Mark Prisk Explained

Mark Prisk
Office1:Minister of State for Housing and Local Government
Primeminister1:David Cameron
Term Start1:4 September 2012
Term End1:7 October 2013
Predecessor1:Grant Shapps
Successor1:Kris Hopkins
Office2:Minister of State for Business and Enterprise
Primeminister2:David Cameron
Term Start2:13 May 2010
Term End2:4 September 2012
Predecessor2:Pat McFadden
Successor2:Michael Fallon
Office4:Shadow Minister for Business, Innovation and Skills
Term Start4:10 May 2005
Term End4:6 May 2010
Predecessor4:Office established
Successor4:Ian Lucas
Leader4:David Cameron
Office6:Shadow Paymaster General
Term Start6:1 June 2003
Term End6:1 June 2004
Leader6:Michael Howard
Office7:Shadow Financial Secretary to the Treasury
Term Start7:1 June 2002
Term End7:1 June 2003
Predecessor7:David Lidington
Alongside7:Stephen O'Brien
Successor7:Andrew Tyrie
Leader7:Iain Duncan Smith
Office8:Member of Parliament
for Hertford and Stortford
Term Start8:7 June 2001
Term End8:6 November 2019
Predecessor8:Bowen Wells
Successor8:Julie Marson
Birth Date:12 June 1962
Birth Place:Redruth, Cornwall, England
Spouse:Lesley Titcomb
Party:Conservative
Alma Mater:Truro School,[1] University of Reading
Website:www.markprisk.com

Michael Mark Prisk (born 12 June 1962) is a British politician who was Member of Parliament (MP) for Hertford and Stortford from 2001 until 2019. A member of the Conservative Party, he was Minister of State for Business and Enterprise from 2010 to 2012 and Minister of State for Housing and Local Government from 2012 to 2013.

Early life

Prisk was born at Redruth, Cornwall and whilst living at Camborne was educated at the fee-paying Truro School in 1973–80. He went on to study Land Management at the University of Reading, gaining a BSc degree. From 1983 to 1985, he was Chairman of the Youth Section of Peace through NATO. He was vice-chairman of the Federation of Conservative Students in 1982–83.

After graduation, Prisk worked in property and economic development and rose to become director of a £3 million practice. From 1983 to 1985, he worked as a graduate surveyor for Knight Frank, then as development surveyor for Derrick Wade & Waters where he became manager of the London office from 1985 to 1989. He was a marketing director from 1989 to 1991, then principal of the Mark Prisk Connection from 1991 to 1997. From 1997 to 2001, he was company owner of MP2.

Parliamentary career

Prisk was Chairman of Cornwall Young Conservatives and after unsuccessfully contesting Newham North West in 1992 and Wansdyke in 1997, he was finally elected as the Conservative MP for the constituency of Hertford and Stortford in 2001. He was promoted from the backbenches to the Opposition frontbench as Shadow Financial Secretary, Shadow Minister for Economic Affairs, an opposition whip and Shadow Minister for Business and Enterprise.[2] He is author of several pamphlets on urban design.

On 26 July 2007, David Cameron appointed Prisk as Shadow Minister for Cornwall, although there was no formal government post for him to shadow. The party said the move was intended to help place the county's concerns "at the heart of Conservative thinking". Cameron said he endorsed the appointment and it would ensure the voice of Cornwall was heard.[3] Liberal Democrat Matthew Taylor claimed the appointment was a bid to get around the rule which requires MPs to limit the local cases they take up to their own constituencies.[4] Prisk defended his role in open letter to the Falmouth Packet, noting "as a born and bred Cornishman" his role was to listen to the concerns of people in Cornwall, feed these back to the Shadow Cabinet and make sure Conservative policies properly reflected the needs of Cornwall.[5]

Prisk was appointed as Minister of State for Business and Enterprise in the Cameron–Clegg coalition, until he was shifted to become Minister of State for Housing and Local Government on 5 September 2012.[6] In this role, he was responsible for creating a "Future High Street Forum" to support struggling High Street retailers, but was asked to step down from the frontbench in an October 2013 reshuffle.[7] [8]

