Mark James Harper, Baron Harper (born 26 February 1970) is a British politician who served in the Cabinet as Chief Whip of the House of Commons from 2015 to 2016 and as Secretary of State for Transport from 2022 to 2024. A member of the Conservative Party, he served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire from 2005 until his defeat in 2024.

Harper was born in Swindon and studied philosophy, politics and economics at Brasenose College, Oxford. He was a chartered accountant before his election to Parliament. Under the coalition government of David Cameron he served as Parliamentary Secretary for Political and Constitutional Reform before being promoted to Minister of State for Immigration in the 2012 reshuffle. During his tenure at the Home Office, he devised a controversial campaign in which advertising vans told illegal migrants to "go home".{{cite web |date=9 February 2014 |title=Immigration minister Mark Harper resigns over illegal immigrant cleaner |url=http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/feb/09/mark-harper-immigration-minister-resigns |access-date=11 January 2023 |website=The Guardian }} He resigned as Immigration Minister in February 2014, but quickly returned to government as Minister of State for Disabled People in the July 2014 reshuffle.

Harper was promoted to Cameron's cabinet as Chief Whip of the House of Commons following the 2015 general election; he served in the role for a year before being sacked by incoming Prime Minister Theresa May in 2016. Harper was a candidate for leader of the Conservative Party in the 2019 leadership contest, finishing ninth out of 10 candidates with 10 votes.{{cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/jun/13/andrea-leadsom-and-esther-mcvey-out-of-race-to-be-tory-leader|title=Andrea Leadsom and Esther McVey out of race to be Tory leader|date=13 June 2019|website=The Guardian}} During the Johnson premiership, he was the chair of the COVID Recovery Group of Conservative MPs advocating for looser COVID-19 restrictions. After Rishi Sunak became Prime Minister, Harper was appointed to the Cabinet as Secretary of State for Transport.{{cite news |date=25 October 2022 |title=Rishi Sunak reshuffle: Braverman named home secretary, Gove returns as levelling up secretary, Mordaunt not promoted – live |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2022/oct/25/uk-politics-live-sunak-to-meet-king-charles-and-give-first-address-to-the-nation-as-pm |access-date=25 October 2022 |website=The Guardian }}

Early life and education

Harper was born and raised in Swindon, Wiltshire, where he had a working-class upbringing: his father was a manual worker and his mother was employed by a book club.{{cite web |last1=Whale |first1=Sebastian |title=Mark Harper: "I will vote Conservative, but I can understand why many of our supporters aren't going to' |url=https://www.politicshome.com/thehouse/article/mark-harper-i-will-vote-conservative-but-i-can-understand-why-many-of-our-supporters-arent-going-to |website=Politics Home |access-date=3 July 2021 |date=25 February 2020}} He was educated at Headlands Comprehensive School and Swindon College. He read philosophy, politics and economics at Brasenose College, Oxford, where he studied under Professor Vernon Bogdanor.

Early career

Upon graduation in 1991, Harper joined KPMG as an auditor. After qualifying as a chartered accountant, he joined Intel Corporation. In 2002, he left Intel to set up his own accountancy practice.{{cite web |title=Mark Harper |url=https://www.politics.co.uk/reference/mark-james-harper |publisher=Politics.co.uk |access-date=29 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191029152015/https://www.politics.co.uk/reference/mark-james-harper |archive-date=29 October 2019 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last=Morris |first=Seren |date=26 October 2022 |title=Who is the new Transport Secretary? Mark Harper's political background |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/new-transport-secretary-mark-harper-political-background-b1035461.html |website=Evening Standard |access-date=9 July 2024}}

Before entering Parliament, Harper was the treasurer of the Swindon Conservative Association and served as vice-chairman for a year in 1998.

Parliamentary career

At the 2001 general election, Harper contested the Gloucestershire seat of Forest of Dean but came second to the incumbent Labour Party MP Diana Organ; Harper won 38.8% of the vote.{{cite web |title=Election Data 2001 |url=http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2001ob.txt |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111015054450/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2001ob.txt |archivedate=15 October 2011 |accessdate=18 October 2015 |publisher=Electoral Calculus}}

Organ retired at the 2005 general election and Harper was elected for the Conservatives with a majority of 2,049 votes, similar to the Labour majority at the previous election,{{cite news |last=Leighton |first=Neil |date=6 May 2005 |title=Tug-of-war seat returns to Tories |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/vote_2005/england/4520687.stm |work=BBC News}} and 40.9% of the vote.{{cite web |title=Election Data 2005 |url=http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2005ob.txt |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111015054249/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2005ob.txt |archivedate=15 October 2011 |accessdate=18 October 2015 |publisher=Electoral Calculus}} At the same general election, Harper's wife Margaret stood for election as the Conservative candidate in Worcester, where she finished in second place to the Labour candidate, Michael Foster.

