Mark Pritchard (politician) - Political Career

Political Career

Pritchard was re-elected at the 2010 general election. On 26 May 2010, following the general election, Pritchard was elected as one of the two Secretaries of the 1922 Committee.

Pritchard was at the centre of a political story in 2010 when he had a public confrontation with the Speaker of the House of Commons, who had told him to stand aside in a corridor. Pritchard then told him "You’re not f---ing royalty!". This slogan soon found itself on t shirts.

Pritchard is a member of the UK’s Joint National Security Strategy Committee. He is a member of the UK delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly.

He is a graduate of the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme (Army). He has visited Iraq and Afghanistan.

Pritchard was appointed to the post of Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party’s International Office in 2010 but resigned in January 2012 over policy differences on: “a lack of national and individual aspiration, immigration, and Europe”. What some commentators called – “the Holy Trinity of the Conservative right”.

Regarded as right of centre, Pritchard nonetheless was one of the first advocates of ‘compassionate Conservatism’ in the United Kingdom and has vocally supported the Coalition Government’s policy of increased spending on international aid. He believes in tougher sentences for criminals – but has also supported the Coalition government’s efforts to increase the number of treatment and rehabilitation centres. He is on record as saying he would not support the restoration of the death penalty.

In 2011, he was named as one of London’s 1000 most influential people by the London Evening Standard.

He is the Vice Chairman of the Conservative Parliamentary Foreign Affairs & Defence Committee. He formerly served as ‘backbench support’ to Rt Hon William Hague MP and to Dr Liam Fox, the former British Defence Secretary, whilst in opposition. UK newspapers reported that Pritchard was to be offered the position of Parliamentary Private Secretary to Dr Liam Fox the Defence Secretary, but the appointment was vetoed by Prime Minister David Cameron. Pritchard was one of the most vocal supporters of Cameron leadership rival, David Davis MP.

Pritchard has served on several Select Committees: Transport, Works & Pensions, Wales, and Environmental Audit. He is Chairman or Vice Chairman of several All Party Parliamentary Groups, including the ASEAN region, and Africa. Pritchard is also an Executive Member of the British Parliamentary Group.

He served on two local councils prior to entering Parliament. Representing Pinner West on Harrow Borough Council (London) 1993-1994 and then Brookwood in Surrey 2000-2003, where he became Chairman of the Economic Committee. He was elected to the National Board of the Conservative Councillors Association in 2001.

Pritchard, a keen supporter of Margaret Thatcher, worked as the Campaign Manager to her successor, Dr Hartley Booth, in the London seat of Finchley. Dr Hartley Booth worked in the Number 10 policy unit before entering Parliament (May 1992-1997).He also spent a brief period at Conservative Central Office, working as a Press Officer, in the 1997 General Election campaign of past Conservative Prime Minister, John Major.

Pritchard also worked as a Parliamentary Researcher 1994-1995, co-writing two books with past MP, Dr Harley Booth. Subjects: Long-term unemployment and Homelessness.

Pritchard first stood for Parliament in 2001 – fighting his apprenticeship seat of Warley in the West Midlands against the former Labour Defence Minister, the Rt Hon John Speller MP. Pritchard was re-elected at the 2010 general election with the largest majority in the history of The Wrekin seat with a 1,000% increase.