Mark Spencer was first elected as the Conservative MP for Sherwood in 2010, being re-elected in 2019 with a majority of 16,186.
The central Nottinghamshire constituency of Sherwood is named after the Sherwood Forest, famous for its connection with Robin Hood. A diverse constituency it includes a number of former mining communities, the affluent area of Ravenshead, and the commuter town of Hucknall, some seven miles to the north of Nottingham.
Although the Conservative Party polled three fifths of the vote here in 2019, this constituency has long been one of the most volatile and marginal areas in the UK. It was represented by the Conservatives between 1983 and 1992, by Labour between 1992 and the 2010, and has been held by the Conservatives since 2010.
- Spencer was appointed Minister of State in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in September 2022.
Although he has a farming background, this latest appointment represented something of a demotion for Mr Spencer. Spencer was previously a key figure in the Boris Johnson government. He was Leader of the House of Commons between February 2022 and September 2022, and served as government Chief Whip between 2019 and 2022.
Spencer backed Rishi Sunak in the 2022 Conservative leadership election.
Spencer served in the Whips office under Theresa May between 2017 and 2019.
Born in 1970 Mark Spencer attended Lambley Primary School and Col Frank Seely School in Calverton. He then qualified at Shuttleworth Agricultural College in Bedfordshire, before joining the family farm business. The business is now said to employ around fifty people.
According to the Register of Members Interests, Spencer remains a Partner in CH Spencer and Son (farmers), and a shareholder in Spring Lane Farm Ltd which owns a garden centre in Sherwood
Mark Spencer is former young farmer. In the past, he was Chairman of the National Federation of Young Farmers Clubs.
He is a Trustee of The Royal Agricultural Society of England and for a number of years was the Honorary Show Director of The Royal Show.
Spencer formerly served in local government. He was elected to Gedling Borough Council between 2003 and 2011, and to Nottinghamshire County Council between 2005 and 2013.
Spencer supported Remain in the 2016 EU referendum.
He is married with two children.
Email: mark.spencer.mp@parliament.uk
Personal Website: www.markspencermp.co.uk
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Mark_Spencer
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/MarkSpencerSherwood