On 24 May 2005, Harper made his maiden speech,{{cite web|url=https://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=2005-05-24a.560.3&s=speaker%3A11588#g595.0|title=Health and Education|work=theyworkforyou.com|access-date=4 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181118202545/https://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=2005-05-24a.560.3&s=speaker:11588#g595.0|archive-date=18 November 2018|url-status=live}} in which he advocated giving the parents of children with special educational needs the option of sending their children to a non-mainstream school – an issue of local interest in Harper's Gloucestershire seat and one close to the heart of the then Shadow Education Secretary, David Cameron, whose son Ivan was born with severe learning difficulties.{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/commentators/david-cameron-my-personal-crusade-to-save-special-schools-6144552.html|title=David Cameron: My personal crusade to save special schools|date=7 June 2005|work=The Independent|access-date=4 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925151510/http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/commentators/david-cameron-my-personal-crusade-to-save-special-schools-6144552.html|archive-date=25 September 2015|url-status=dead}} When Cameron was elected leader of the party in December 2005, he made Harper a spokesman on armed forces welfare issues and veterans.

Harper has sat on the Commons Administration Committee and briefly on the Work and Pensions Committee. On matters of foreign policy, he has consistently voted in support of British military intervention overseas.{{cite web|url=https://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/11588/mark_harper/forest_of_dean/divisions?policy=6688|title=Mark Harper|work=theyworkforyou.com|access-date=4 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190209124215/https://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/11588/mark_harper/forest_of_dean/divisions?policy=6688|archive-date=9 February 2019|url-status=live}} Harper was described in 2015 as a Eurosceptic.{{cite web|title=Swindon Conservatives|date=20 March 2015|url=http://www.swindonconservatives.com/westminster-circle-dinner-mark-harper-mp|access-date=29 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208082440/http://www.swindonconservatives.com/westminster-circle-dinner-mark-harper-mp/|archive-date=8 December 2015|url-status=live}} Even so, he campaigned to remain in the European Union during the 2016 referendum on ending the UK's membership.{{cite web|url=https://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/1134408/who-is-Mark-Harper-what-is-mark-harpers-brexit-stance|title=Tory leadership: Who is Mark Harper? Does he support no deal Brexit?|first=Kaisha|last=Langton|date=31 May 2019|website=Express.co.uk|access-date=6 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190605062348/https://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/1134408/who-is-Mark-Harper-what-is-mark-harpers-brexit-stance|archive-date=5 June 2019|url-status=live}}

The scandal over MPs' expenses showed Harper to be a frugal parliamentarian: his only significant expenses claim was for a brief period of temporary accommodation occupied on a short-term basis soon after being elected in 2005.{{cite web |title=mp claiming of expenses |date=2 October 2009 |url=https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/mp_claiming_of_expenses_2 |publisher=What do they know |access-date=23 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160809074801/https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/mp_claiming_of_expenses_2 |archive-date=9 August 2016 |url-status=live }}

In the reshuffle of July 2007, Harper was made Shadow Minister for Disabled People, a position he held until the general election in 2010.{{cite web|url=http://www.parliament.uk/biographies/commons/mark-harper/1520|title=Rt Hon Mark Harper MP|work=UK Parliament|access-date=12 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305202827/http://www.parliament.uk/biographies/commons/mark-harper/1520|archive-date=5 March 2016|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2010/02/11/113780/interview-mark-harper-conservative-disability-spokesperson.htm|title=Interview: Mark Harper, Conservative disability spokesperson|first=Vern|last=Pitt|publisher=CommunityCare.co.uk|date=11 February 2010|access-date=20 December 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100709145121/http://www.communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2010/02/11/113780/interview-mark-harper-conservative-disability-spokesperson.htm|archive-date=9 July 2010}}