Prisk campaigned to remain in the European Union in the lead-up to the 2016 referendum on Britain's membership and his constituency narrowly voted to remain by 50.76% to 49.24%.[9] [10] However, after the referendum result, he supported the Theresa May's plan for implementation of Britain's withdrawal.[11]

On 9 September 2019, Prisk wrote to the chairman of his local Conservative Association to declare he would not be standing at the next general election.[12]

During November 2022, Prisk announced his position as president of the Conservative Mental Health Group (CMHG). Previous to this role Prisk had supported mental health charities, including the Samaritans and Mind.[13]

Personal life

Prisk married Lesley Titcomb, who became CEO at The Pensions Regulator, in April 1989 in Oxfordshire.[14]

Elections contested

DateConstituencyPartyVotes% votesPositionRef.
1992 general electionNewham North West6,74025.992nd of 6[15]
1997 general electionWansdyke19,31835.32nd of 7[16]
2001 general electionHertford and Stortford21,07444.7Won[17]
2005 general electionHertford and Stortford25,07450.5Won[18]
2010 general electionHertford and Stortford29,81053.8Won[19]
2015 general electionHertford and Stortford31,59356.1Won[20]
2017 general electionHertford and Stortford36,18460.3Won[21]

External links

News articles
Video clips

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Mark Prisk . Politics.co.uk . 16 June 2019.
  2. http://www.conservatives.com/People/Members_of_Parliament/Prisk_Mark.aspx People - Mark Prisk
  3. Mark Prisk appointed Shadow Minister for Cornwall. https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/nIAarTqZsaU. 2021-12-12 . live. 24 July 2007. 9 May 2016. YouTube.
  4. News: 'Fictional Minister' Prompts Row . BBC News . 12 February 2010 . 17 March 2009.
  5. http://archive.middevonstar.co.uk/2007/11/28/125892.html Mid Devon Star 28 November 2007
  6. News: Kelly. Liam. 5 September 2012. Mark Prisk replaces Grant Shapps as housing minister – what should his priorities be?. Guardian. 29 March 2015.
  7. News: Neville. Simon. 8 October 2013. Protests as PM sacks Mark Prisk, Minister for High Streets. Independent. 29 March 2015.
  8. News: Heaven. Will. 7 October 2013. MPs' reshuffle: as it happened. The Daily Telegraph. London. https://web.archive.org/web/20131007091515/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/10360141/MPs-reshuffle-live.html. dead. 7 October 2013.
  9. News: Goodenough. Tom. Which Tory MPs back Brexit, who doesn't and who is still on the fence?. 11 October 2016. The Spectator. 16 February 2016. 2 May 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190502030758/https://blogs.spectator.co.uk/2016/02/which-tory-mps-back-brexit-who-doesnt-and-who-is-still-on-the-fence/. dead.
  10. Web site: Hertford and Stortford Election Results . Democratic Dashboard . en.
  11. Web site: Brexit.
  12. Web site: Prisk. Mark. 2019-09-09. Today I have announced that I will not be standing at the next general election. Read my full statement herepic.twitter.com/OgTkw7XLlj. 2019-09-09. @PriskMark. en.
  13. Web site: 2022-11-21 . Mental health role for former Bishop's Stortford MP . 2023-04-04 . Bishop's Stortford Independent . en.
  14. Web site: New housing minister Mark Prisk is surveyor.... Estate Agent Today. 4 May 2019.
  15. Web site: 1992 - 1992 General Election - Newham North West . Parliament.uk.
  16. Web site: 1997 - 1997 General Election - Wansdyke . Parliament.uk.
  17. Web site: 2001 - 2001 General Election - Hertford and Stortford . Parliament.uk.
  18. Web site: 2005 - 2005 General Election - Hertford and Stortford . Parliament.uk.
  19. Web site: 2010 - 2010 General Election - Hertford and Stortford . Parliament.uk.
  20. Web site: 2015 - 2015 General Election - Hertford and Stortford . Parliament.uk.
  21. Web site: 2017 - 2017 General Election - Hertford and Stortford . Parliament.uk.