At a glanceMr Mark Francois is a Conservative MP for Rayleigh and Wickford, and has represented the seat for 25 years, 1 month. They currently serve as Shadow Minister (Defence). They have cast 328 votes in Commons divisions (57% attendance), tabled 1,091 written questions and registered 3 financial interests.
Attendance is votes cast as a share of the 575 Commons divisions since the 2024 election; Mr Mark Francois did not vote in 247. A rebellion is a vote against the way most of their own party voted; free votes, where no party line applies, are left out.
Party-loyalty figures are our own analysis of the official voting records (recorded votes only; they do not describe the formal whip). How we work this out.
Biography
He currently undertakes the role of Shadow Minister (Defence).
Current roles
- Select Committee on the Armed Forces Bill Committee since 9 Feb 2026
- Shadow Minister (Defence) Opposition post · Ministry of Defence since 6 Nov 2024
- Rayleigh and Wickford Representation · Elected 1 time since 4 Jul 2024
- Conservative Party since 7 Jun 2001
Voting record
Voting alignment
Votes most like
-
Bradley Thomas
Conservative
100.0% · 323 of 323 shared votes
-
Lewis Cocking
Conservative
100.0% · 312 of 312 shared votes
-
Rebecca Harris
Conservative
100.0% · 311 of 311 shared votes
-
Edward Argar
Conservative
100.0% · 306 of 306 shared votes
-
Greg Smith
Conservative
100.0% · 305 of 305 shared votes
Votes least like
-
Kerry McCarthy
Labour
0.0% · 0 of 282 shared votes
-
Christian Wakeford
Labour
0.0% · 0 of 271 shared votes
-
Ruth Cadbury
Labour
0.0% · 0 of 264 shared votes
-
Bambos Charalambous
Labour
0.0% · 0 of 254 shared votes
-
Chris Bloore
Labour
0.0% · 0 of 244 shared votes
Alignment figures are our own analysis of the official voting records (recorded votes only; they do not describe the formal whip). How we work this out.
Register of financial interests
From the official Register; shown as registered.
Employment and earnings1
- Writing a book
Visits outside the UK2
- International visit to United States between 21 April 2026 and 25 April 2026 (registered 5 May 2026)
- International visit to Ukraine between 19 February 2026 and 25 February 2026 (registered 18 Mar 2026)
Written questions
Challenger Tanks: Procurement
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the latest estimated IOC date for the Challenger 3.
Answer · 26 May 2026
As stated in my answer to the hon. Member for Huntington on 22 December 2025 to Question 99970, good progress is being made on the Demonstration phase trials. Whilst the programme has been impacted by some delays within the supply chain, these trials will...
HMS Venturer
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the current estimated IOC date for HMS Venturer.
Answer · 4 Jun 2026
The first Type 31 frigate, HMS Venturer, is scheduled to be handed over to the Royal Navy by the end of the decade.
HMS Achilles
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the current estimated IOC for HMS Achilles.
Answer · 26 May 2026
Achilles, the final vessel, is at an advanced stage of build at the BAE Systems shipyard in Barrow-in-Furness. As a former Defence Minister, I hope the right Hon. Gentleman will recall that the planned in-service dates for Royal Navy submarines are withhe...
HMS Lancaster
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what was the cost of the latest refit of HMS Lancaster.
Answer · 26 May 2026
The costs of the most recent deep maintenance periods (Docking Periods) for the specified Type 23 frigates are as follows: HMS Lancaster – £67.6 million - May 2017 - June 2020 - 156 weeksHMS Iron Duke – £102.9 million - May 2019 - May 2023 - 208 weeksHMS ...
HMS Richmond
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what was the cost of the latest refit of HMS Richmond.
Answer · 26 May 2026
The costs of the most recent deep maintenance periods (Docking Periods) for the specified Type 23 frigates are as follows: HMS Lancaster – £67.6 million - May 2017 - June 2020 - 156 weeksHMS Iron Duke – £102.9 million - May 2019 - May 2023 - 208 weeksHMS ...
HMS Iron Duke
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what was the cost of the latest refit of HMS Iron Duke.
