Mark Harper facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Lord Harper
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Official portrait, 2022
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| Secretary of State for Transport | |
| In office 25 October 2022 – 5 July 2024 |
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| Prime Minister | Rishi Sunak |
| Preceded by | Anne-Marie Trevelyan |
| Succeeded by | Louise Haigh |
| Government Chief Whip in the House of Commons Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury |
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| In office 9 May 2015 – 14 July 2016 |
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| Prime Minister | David Cameron |
| Preceded by | Michael Gove |
| Succeeded by | Gavin Williamson |
| Minister of State for Disabled People | |
| In office 15 July 2014 – 8 May 2015 |
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| Prime Minister | David Cameron |
| Preceded by | Mike Penning |
| Succeeded by | Justin Tomlinson |
| Minister of State for Immigration | |
| In office 4 September 2012 – 8 February 2014 |
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| Prime Minister | David Cameron |
| Preceded by | Damian Green |
| Succeeded by | James Brokenshire |
| Parliamentary Secretary for Political and Constitutional Reform | |
| In office 11 May 2010 – 4 September 2012 |
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| Prime Minister | David Cameron |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Succeeded by | Chloe Smith |
| Shadow Minister for Disabled People | |
| In office 3 July 2007 – 11 May 2010 |
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| Leader | David Cameron |
| Preceded by | Jeremy Hunt |
| Succeeded by | Margaret Curran |
| Member of the House of Lords Lords Temporal |
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| Assumed office 13 May 2025 Life Peerage |
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| Member of Parliament for Forest of Dean |
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| In office 5 May 2005 – 30 May 2024 |
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| Preceded by | Diana Organ |
| Succeeded by | Matt Bishop |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Mark James Harper
26 February 1970 Swindon, Wiltshire, England |
| Political party | Conservative |
| Spouse | Margaret Harper |
| Alma mater | Brasenose College, Oxford |
Mark James Harper, Baron Harper (born 26 February 1970) is a British politician. He was a Member of Parliament (MP) for Forest of Dean from 2005 until 2024. He is a member of the Conservative Party.
Mark Harper held important roles in the government. He was the Chief Whip of the House of Commons from 2015 to 2016. He also served as Secretary of State for Transport from 2022 to 2024. In 2025, he became a member of the House of Lords.
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Early Life and Education
Mark Harper was born on February 26, 1970, in Swindon, Wiltshire, England. He grew up in a working-class family. His father was a manual worker, and his mother worked for a book club.
He attended Headlands Comprehensive School and Swindon College. Later, he studied philosophy, politics and economics at Brasenose College, Oxford.
Early Career
After finishing university in 1991, Mark Harper started working as an auditor at KPMG. He became a chartered accountant.
He then joined Intel Corporation. In 2002, he left Intel to start his own accounting business. Before becoming an MP, he was involved with the Conservative Party in Swindon.
His Political Journey
Mark Harper first tried to become an MP for Forest of Dean in 2001. He was elected as an MP for this area in 2005.
He focused on issues like helping parents of children with special educational needs. When David Cameron became the leader of the Conservative Party, Mark Harper became a spokesperson for armed forces and veterans.
Working in Government
After the 2010 general election, Mark Harper became the Parliamentary Secretary for Political and Constitutional Reform. He worked on changing how MPs are elected.
He also supported a plan to sell or lease public forests in England. However, many people in his area, the Forest of Dean, were against this idea. The government later decided not to go ahead with the plan.
Immigration Minister Role
In 2012, Mark Harper became the Minister of State for Immigration. This role involved managing who could come and live in the UK.
He resigned from this role in February 2014. This happened after he found out that his cleaner did not have the correct permission to work in the UK. He felt it was important to resign because he was the Immigration Minister.
Minister for Disabled People
In July 2014, Mark Harper returned to government as the Minister of State for Disabled People. He worked at the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
He was responsible for programs like the Personal Independence Payment (PIP). These programs help people with disabilities. He worked to reduce delays in processing claims for these benefits.
Chief Whip and Beyond
After the 2015 general election, Mark Harper was promoted to Chief Whip of the House of Commons. This role involves making sure MPs vote according to their party's wishes. He served in this role for about a year.
In 2016, when Theresa May became Prime Minister, Mark Harper left the Cabinet. He then became a regular MP, known as a backbencher.
He was re-elected as an MP in the 2017 and 2019 general elections. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he led a group of MPs who wanted fewer restrictions.
Secretary of State for Transport
In October 2022, Mark Harper returned to the Cabinet. He was appointed Secretary of State for Transport by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
In this role, he dealt with railway strikes. He also worked on policies related to transport, like encouraging car use. He left this role in July 2024.
Member of the House of Lords
Mark Harper was not re-elected as an MP in the 2024 general election. However, in April 2025, it was announced that he would become a life peer. This means he would become a member of the House of Lords for life.
He officially became Baron Harper on May 12, 2025. He now sits in the House of Lords as a Conservative peer.
Personal Life
Mark Harper is married to Margaret Harper. In 2015, he became a member of Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council. This gave him the special title "The Right Honourable" for life.