=Junior Minister at the Cabinet Office=

At the 2010 general election, Harper was re-elected with an increased vote share of 46.9% and an increased majority of 11,064.{{cite web |title=Election Data 2010 |url=http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2010.txt |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130726162034/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2010.txt |archivedate=26 July 2013 |accessdate=17 October 2015 |publisher=Electoral Calculus}} Soon afterwards, Harper became Parliamentary Secretary for Political and Constitutional Reform.{{cite web|url=http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/content/constitutional-reform-whos-who|title=Constitutional Reform – Who's who|publisher=Cabinet Office|access-date=20 December 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110105012048/http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/content/constitutional-reform-whos-who|archive-date=5 January 2011|url-status=dead}} He worked with Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg on the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Act 2011 that changed the voting system for electing MPs (Harper was not enthusiastic about the proposal,{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2010/aug/12/mark-harper-electoral-reform|title=Mark Harper backs first-past-the-post: meet the man reshaping our politics|work=The Guardian|date=12 August 2010|access-date=20 December 2010|location=London|first=Patrick|last=Wintour|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140228152534/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2010/aug/12/mark-harper-electoral-reform|archive-date=28 February 2014|url-status=live}} which had been a key bargaining chip in the coalition negotiations in May 2010).

In October 2010, the government introduced the Public Bodies Act to the House of Lords,{{cite web|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld201011/ldbills/025/11025.i-ii.html|title=Public Bodies Bill [HL]|work=parliament.uk|access-date=4 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170821221905/https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld201011/ldbills/025/11025.i-ii.html|archive-date=21 August 2017|url-status=live}} which would allow it to sell or lease public forests in England. Harper supported the bill, describing it as an "exciting opportunity for community ownership." However, the measure was widely criticised by many residents within his Forest of Dean constituency{{cite web|url=http://www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk/news/Support-grows-Forest-sell/article-2823196-detail/article.html|title=Support is growing in the Forest of Dean against rumoured plans to privatise parts of the Forest of Dean |work=Gloucester Citizen|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120914133856/http://www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk/news/Support-grows-Forest-sell/article-2823196-detail/article.html|archive-date=14 September 2012}}{{cite web|url=http://www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk/news/Hands-Forest/article-2808645-detail/article.html|title=CAMPAIGNERS battling to keep Forest of Dean woodlands out of private hands are rallying forces. |work=Gloucester Citizen|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120915123954/http://www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk/news/Hands-Forest/article-2808645-detail/article.html|archive-date=15 September 2012}} and by politicians with connections to the large oak forest after which Harper's parliamentary seat is named – including Baroness Jan Royall, leader of the opposition in the House of Lords. Following a public meeting – after which Harper had to be rescued by the police from what he described as "a baying mob"{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/earthnews/8305944/Minister-confronted-by-protesters-as-tempers-flare-over-forest-sell-off.html|title=Minister confronted by protesters as tempers flare over forest sell-off|first1=Robert|last1=Mendick|first2=Rebecca|last2=Lefort|newspaper=Daily Telegraph|date=5 February 2011|access-date=12 February 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110211194803/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/earthnews/8305944/Minister-confronted-by-protesters-as-tempers-flare-over-forest-sell-off.html|archive-date=11 February 2011|url-status=dead}} – and a sustained national campaign which included the newly formed local Forest of Dean pressure group Hands off our Forest, the government announced it had abandoned its plans and would remove the forestry clauses from the Public Bodies Bill.{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2011/feb/17/forest-sell-off-abandoned-sorry-caroline-spelman | location=London | work=The Guardian | first=Nicholas | last=Watt | title=Forest sell-off abandoned: I'm sorry, I got it wrong, says Caroline Spelman | date=17 February 2011 | access-date=12 December 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170708221055/https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2011/feb/17/forest-sell-off-abandoned-sorry-caroline-spelman | archive-date=8 July 2017 | url-status=live }}{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12491144|title=Sale of forests in England scrapped|date=17 February 2011|work=BBC News|access-date=20 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925201801/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12491144|archive-date=25 September 2015|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-12488847|title=Forest sale axed: Caroline Spelman says 'I'm sorry'|date=17 February 2011|work=BBC News|access-date=20 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090630013226/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-12488847|archive-date=30 June 2009|url-status=live}}