Answer · 26 May 2026
The costs of the most recent deep maintenance periods (Docking Periods) for the specified Type 23 frigates are as follows: HMS Lancaster – £67.6 million - May 2017 - June 2020 - 156 weeksHMS Iron Duke – £102.9 million - May 2019 - May 2023 - 208 weeksHMS ...
Global Combat Air Programme
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the current IOC date for the new, sixth generation Tempest (GCAP) aircraft in RAF service.
Answer · 17 Jun 2026
An Initial Operating Capability (IOC) date for the Global Combat Air Program (GCAP) will be developed in close coordination with our international partners.
Artillery: Procurement
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the total cost of the RCH 155m artillery system to the MoD in terms of a) acquisition cost and b) through-life cost.
Answer · 26 May 2026
In line with the Integrated Procurement Model, the UK’s Remote Controlled Howitzer 155 (RCH155) programme will deliver a Minimum Deployable Capability (MDC) within this decade. This capability is defined as a Royal Artillery Battery equipped with RCH155 p...
Early day motions
| 19 Dec 2019 | Big Ben chiming on the day of Brexit | 55 sig. |
| 18 Jul 2005 | STAMP DUTY LAND TAX | 68 sig. |
| 11 Dec 2001 | CONDUCT OF THE HONOURABLE MEMBER FOR ST ALBANS | 6 sig. |
Speeches in the chamber
16 Jul 2026 Local Government Reorganisation
He did not make a—
16 Jul 2026 Local Government Reorganisation
What are you doing in Essex?
16 Jul 2026 Local Government Reorganisation
Essex is a county of nearly 2 million people who are opposed to Labour’s plans by more than two to one, yet in a train-crash statement that has lasted more than an hour, the Secretary of State has not referred to Essex once. What on earth …
15 Jul 2026 National Security
The hon. Member has 59 minutes left.
15 Jul 2026 Iran
Without asking the Minister to reveal any operationally sensitive information, for reasons that we all understand, is the Government’s position that they will not seek to use the capability of the international coalition for de-mining to c…
15 Jul 2026 Iran
No. If I were the hon. Gentleman, I would not embarrass myself again. He should sit down and take a break. That is the reason why the Government have scheduled this debate, which is likely to finish more than two hours early—[Interruption.…
15 Jul 2026 Iran
In response to the hon. Gentleman’s second question, that is all the more reason to get on with the exploration. On his first question, I know that we are all on our best behaviour for the Prime Minister’s departure, but he has some brass …
15 Jul 2026 Iran
Yes, certainly, although I am coming towards the end of my remarks.
15 Jul 2026 Iran
I have two things to say to the Minister. First, I am not sure if what he says is exactly right, but even if it were true, those programmes are still unfunded, pretty much, because there is no new money in the defence investment plan. Seco…
15 Jul 2026 Iran
Yes. The Minister gave way to me, so I must now return the favour.
15 Jul 2026 Iran
No, I will go on to the DIP. I tread warily because both the former Defence Secretary, the right hon. Member for Rawmarsh and Conisbrough (John Healey), and the hon. Member for Birmingham Selly Oak (Al Carns) honourably resigned because…
15 Jul 2026 Iran
My A-level economics is a bit rusty, but price is based on the relationship between supply and demand, and if we can increase the domestic supply of oil and gas, that has to be materially to our advantage. That brings me on to the defen…
15 Jul 2026 Iran
It is a pleasure to follow my hon. Friend the Member for Farnham and Bordon (Gregory Stafford), who, as the whole House knows, spoke extremely well and in detail about the threat posed by the IRGC. I agree with every word he said. I will r…
15 Jul 2026 Iran
My right hon. Friend generously refers to me. On Ajax, the Government published a written ministerial statement yesterday that had a great deal of verbiage in it, but it still did not say when Ajax would enter operational service, even tho…
15 Jul 2026 Iran
My hon. Friend is making a very good speech, but he should not undersell this point. On top of the £4.7 billion that has not been approved by the Treasury, there is £10.7 billion that has to be generated from cuts to the Ministry of Defenc…
15 Jul 2026 Iran
On behalf of the Conservative Front Bench, I place on record our absolute agreement with the Minister’s tribute to all our armed forces personnel serving in the middle east. Will he briefly look around and confirm that yet again when we ar…
13 Jul 2026 Death of Ann Widdecombe
I thank both Front-Bench spokespeople for their touching tributes to Ann. For the benefit of those outside this House, I place on record that we all know the absolute personal commitment of Mr Speaker and all the Deputy Speakers to the sec…
13 Jul 2026 Local Government Reorganisation
Is it true that a statement was made in private to Labour councillors and activists in Essex at the weekend? I know this for a fact, because I was told by one of the Labour members who were there, but will the Minister confirm that it is t…
8 Jul 2026 Rearmament and Warfighting Readiness
No, I am summing up. Lord Robertson, the lead author of the SDR, told the Defence Committee only yesterday that “we are running out of years… the challenge is now bigger, more serious and earlier than we had anticipated, yet the defe…
8 Jul 2026 Rearmament and Warfighting Readiness
In a moment. We face a revanchist Russian led by Putin, who launched an invasion of Crimea and the Donbas in 2014, and then an even more brutal, full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. As someone who visited Ukraine in February of this …
Source: contributions on parliament.uk.
