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Mark Francois
Mark Gino Francois (/frɑːnˈswɑː/; born 14 August 1965) is a British politician who has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for Rayleigh and Wickford since 2001. A member of the Conservative Party, he has been Shadow Minister for Defence since 2024.
Francois served as Vice-Chamberlain of the Household (2010–2012), a Minister of State at the Ministry of Defence (2012–2013) and Minister of State for the Armed Forces (2013–2015). He was also Minister of State for Communities and Resilience and Minister for Portsmouth at the Department for Communities and Local Government from 2015 to 2016.
In 2018, he was appointed deputy chair and de facto whip of the eurosceptic European Research Group (ERG) by chair Jacob Rees-Mogg. He was a critic of the leadership of Theresa May during her time as leader of the Conservative Party.
In March 2020 he became the Chair of the ERG.
Mark Gino Francois was born on 14 August 1965 in Islington, London to Anna (née Carloni) and Reginald Francois. His father was an engineer and his mother was an Italian au pair. The family moved to Basildon in 1971. His secondary education was at the Nicholas Comprehensive School (now part of James Hornsby School). He studied history at the University of Bristol and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in 1986. Francois stated that he joined the Conservative Party when he was studying in Bristol. He went on to undertake a Master of Arts (MA) degree in war studies at King's College London, graduating in 1987.
In 1983, whilst at university, he joined the Territorial Army (TA), the part-time reserve force of the British Army. Given the service number 523962, Francois was commissioned as a second lieutenant (on probation) on 18 December 1985. On 1 February 1988, he transferred from the general list to the Royal Anglian Regiment. His commission was confirmed in 1988, and he was granted seniority in the rank of second lieutenant from 18 December 1983. He was promoted lieutenant on 18 September 1988, with seniority in that rank from 18 December 1985. He left the Territorial Army on 21 September 1989.
After university, Francois became a management trainee with Lloyds Bank. He then worked as a political consultant for the lobbying company Market Access International in 1988, leaving to set up his own lobbying firm, Francois Associates, in 1996, which he closed when he was elected as an MP in 2001.
He was a member of Basildon District Council for the Langdon Hills ward from 1991 to 1995. On the council, he served as vice-chair of the housing committee from 1992 to 1995.
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Mark Francois
Mark Gino Francois (/frɑːnˈswɑː/; born 14 August 1965) is a British politician who has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for Rayleigh and Wickford since 2001. A member of the Conservative Party, he has been Shadow Minister for Defence since 2024.
Francois served as Vice-Chamberlain of the Household (2010–2012), a Minister of State at the Ministry of Defence (2012–2013) and Minister of State for the Armed Forces (2013–2015). He was also Minister of State for Communities and Resilience and Minister for Portsmouth at the Department for Communities and Local Government from 2015 to 2016.
In 2018, he was appointed deputy chair and de facto whip of the eurosceptic European Research Group (ERG) by chair Jacob Rees-Mogg. He was a critic of the leadership of Theresa May during her time as leader of the Conservative Party.
In March 2020 he became the Chair of the ERG.
Mark Gino Francois was born on 14 August 1965 in Islington, London to Anna (née Carloni) and Reginald Francois. His father was an engineer and his mother was an Italian au pair. The family moved to Basildon in 1971. His secondary education was at the Nicholas Comprehensive School (now part of James Hornsby School). He studied history at the University of Bristol and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in 1986. Francois stated that he joined the Conservative Party when he was studying in Bristol. He went on to undertake a Master of Arts (MA) degree in war studies at King's College London, graduating in 1987.
In 1983, whilst at university, he joined the Territorial Army (TA), the part-time reserve force of the British Army. Given the service number 523962, Francois was commissioned as a second lieutenant (on probation) on 18 December 1985. On 1 February 1988, he transferred from the general list to the Royal Anglian Regiment. His commission was confirmed in 1988, and he was granted seniority in the rank of second lieutenant from 18 December 1983. He was promoted lieutenant on 18 September 1988, with seniority in that rank from 18 December 1985. He left the Territorial Army on 21 September 1989.
After university, Francois became a management trainee with Lloyds Bank. He then worked as a political consultant for the lobbying company Market Access International in 1988, leaving to set up his own lobbying firm, Francois Associates, in 1996, which he closed when he was elected as an MP in 2001.
He was a member of Basildon District Council for the Langdon Hills ward from 1991 to 1995. On the council, he served as vice-chair of the housing committee from 1992 to 1995.
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