MP for Rayleigh and Wickford
Shadow Minister (Defence)
Mr Mark Francois is a Conservative MP for Rayleigh and Wickford, first elected in 2001. He currently serves as Shadow Minister for Defence and sits on the Select Committee on the Armed Forces Bill (from 9 February 2026). His parliamentary career includes ministerial roles in the Ministry of Defence (2012-2015) and the Department for Communities and Local Government (2015-2016), with longstanding involvement in defence and security matters.
Mr Francois shows very high party loyalty (98%) and votes in Parliament at 67% of divisions, above the party average (56%). He has around 33 rebel votes, indicating occasional departures from the party line. On policy, he has consistently supported stricter immigration controls and asylum measures (including the Rwanda deportation scheme), generally opposed NHS funding increases, and opposed some domestic regulatory changes such as bus services regulation and VAT changes; his record on transgender rights and trade unions is mixed.
Declared financial interests include two entries for visits outside the UK and one entry for employment and earnings.
Generated 21 February 2026
19 positions
Select Committee on the Armed Forces Bill
Since Feb 2026
Shadow Minister (Defence)
Since Nov 2024
Armed Forces Commissioner Bill
Dec 2024 - Dec 2024
British Citizenship (Northern Ireland) Bill
Mar 2024 - Apr 2024
Public Accounts Committee
May 2021 - May 2024
Defence Sub-Committee
Mar 2020 - May 2024
Defence Committee
Mar 2020 - May 2024
Defence Sub-Committee
Sept 2017 - Nov 2019
Based on parliamentary votes
has generally voted against universal credit
has voted a mixture of ways on immigration controls
has generally voted against bus services regulation
has generally voted against vat changes
has voted a mixture of ways on asylum system
has generally voted against transgender rights
has generally voted against trade union powers
has almost always voted against nhs funding
Draft European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (Exit Day) (Amendment) Regulations 2019
27 Mar 2019
United Kingdom's withdrawal from the European Union
29 Mar 2019
European Union (Withdrawal) (No.5) Bill Committee NC4 - Cash
3 Apr 2019
Amendment (a) to Lords Amendment 5 to the EU (Withdrawal) (No. 5) Bill
8 Apr 2019
Motion to agree to Lords Amendment 5 to the EU (Withdrawal) (No. 5) Bill
8 Apr 2019
Referendums Relating to Council Tax Increases (Principles) (England) Report 2026-27
Local Government Finance Report (England) 2026-27
Draft Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme (Amendment) (Extension to Maritime Activities) Order 2026
Draft Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme (Amendment) Order 2026
Universal Credit (Removal of Two Child Limit) Bill: Second Reading