Full parliamentary career
Government posts
- Minister of State (Communities and Local Government) · Department for Communities and Local Government 8 May 2015 – 17 Jul 2016
- Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) · Ministry of Defence 6 Sep 2012 – 8 May 2015
- Vice Chamberlain (HM Household) (Whip, House of Commons) · HM Household 12 May 2010 – 6 Sep 2012
Opposition posts
- Shadow Minister (Europe) · HM Official Opposition 3 Jul 2007 – 6 May 2010
- Shadow Paymaster General · Cabinet Office 10 May 2005 – 3 Jul 2007
- Shadow Economic Secretary (Treasury) · HM Treasury 10 May 2004 – 10 May 2005
- Opposition Whip (Commons) · Whips Office (Commons) 10 May 2002 – 10 May 2004
Committee memberships
- Armed Forces Commissioner Bill 4 Dec 2024 – 12 Dec 2024
- Public Accounts Committee 25 May 2021 – 30 May 2024
- Defence Sub-Committee 5 Mar 2020 – 30 May 2024
- Defence Committee 2 Mar 2020 – 30 May 2024
- British Citizenship (Northern Ireland) Bill 20 Mar 2024 – 17 Apr 2024
- Defence Sub-Committee 12 Sep 2017 – 6 Nov 2019
- Defence Committee 11 Sep 2017 – 6 Nov 2019
- Administration Committee 26 Jul 2010 – 22 Oct 2012
- Armed Forces Bill Committee 17 Jan 2011 – 8 Mar 2011
- Environmental Audit Committee 16 Jul 2001 – 12 Jul 2005
Previous seats
- Rayleigh and Wickford · Elected 4 times 6 May 2010 – 30 May 2024
- Rayleigh · Elected 2 times 7 Jun 2001 – 6 May 2010
Elections contested
- Brent East 1 May 1997
Expenses
Contact & offices
020 7219 8287
Parliamentary office
House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA
Constituency office
25 Bellingham Lane, Rayleigh, SS6 7ED
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Mr Mark Francois, answered from official Parliament data.
Who is Mr Mark Francois?
Mr Mark Francois is a Member of Parliament representing Rayleigh and Wickford in the House of Commons. See Mr Mark Francois's official Parliament profile.
Which party does Mr Mark Francois represent?
Mr Mark Francois sits as Conservative. See Mr Mark Francois's official Parliament profile.
Which constituency does Mr Mark Francois represent?
Mr Mark Francois is the Member of Parliament for Rayleigh and Wickford. See Mr Mark Francois's official Parliament profile.
How long has Mr Mark Francois been an MP?
Mr Mark Francois has served in the House of Commons for 25 years, 1 month. See Mr Mark Francois's official Parliament profile.
What registered interests are listed for Mr Mark Francois?
Mr Mark Francois has 3 entries in the Register of Members' Financial Interests. See Mr Mark Francois's official Parliament profile.
Source: this MP's official Parliament profile. Last updated 26 Jul 2026.