Mark Lancaster MP

www.lancaster4mk.com/

A little bit about Mark

Mark lives within the constituency at Olney having been raised and educated locally in Kimbolton. He read his first degree at Buckingham University before subsequently completing a MBA at Exeter University and was recently awarded an Honourary PhD from Buckingham University. Mark had a varied career before entering politics, serving briefly first before University as an officer in the Queens Gurkha Engineers in Hong Kong, before returning to work in the family firework manufacturing company based in Kimbolton.

Mark continues to serve in the Territorial Army as a Major and spent the 2006 summer recess on active service alongside our troops in Afghanistan. This was the third time that Mark has volunteered for active service since 2000, having previous served as part of the NATO peacekeeping force in both Kosovo and Bosnia. A passionate sportsman, Mark is a MK Dons supporter and has opened the batting for the House of Commons Cricket team. As a hobby, Mark collects and restores classic British motorcycles.

Mark takes a keen interest in Defence and business issues in the House of Commons and having first served on the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) Select Committee. He also served on the Defence Select Committee until his promotion to the Whips Office. He is also a member of the All Party Nepal, Hong Kong, China, USA, University, Football, Cricket, United Nations and Beer groups. He also acts as an (unpaid) parliamentary advisor to the Royal Society of Chemistry.
 

Mark's Experience

Mark's interest in politics stems not from politics for its own sake, but from business, firmly believing it is the very life-blood of Milton Keynes and the local community.

Mark is an experienced campaigner and has been able to actively contribute his valuable business experience to local government for over ten years. He has previously served as a local councillor and stood as the Conservative candidate for Nuneaton in the 2001 general election.

He was elected as Member of Parliament for North East Milton Keynes in May 2005. In November 2006, Mark was appointed as an Opposition Whip and in July 2007, he was appointed as a Shadow Minister for International Development.

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Iain Stewart (Prospective Candidate)

www.ias4mks.com/

Iain in his own words.....

I was born in September 1972 and grew up in Hamilton in central Scotland.  My parents are now both retired – my dad was a computer systems analyst and my mum worked for Marks & Spencer. I went to Hutchesons’ Grammar School in Glasgow.

I first moved to Milton Keynes in 1993 for my first job after graduating from Exeter University with an honours degree in politics. I was a trainee accountant with Coopers & Lybrand in Central Milton Keynes and lived in Walnut Tree, which forms part of the new Milton Keynes South constituency. I now live in Tattenhoe and commute daily by train from Bletchley to my job in central London.

A regular, if sometimes reluctant (!), runner, I enjoy competing in marathons and other long distance runs both to keep fit and raise money for good causes. I have run the London Marathon and the MK half-marathon, supporting Macmillan Cancer Relief, MK SNAP and Sportsaid.

 I don’t come from a particularly political family (although my uncle is involved in the Henley Labour Party!). I got interested in current affairs when a student and realised that politics was central to most of the key issues in life.

After studying the subject, I formed my own views on the key issues of the day and decided that I wanted to stand up and argue for them, rather than shouting from the sidelines.

In addition, I want to be an MP so I can give something back to the community. I’ve been lucky in life. I come from a strong and loving family, and been given a good education. I’m fit and healthy, and able to make the most of life’s opportunities. Not everyone is as fortunate and I want to be able to do something to assist those who need a helping hand. I think I can most usefully do this by being an MP.

That’s one of the reasons why I am a member of my local parish council – Shenley Brook End & Tattenhoe, representing the Emerson Valley ward. I enjoy working with my fellow councillors to improve the quality of life for local residents. I am particularly supportive of the Council's objective to improve the range of sporting opportunities and other amenities for local kids. For more information on the work of the parish council, please look at its website http://www.shenleybrookend-pc.gov.uk

Since standing for the first time in Milton Keynes, I have reduced the Labour Party’s majority from over 10,000 to 4,000, and I was quickly selected by local Conservatives after the last election to contest the new seat of Milton Keynes South at the next general election.

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