Mark Pawsey was first elected as the Conservative Party MP for Rugby in 2010 being reelected in 2019 with a majority of 13,447.
The Warwickshire constituency of Rugby is found to the east of Coventry and the south of Leicester close to where the M6 motorway meets the M1. It is focussed on the industrial town of Rugby itself, alongside the large village of Bulkington. This is an economically active area where owner occupancy accounts for seven tenths of the housing stock. It is a Conservative leaning seat, but not one which would be completely outside of Labour’s reach should it ever notably out poll the Conservatives at the national level. Labour held the predecessor seat of Rugby and Kenilworth between 1997 and 2005.
Born in 1957, Pawsey attended Lawrence Sheriff School in Rugby and later Reading University where he obtained a degree in Estate Management. In 1982, Mark Pawsey started his own business with his brother Mike, supplying a range of products to the catering trade. Employing over 30 staff, the business was sold to a FTSE 100 Company in 2008.
In late 2022, he detailed his intention to step down from Westminster at the next election.
Mark Pawsey was elected to Rugby Borough Council between 2002 and 2007.
His father James Pawsey served as the Conservative MP for Rugby and Kenilworth between 1979 and 1997.
Fitting for the MP for Rugby, Mark Pawsey has played for the Commons and Lords rugby club, and he is Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Rugby Union. He used to play rugby for the Old Laurentian rugby team, and regular watches matches at Twickenham.
According to the Register of Members Interests, Pawsey is Chairman of the Foodservice Packaging Association. He is Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on the Packaging Manufacturing Industry.
Mark Pawsey is also Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Groups on Vaping, and has called for their to be limited regulation on e-cigarettes in the past.
He supported Remain in the 2016 EU referendum.
He is also Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Groups on District Councils; Manufacturing; Professional Sales; and Rugby Union. He is Vice Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Groups on Tidy Britain; Rwanda; Acquired Brain Injury; Funerals and Bereavement; and Housing and Planning.
He is married with four children.
Email: mark.pawsey.mp@parliament.uk
Personal Website: www.markpawsey.org.uk
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MarkPawsey
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/Mark4Rugby?fref=ts