Harper worked on the House of Lords Reform Bill, which set out to introduce a smaller second chamber consisting mostly of elected peers. This was a Liberal Democrat policy that had also been mentioned as an aspiration in the Conservative Party's manifesto of 2010. In July 2012, 91 Conservative MPs defied the whips and voted with Labour against the proposals, something which led the coalition government to abandon the planned reform soon afterwards.{{cite web |title=Everything you need to know – from Brexit to a broken foot – about Mark Harper as Forest of Dean MP launches bid to be Prime Minister |date=11 June 2019 |url=https://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/news/gloucester-news/everything-you-need-know-brexit-2919585 |publisher=Gloucestershire Live |access-date=29 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191029152025/https://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/news/gloucester-news/everything-you-need-know-brexit-2919585 |archive-date=29 October 2019 |url-status=live }}

=Immigration Minister=

In the reshuffle of September 2012, Harper was promoted to Minister of State for Immigration at a time when levels of inward migration were falling but emigration rates were falling faster still, leading to a rise in net migration into the UK.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-23878689|title=Net migration to UK increases – Office for National Statistics|work=BBC News|access-date=20 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180822024016/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-23878689|archive-date=22 August 2018|url-status=live}}

Over the summer of 2013, Harper trialled a campaign aimed at illegal immigrants that consisted, in part, of lorries with hoardings attached to their load areas driving around London displaying the sign "Here Illegally? Go Home or Risk Arrest" with more information in smaller print on how to contact the Home Office for advice. The scheme was seen as offensive by some and it divided opinion within the coalition's ministerial team.{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/immigration/10387694/Go-Home-vans-could-be-introduced-across-Britain-says-immigration-minister.html|title='Go Home' vans could be introduced across Britain, says immigration minister|date=18 October 2013|work=Telegraph.co.uk|last1=Holehouse|first1=Matthew|access-date=3 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181121120355/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/immigration/10387694/Go-Home-vans-could-be-introduced-across-Britain-says-immigration-minister.html|archive-date=21 November 2018|url-status=live}} In October 2013, Harper told MPs: "The advertising vans in particular were too much of a blunt instrument and will not be used again".{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/immigration/10417987/Home-Offices-Go-Home-immigration-vans-campaign-overwhelmed-by-hoax-texts-and-calls.html|title=Home Office's 'Go Home' immigration vans campaign overwhelmed by hoax texts and calls|date=31 October 2013|work=Telegraph.co.uk|access-date=3 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171209172531/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/immigration/10417987/Home-Offices-Go-Home-immigration-vans-campaign-overwhelmed-by-hoax-texts-and-calls.html|archive-date=9 December 2017|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2013/oct/22/go-home-vans-scrapped-failure|title='Go home' vans to be scrapped after experiment deemed a failure|first=Patrick |last=Wintour|date=22 October 2013|work=The Guardian|access-date=12 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170204212828/https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2013/oct/22/go-home-vans-scrapped-failure|archive-date=4 February 2017|url-status=live}} As immigration minister, Harper stated "British citizenship is a privilege, not a right".{{cite report|url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/277578/Factsheet_15_Deprivation.pdf|title=Immigration Bill – Fact Sheet: Deprivation of citizenship (clause 60)|author=Immigration Minister Mark Harper|publisher=UK Home Office|date=January 2014|access-date=27 November 2021|quote=British citizenship is a privilege, not a right}}{{cite web |title=Tougher language requirements announced for British citizenship |author=The Rt Hon Mark Harper MP |work=GOV.UK |date=8 April 2013 |access-date=27 November 2021 |url= https://www.gov.uk/government/news/tougher-language-requirements-announced-for-british-citizenship|quote=British citizenship is a privilege, not a right}}{{cite news |title=New bill quietly gives powers to remove British citizenship without notice |last=Siddique |first=Haroon |newspaper=The Guardian |date=17 November 2021 |url= https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/nov/17/new-bill-quietly-gives-powers-to-remove-british-citizenship-without-notice |quote=The Home Office said: 'British citizenship is a privilege, not a right. Deprivation of citizenship on conducive grounds is rightly reserved for those who pose a threat to the UK or whose conduct involves very high harm.' }}

