, especially supporting the local cinemas in Coleford and Cinderford.
Mark Harper's Experience
Mark was a Governor at Newent Community School from November 2000 to July 2005. Mark stood as the Conservative candidate for the Forest of Dean in the general election in 2001, cutting Labour's majority from 6,343 to 2,049.
He was re-selected as Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for the Forest of Dean in July 2002. He was elected as Member of Parliament in May 2005. In December 2005, he was appointed as a Shadow Minister for Defence.
In July 2007, Mark was appointed as a Shadow Minister for Disabled People.
In May 2010, Mark joined the Cabinet Office as Minister for Political and Constitutional Reform.