Mark Field

Mark Field (born October 1964) is the MP for for the Cities of London and Westminster. He is a former solicitor with international law firm Freshfields and businessman.

Political career

From his biog on conservativehome:

In June 2001 Mark won the Cities of London and Westminster seat with a majority of 4499 in succession to Peter (now Lord) Brooke. At the 2005 election his majority rose to 8095 on a 4.5% swing to the Conservatives from second-placed Labour.

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.

Between December 2005 and November 2006, Mark was Shadow Minister for Culture and the Arts, with responsibilities including the Arts, Heritage, Architecture and Design, Libraries, Museums and galleries, the Royal Estates, Regional Policy and Local Government as well as aspects of broadcasting and the National Lottery.

Mark's previous political experience includes eight years as an elected councillor in the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea (1994-2002) and he stood as the Conservative candidate in Enfield North in 1997. Prior to his involvement in Kensington & Chelsea, Mark lived in Islington North where he spent two years (1989-91) as Deputy Chairman of the local Conservatives.

Throughout his time in Parliament, Mark has initiated debates on key local issues - Metropolitan police resourcing; Future of St Bartholomew’s Hospital; recycling household waste; Congestion Charging; Commercialisation of Hyde Park and Implementation of the Licensing Act 2003.

He has regularly contributed to debates on issues affecting the Capital, including London’s role in the UK economy, the London Underground, Crossrail, the London Olympics bid, ID cards, gun crime, and various environmental and quality of life issues.

He has been regularly involved with the battle to secure the future development of both Bart’s hospital and St Mary’s Paddington (the two local hospitals) and is a champion for leaseholder rights over the proposed changes in the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill.

Education and early career

Field was educated at the state-run Reading School and took a degree in law at St Edmund Hall, Oxford in 1987. He then practised as a solicitor with international law firm Freshfields.

In the mid-1990s Field 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 in June 2001 Field states that he divested himself of his business interests to a consortium led by his former business partner.

Affiliations

• Secretary of the All-Party Group on British-German Parliamentary Group
• Chair of the All-Party Group on Venture Capital & Private Equity