Harper resigned as immigration minister on 8 February 2014, after he discovered that his self-employed cleaner did not have permission to work in the UK. In his resignation letter, Harper stated that he first made checks on his cleaner in 2007 and "considered the issue again" when appointed a minister in the Cabinet Office in 2010 and immigration minister in September 2012 but had concluded that "no further check was necessary". After launching a campaign to get employers and landlords to carry out "reasonable checks" on workers, Harper said that he thought it prudent to check the documents again, but could not locate them, and asked his cleaner for new copies. When his private office checked the details with immigration officials, it was found she did not have indefinite leave to stay in the UK. He immediately told Home Secretary Theresa May, and then after notifying Prime Minister David Cameron, he resigned. He was replaced by James Brokenshire.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-26101442|title=Immigration minister Mark Harper quits over cleaner's visa|work=BBC News|date=8 February 2014|access-date=8 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140208221915/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-26101442|archive-date=8 February 2014|url-status=live}}{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/immigration-minister-mark-harper-resigns-after-employing-a-cleaner-working-in-the-uk-illegally-9116797.html |title=Immigration Minister Mark Harper resigns after employing a cleaner working in the UK illegally |work=The Independent |date=8 February 2014 |access-date=8 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140209025101/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/immigration-minister-mark-harper-resigns-after-employing-a-cleaner-working-in-the-uk-illegally-9116797.html |archive-date=9 February 2014 |url-status=live }}

=Minister for Disabled People=

The ministerial reshuffle in July 2014 saw Harper restored to office in the role of Minister of State for Disabled People at the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/people/mark-harper|title=The Rt Hon Mark Harper MP|work=www.gov.uk|access-date=28 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141022211144/https://www.gov.uk/government/people/mark-harper|archive-date=22 October 2014|url-status=live}} He took over responsibility for the relatively new Personal Independence Payment (PIP), as well as for the Work Capability Assessment (WCA) used to assess entitlement to Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) – a legacy of New Labour. Both operations were plagued by large backlogs of unassessed claims.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-29821696|title=Cuts to employment and support allowance 'considered'|work=BBC News|first=Michael |last=Buchanan|date=30 October 2014|access-date=9 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141111183349/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-29821696|archive-date=11 November 2014|url-status=live}}

In October 2014, the Office for Budget Responsibility disclosed that Harper's department had failed to make the anticipated £3 billion annual saving in incapacity benefits spending expected by 2014 (the DWP achieved no saving at all from this budget over the whole of the 2010–15 parliamentary term).{{cite web|url=http://budgetresponsibility.org.uk/welfare-trends-report-october-2014/|title=Office for Budget Responsibility|access-date=21 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150918191535/http://budgetresponsibility.org.uk/welfare-trends-report-october-2014/|archive-date=18 September 2015|url-status=live}}

In December 2014, Harper attracted negative media attention after Steve Parry-Hearn, a prospective Labour parliamentary candidate, accused him of hypocrisy when he called for businesses to improve disabled access, even though his own high street constituency office was inaccessible to wheelchair users.{{cite web|url= http://www.theforestreview.co.uk/article.cfm?id=1356&headline=MP%20in%20%E2%80%98hypocrisy%E2%80%99%20row%20over%20disabled%20access§ionIs=news&searchyear=2014 |title= MP in 'hypocrisy' row over disabled access |work=Forest of Dean and Wye Valley Review |date=17 December 2014|access-date=10 June 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://www.disabilitynewsservice.com/hypocrite-minister-disabled-people-sparks-anger-inaccessible-hq/ |title= 'Hypocrite!' Minister for disabled people sparks anger over inaccessible HQ |date= 12 December 2014 |publisher=Disability News Service |access-date=10 June 2019}}

In January 2015, Harper appeared before the Work and Pensions Select Committee to face questions over the problems with PIP.{{cite web|url=http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/work-and-pensions-committee/news/minister-for-disabled-people-ev/|title=Minister for Disabled People gives evidence in one-off session|work=UK Parliament|access-date=10 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151005140614/http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/work-and-pensions-committee/news/minister-for-disabled-people-ev/|archive-date=5 October 2015|url-status=live}} A former senior civil servant appointed by the DWP to review PIP had found the scheme beset by "delays and backlogs" and had described the process, which was introduced by another minister in April 2013, as still representing "a major delivery challenge." Macmillan benefits advisers had told the reviewer that people had died while waiting for their PIP claim to be processed. The MS Society described these delays as unacceptable and some charities called for the PIP scheme to be halted.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/jan/27/delays-disability-benefit-pip-claimants-mps-scrutiny|title=Delays and disarray shatter lives of new disability claimants|work=The Guardian|first=Amelia |last=Gentleman|date=27 January 2015|access-date=27 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150127175715/http://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/jan/27/delays-disability-benefit-pip-claimants-mps-scrutiny|archive-date=27 January 2015|url-status=live}}

