Mark Clarke (politician) facts for kids

Mark Clarke (born in June 1977) is a British person who used to be a candidate for the Conservative Party. He was also a leader of two groups that no longer exist: the Young Britons' Foundation and Conservative Future.

He also directed an organization called Road Trip. This group helped bus young Conservative Party members to different areas. They campaigned for the party during the 2015 general election. In 2015, Mark Clarke was suspended from the Conservative Party. Later that year, he was permanently banned from joining or representing the party.

Early Life and Education

Mark Clarke was born in June 1977. His mother was Madeline Clarke. His father was Denis Ogden.

He has some interesting family connections. His great-aunt was Dame Mary Eugenia Charles. She was the first female prime minister of Dominica. His grandfather was Bertie Clarke. Bertie was a cricket player from Barbados. He played for the West Indies Cricket Team.

Bertie Clarke came to Britain in 1939 to play cricket. He could not go home because World War II started. He then became a doctor. His daughter, Madeline, became Mark's mother. Mark grew up in Isleworth, West London.

Mark Clarke went to Dulwich College in London. He got a special government scholarship to attend. After that, he studied Ancient and Modern History. He went to Durham University. He finished his studies there in 1999.

Mark Clarke's Career

Mark Clarke has worked in different fields. He used his university training in marketing. He also became very active in politics.

Marketing and Consulting Work

After university, Mark Clarke worked as a marketing consultant. He worked with big companies like Procter and Gamble, Mars, Accenture, and Unilever. For four years, he lived in Switzerland for his work.

Early Political Activities

Mark Clarke has been involved with the Conservative Party since 1997. He was seen with John Major when Major gave a speech. This was after the Conservative Party lost the 1997 election.

From 2006 to 2008, he was the elected chairman of Conservative Future. This was a youth wing of the Conservative Party. He also became the director of outreach for the Young Britons’ Foundation. This group was led by Donal Blaney.

He was even called "Tatler Tory" by Tatler magazine. This nickname suggested he might become a future government minister.

2010 General Election Campaign

Sadiq Khan defeated Mark Clarke in the 2010 General Election.

In 2010, Mark Clarke ran for Parliament. He was the Conservative Party candidate for Tooting. He lost the election to Sadiq Khan, who was the Labour Party candidate. Khan won by 2,524 votes.

The Road Trip Group

Mark Clarke started his own campaigning group called Road Trip. This group later received support from the Conservative Party. It was also endorsed by the Party Chairman, Grant Shapps MP.

The Road Trip group was very active in the 2015 General Election. They organized buses to take young party members. These members would go to important areas to campaign. Some local Conservatives thought the Road Trip help was not well organized.

The Road Trip group stopped its activities in September 2015. It was formally disbanded later.

Outcomes of Official Investigations

After some events, police looked into allegations against Mark Clarke. These allegations were about common assault and blackmail. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) reviewed the evidence. They decided there was not enough evidence to charge him.

On February 9, 2016, a CPS spokesperson confirmed this decision. They said no further action would be taken.

Conservative Party Ban

On November 18, 2015, it was announced that Mark Clarke was expelled from the Conservative Party. He was given a lifetime ban. This means he can never represent or be a candidate for the Conservative Party again.

Media Coverage

Mark Clarke's involvement in these matters was discussed in the media. Several radio and television programs covered the story.

Make Me A Tory Documentary

Mark Clarke was featured in a 2007 Channel 4 documentary. The documentary was called Make Me a Tory. Future Prime Minister David Cameron was also in it.

In the film, Mark Clarke was one of several campaigners. They tried to convince the documentary maker to support the Conservative Party. The documentary maker had always supported the Labour Party.

Newsnight Features

Ben Howlett MP.

On November 18, 2015, Mark Clarke was the main topic of a Newsnight program. Newsnight is a major current affairs show on BBC. During the show, Conservative MP Ben Howlett spoke. He talked about his efforts to stop bullying in the Party's youth section.

Another Newsnight program aired on December 8, 2015. It focused on claims that Lord Feldman, the Conservative Party chairman, knew about bullying. It was alleged he knew as early as 2010. Two activists reportedly gave him and Sayeeda Warsi a twenty-page document. This document named several people involved, including Mark Clarke.

BBC Radio 4 Profile

On November 29, 2015, Radio 4 aired a special profile on Mark Clarke. The program explored why some high-ranking Conservative Party members were resigning. It also discussed the resignation of the International Development Minister.

The documentary suggested that Mark Clarke's political work might have helped the Conservatives. It might have helped them win the General Election. However, the program concluded that he had become "the disappearing man of British politics." This was because his former friends did not want to defend him publicly. It also stated that "the former Chairman of Conservative Future now has no Future in the Conservative Party."

Images for kids

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  Sadiq Khan defeated Mark Clarke in the 2010 General Election.

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  Ben Howlett MP.