Mark Francois

Mark Francois is a British Conservative politician who has served as the Member of Parliament for Rayleigh and Wickford since 2010, having previously represented Rayleigh from 2001. A prominent eurosceptic, he served as the chair of the European Research Group (ERG) starting in 2020. Throughout his parliamentary career, he has held several government positions, including Minister of State for the Armed Forces and Minister for Portsmouth. Educated at the University of Bristol and King's College London, he previously worked in banking and as a political consultant. He is known for his focus on defence policy and his vocal opposition to the terms of the UK's withdrawal from the European Union.