In March 2015, the US firm Maximus began carrying out WCAs in place of Atos under a completely new contract that would cost almost £600 million and run until late 2018.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-31590017|title=Work capability assessments: One million disability checks planned|work=BBC News|access-date=20 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150827080419/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-31590017|archive-date=27 August 2015|url-status=live}} There was initial optimism within Whitehall that a new contract and a new provider would mean the start of a new chapter in fit-for-work assessment, although two House of Commons select committees – the Work and Pensions Committee and the Public Accounts Committee – had between them concluded that the DWP's policies, its operational decisions and its failure to monitor Atos adequately were to blame for many of the assessment's earlier failings.{{cite web|url=http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/work-and-pensions-committee/news/esa-wca-report-substantive/|title=Employment and Support Allowance needs fundamental redesign, say MPs|date=23 July 2014|access-date=10 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905161502/http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/work-and-pensions-committee/news/esa-wca-report-substantive/|archive-date=5 September 2015|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/replacing-atos-with-another-private-provider-will-not-solve-flaws-in-disability-benefits-system-mps-warn-9621942.html|title=Replacing Atos with another private provider will not solve flaws in|first=Andrew |last=Grice|date=22 July 2014|work=The Independent|access-date=4 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925171829/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/replacing-atos-with-another-private-provider-will-not-solve-flaws-in-disability-benefits-system-mps-warn-9621942.html|archive-date=25 September 2015|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-27767779|title=Atos was 'lightning rod' for anger over benefit changes|work=BBC News|access-date=20 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181128050622/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-27767779|archive-date=28 November 2018|url-status=live}} A review by the National Audit Office of the performance of the new contract in its first year was sceptical about its value for money,{{cite news|work=The Guardian|date=8 January 2016|title=Maximus miss fitness-to-work test targets despite spiralling cost|url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/jan/08/maximus-miss-fitness-to-work-test-targets-despite-spiralling-costs|access-date=12 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170307231230/https://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/jan/08/maximus-miss-fitness-to-work-test-targets-despite-spiralling-costs|archive-date=7 March 2017|url-status=live}} although the WCA backlog had been virtually eliminated by the spring of 2016.

By the time he left the DWP, Harper had brought about a substantial reduction in the size of the backlog of PIP claims as well. This was achieved by: drafting in hundreds more DWP decision-makers; assessing more claims on the basis of the documents supplied by claimants, rather than through more time-consuming face-to-face assessments; changing the way that waiting times were measured; and streamlining the whole end-to-end process.{{cite web|url=http://data.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/committeeevidence.svc/evidencedocument/work-and-pensions-committee/progress-with-personal-independence-payment-implementation/oral/12481.html|date=10 September 2014|title=Work and Pensions Committee – Oral Evidence: Progress with PIP implementation 2014|access-date=12 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151109172255/http://data.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/committeeevidence.svc/evidencedocument/work-and-pensions-committee/progress-with-personal-independence-payment-implementation/oral/12481.html|archive-date=9 November 2015|url-status=live}}{{cite web|date=28 January 2015|url=http://data.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/committeeevidence.svc/evidencedocument/work-and-pensions-committee/progress-with-disability-and-incapacity-benefit-reforms/oral/17813.html|title=Work and Pensions Committee – Oral Evidence: progress with disability and incapacity benefit reforms|access-date=12 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151110081227/http://data.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/committeeevidence.svc/evidencedocument/work-and-pensions-committee/progress-with-disability-and-incapacity-benefit-reforms/oral/17813.html|archive-date=10 November 2015|url-status=live}}

=Government Chief Whip=

At the 2015 general election, Harper was again re-elected with a decreased vote share of 46.8% and a decreased majority of 10,987.{{cite web |title=Election Data 2015 |url=http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2015.txt |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017112223/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2015.txt |archivedate=17 October 2015 |accessdate=17 October 2015 |publisher=Electoral Calculus}}{{cite web |title=Forest of Dean District Council – Page unavailable |url=http://www.fdean.gov.uk/nqcontent.cfm?a_id=8672 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150709163321/http://www.fdean.gov.uk/nqcontent.cfm?a_id=8672 |archive-date=9 July 2015 |access-date=8 July 2015 |website=www.fdean.gov.uk}} He was promoted to Chief Whip after the Conservative general election victory in May 2015.

In December 2015, after a vote in favour of using Britain's military capabilities against the Islamic State in Syria, the London Evening Standard reported that: "David Cameron dashed to the Government whips' office to congratulate Chief Whip Mark Harper following the Commons vote on the war, which saw MPs back action after a 10-hour debate."{{cite news|date=3 December 2015|work=London Evening Standard|title=RAF jets blitz ISIS oilfield in Syria|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/world/raf-jets-blitz-isis-oilfield-in-syria-a3128941.html|access-date=3 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181121122009/https://www.standard.co.uk/news/world/raf-jets-blitz-isis-oilfield-in-syria-a3128941.html|archive-date=21 November 2018|url-status=live}}

=Backbench MP=

Following David Cameron's resignation and the ascension of Theresa May to the Prime Ministership, May dismissed Harper from the cabinet and he returned to the backbenches.

At the snap 2017 general election, Harper was again re-elected with an increased vote share of 54.3% and a decreased majority of 9,502.{{cite news |title=Forest of Dean parliamentary constituency |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/E14000705 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190411104112/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/E14000705 |archive-date=11 April 2019 |access-date=22 June 2018 |work=BBC News}} He was again re-elected at the 2019 general election with an increased vote share of 59.6% and an increased majority of 15,869.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Harper was a critic of the government's approach. In November 2020, he became chair of the COVID Recovery Group, a group of MPs who advocated against lockdown and for looser restrictions.{{cite news|last=Harper|first=Mark|date=10 November 2020|title=Lockdowns cost lives – we need a different strategy to fight Covid-19|work=The Telegraph|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/11/10/lockdowns-cost-lives-need-different-strategy-fight-covid-19/|access-date=14 November 2020|issn=0307-1235}}

In April 2022, Harper submitted a letter of no confidence in Prime Minister Boris Johnson in the wake of the Partygate scandal. Harper said that Johnson was "no longer worthy" of remaining Prime Minister.{{cite news |title=My letter to @SirGrahamBrady.|url=https://twitter.com/mark_j_harper/status/1516453716899029009 |access-date=19 April 2022 |website=Twitter }}{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/boris-johnson-resignation-tory-mark-harper-b2060965.html|title=Boris Johnson 'no longer worthy' of being PM says senior Tory MP calling for resignation|first=Adam|last=Forrest|work=The Independent|date=19 April 2022|accessdate=19 April 2022}}

In June 2022, Harper was re-selected as the Conservative candidate for Forest of Dean at the 2024 general election.{{cite tweet |number=1540426187385733120 |user=Mark_J_Harper |title=Honoured to be formally re-adopted as the @Conservatives candidate for the #ForestofDean, my home community that I'm proud to represent. Grateful for the continued support of my local Conservative Association and my constituents. I will always stand up for what's right. |author=Mark Harper |date=24 June 2022}}

=Secretary of State for Transport (2022–2024)=

Upon the accession of Rishi Sunak to the Prime Ministership, Harper made a return to the frontbench when he was appointed Secretary of State for Transport on 25 October 2022.{{cite web |title=Secretary of State for Transport – GOV.UK |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/ministers/secretary-of-state-for-transport#:~:text=The%20Rt%20Hon%20Mark%20Harper%20MP,-Mark%20Harper%20was |access-date=14 November 2023 |website=www.gov.uk }} His appointment came amid a period of significant industrial action held by railway staff. Harper refused to negotiate with the unions, which led to a years-long standoff and rolling strikes.{{cite web |last1=Topping |first1=Alexandra |last2=Cousins |first2=Rich |title=The 2024 election's 'Portillo moments': which 'Big Beasts' have lost their seats? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/article/2024/jul/05/2024-election-portillo-moments-which-big-beasts-have-lost-their-seats |website=The Guardian |date=5 July 2024}}{{cite web |title=Mick Whelan endorses Matt Bishop for The Forest |url=https://forestofdean.laboursites.org/2024/06/26/mick-whelan-endorses-matt-bishop-for-the-forest/ |website=Forest of Dean Labour Party}} In July 2023 the closure of almost all ticket offices at railway stations, making hundreds of staff redundant, was proposed after Harper instructed train operators to cut costs.{{cite news |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/business/business-news/anger-over-plans-for-mass-closure-of-railway-station-ticket-offices-b1092364.html |newspaper=Evening Standard |title=Anger over plans for mass closure of railway station ticket offices |first=Neil |last=Lancefield |date=5 July 2023 |accessdate=26 July 2023 }} The proposal was later scrapped.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/oct/31/rail-ticket-office-closures-in-england-train-operators |title=Rail ticket office closures in England scrapped in government U-turn |first=Gwyn |last=Topham |date=31 October 2023 |newspaper=The Guardian |access-date=9 July 2024}}

In October 2023, Harper spoke out against the governing Conservative Party's transportation policies, particularly anti-pollution charges on cars and low speed limits. He called his party "proudly pro-car."{{cite news |date=2 October 2023 |title=UK's Transport Secretary Attacks 'Sinister' Local Government Traffic Measures |work=Bloomberg.com |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-10-02/uk-s-harper-attacks-sinister-local-government-traffic-measures |url-access=subscription |access-date=14 November 2023 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20231002121641/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-10-02/uk-s-harper-attacks-sinister-local-government-traffic-measures#selection-4833.0-4837.428 |archive-date=2 October 2023}} In particular, his speech at the party conference appeared to "echo conspiracy theories about sinister plots linked to the concept of '15-minute cities'", suggesting that councils could "decide when people could go the shops", described by the BBC as "not an accurate characterisation of '15-minute cities'."{{cite news |date=3 October 2023|title=15 minute cities: How they got caught in conspiracy theories|work=BBC |first=Marco |last=Silva |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-66990302|access-date=28 March 2024}}

At the 2024 general election, the railway unions campaigned specifically against Harper, aiming to dislodge him in favour of the Labour candidate Matt Bishop. Harper was narrowly defeated in the election.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election/2024/uk/constituencies/E14001240 |title=Forest of Dean results |date=July 2024 |publisher=BBC News |access-date=9 July 2024}} Negotiations resumed after his defeat and the dispute was largely resolved by the new government that September.{{Cite web |date=2024-09-18 |title=Train drivers accept pay deal bringing end to strikes in England |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0r8g244zggo |access-date=2024-09-18 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}

=House of Lords=

It was announced in the 2024 Prime Minister's Resignation Honours of April 2025 that Harper was to be made a life peer;{{cite web |title=Resignation Honours and Peerages: April 2025 |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/resignation-honours-and-peerages-april-2025 |website=GOV.UK |publisher=Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street |access-date=11 April 2025 |language=en |date=11 April 2025}} he was created as Baron Harper, of Forest of Dean in the County of Gloucestershire on 12 May 2025.{{London Gazette|issue=64735|page=10174|date=18 May 2025}} He was introduced to the House of Lords the next day,{{cite web|url=https://hansard.parliament.uk/lords/2025-05-13/debates/622C1AD4-E51E-4A79-B718-9E6490569217/IntroductionLordHarper |publisher=Hansard |title=Introduction: Lord Harper |accessdate=13 May 2025}} where he sits as a Conservative peer.{{cite web |title=Parliamentary career for Lord Harper |url=https://members.parliament.uk/member/1520/career |website=MPs and Lords |publisher=UK Parliament |access-date=23 May 2025 |language=en}}

Personal life

Harper is married to Margaret. In 2015, he was sworn in as a member of Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council.{{cite web |title=Privy Council appointments: May 2015 |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/privy-council-appointments-may-2015 |access-date=20 April 2022 |website=Government of the United Kingdom}} This gave him the Honorific Prefix "The Right Honourable" for life.

References

External links

[http://www.markharper.org Mark Harper MP] official constituency website
[https://web.archive.org/web/20130508043815/http://www.conservatives.com/People/Members_of_Parliament/Harper_Mark.aspx Profile] at the Conservative Party
{{UK MP links| parliament = mark-harper/1520 | hansard = | hansardcurr = 4788 | guardian = 5911/mark-harper | publicwhip = Mark_Harper | theywork = mark_harper/forest_of_dean | record = Mark-Harper/Forest-of-Dean/236 | bbc = 31687.stm | journalisted = }}
[https://web.archive.org/web/20080608221852/http://www.fodconservatives.com/ Forest of Dean Conservatives]
{{cite web|title=Democracy Live – Your representatives – Mark Harper|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/democracylive/hi/representatives/profiles/31687.stm|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160415014748/http://news.bbc.co.uk/democracylive/hi/representatives/profiles/31687.stm|archive-date=15 April 2016|access-date=1 May 2011|work=bbc.co.uk}}

{{s-ttl|title=Member of Parliament
for the Forest of Dean|years=2005–2024}}

{{s-ttl|title=Shadow Minister for Forces Families and Welfare|years=2005–2007}}