Mark Reckless

Born in London, Reckless is a grandson of Henry McDevitt, who served as a Fianna Fáil TD for Donegal East in Dáil Éireann, the Irish parliament, from 1938 until 1943.{{Cite web |last=Reckless |first=Mark |date=2010-12-05 |title=Over a third of Irish want to leave the Euro for Pound |url=http://markreckless.com/2010/12/05/over-a-third-of-irish-want-to-leave-euro-for-pound/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101208225058/http://markreckless.com/2010/12/05/over-a-third-of-irish-want-to-leave-euro-for-pound |archive-date=2010-12-08 |website=markreckless.com}} His mother emigrated to the UK when she was 17 to train as a nurse; however, Reckless has said that he does not see his mother as an "immigrant" and stated "I don't consider myself to have an immigrant background".{{Cite news |last=Audley |first=Fiona |date=2014-11-20 |title=UKIP's Mark Reckless on the party's Irish policy |url=http://www.irishpost.co.uk/news/ukips-mark-reckless-on-the-partys-irish-policy |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141124095601/http://www.irishpost.co.uk/news/ukips-mark-reckless-on-the-partys-irish-policy |archive-date=2014-11-24 |work=Irish Post}}

Reckless was educated at Marlborough College before attending Christ Church, Oxford,{{cite news |title=John Evelyn: Barking |work=Cherwell |volume=199 |issue=1 |date=11 January 1991 |page=11}} where he read philosophy, politics and economics. He then pursued postgraduate studies at Columbia Business School in the United States, receiving an MBA. At Columbia he studied alongside writer Jacob Appel, and is the subject of several thinly-veiled anecdotes in Appel's satire The Man Who Wouldn't Stand Up.Columbia Spectator, 1 October 2014 After university, he trained as a barrister at the College of Law, gaining an LLB, and was called to the Bar in 2007.

In the mid-1990s, Reckless worked for UBS Warburg.[http://conservativehome.blogs.com/platform/2008/11/mark-reckless-g.html Mark Reckless: Government borrowing is preventing private lending] ConservativeHome 28 November 2008. In the late 1990s, he worked as a strategy consultant and associate in Financial Services Group at Booz Allen Hamilton.[http://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/li/member_of_parliament.in.Brompton,%20Gillingham,%20Kent/ Mark Reckless MP] Your Local Guardian 26 September 2012. Until his election in May 2010, Reckless had been a solicitor at Herbert Smith[http://www.lawgazette.co.uk/news/solicitors-stand-mps Solicitors stand as MP] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100501135852/http://www.lawgazette.co.uk/news/solicitors-stand-mps |date=1 May 2010 }} The Law Society Gazette 29 April 2012. and had worked on legal matters that had had dealings with private investigators.[http://www.parliament.uk/documents/commons-committees/home-affairs/Home-Affairs-Committee-Formal-Minutes-12-13.pdf Home-Affairs-Committee-Formal-Minutes] Tuesday 15 May 2012 He was a member of the Kent Police Authority from 2007 to 2011.

He married Catriona Brown at Westminster Cathedral on 1 October 2011; the reception was held in the Palace of Westminster.{{Cite news |last=Nolan |first=Jaye |date=2011-10-03 |title=Rochester and Strood MP Mark Reckless weds Catriona Brown at Westminster Cathedral |url=http://www.rochesterpeople.co.uk/Rochester-Strood-MP-Mark-Reckless-weds-Catriona/story-13463227-detail/story.html |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130505053514/http://www.rochesterpeople.co.uk/Rochester-Strood-MP-Mark-Reckless-weds-Catriona/story-13463227-detail/story.html |archive-date=2013-05-05 |work=Rochester People}} His best man was Daniel Hannan MEP.{{Cite news |last=Boyle |first=Danny |date=2011-10-03 |title=MP ties knot at Westminster Cathedral |url=http://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/mp-ties-knot-at-westminster-cath-a71228 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141111113100/http://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/mp-ties-knot-at-westminster-cath-a71228 |archive-date=2014-11-11 |work=KentOnline}} Reckless had been the best man at Hannan's wedding.{{Cite news |last=Hannan |first=Daniel |author-link=Daniel Hannan |date=2008-07-28 |title=Mark Reckless: The best kind of MP |url=http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/danielhannan/4734027/Mark_Reckless_the_best_kind_of_MP/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090722170935/http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/danielhannan/4734027/Mark_Reckless_the_best_kind_of_MP/ |archive-date=2009-07-22 |work=The Daily Telegraph}} In May 2015 Catriona Brown-Reckless was elected as a UKIP Councillor for Strood South in Medway. She resigned in September 2016.{{cite news |last1=Hunter |first1=Chris |title=Strood South Cllr Catriona Brown-Reckless resigns |url=https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/strood-south-councillor-resigns-102022/ |access-date=21 August 2023 |publisher=Kent Online}} In May 2022 she was elected as a Welsh Conservative Councillor for the ward of Pentyrch and St Fagans in Cardiff.{{cite news |last1=Shipton |first1=Martin |title=Former Brexit Party Leader in Wales advocates for social insurance system to pay for health care |url=https://nation.cymru/opinion/former-brexit-party-leader-in-wales-advocates-for-social-insurance-system-to-pay-for-health-care/ |access-date=21 August 2023}}

At the 2001 UK General Election, Reckless ran as the Conservative Party candidate for the Medway constituency, coming second.{{Cite news |title=VOTE 2001 - Medway |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/vote2001/results_constituencies/constituencies/398.stm |access-date=2024-11-12 |work=BBC News}} During the campaign he caused controversy by handing out a leaflet which claimed incumbent Labour MP Bob Marshall-Andrews "had a target" to admit 10,000 refugees per week.{{Cite news |last=Bremner |first=Charles |date=2001-04-09 |title='England for the English' |url=https://advance.lexis.com/api/permalink/dbcb2997-d2aa-4ca1-b7a7-b1579201754c/?context=1519360&federationidp=M9JDTX59593 |url-access=subscription |work=The Times (UK) |via=Nexis}}{{Cite news |last=Sylvester |first=Rachel |date=2001-03-29 |title=Anger over Tory's refugee claim |url=https://advance.lexis.com/api/permalink/0f5c338f-3329-493b-9c3b-281900ed9313/?context=1519360&federationidp=M9JDTX59593 |url-access=subscription |access-date=2024-11-12 |work=The Daily Telegraph |via=Nexis}} Andrews responded saying he was quoted out of context in relation to assisting people fleeing genocide during the Kosovo War.

Between 2002 and 2014, Reckless was a member of the policy unit at Conservative Central Office where he wrote a book on deregulation policy{{Cite book |last=Reckless |first=Mark |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xskoAAAACAAJ |title=The Drivers of Regulation |date=2004 |publisher=Conservative Policy Unit |isbn=978-0-9544917-7-2 |language=en}} as well as overseeing the development of the policy on directly elected police commissioners.{{Cite news |last=Reckless |first=Mark |date=2012-05-27 |title=Mark Reckless MP: Police and Crime Commissioners are one of the great reforms of this Conservative-led government |url=http://conservativehome.blogs.com/platform/2012/05/from-markreckless-mp-police-and-crime-commissioners-are-one-of-the-great-reforms-of-this-conservativ.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240505193731/https://conservativehome.com/2012/05/27/from-markreckless-mp-police-and-crime-commissioners-are-one-of-the-great-reforms-of-this-conservativ/ |archive-date=2024-05-05 |work=ConservativeHome}} The first police and crime commissioner elections took place on 15 November 2012.

In 2002, he was selected again to contest the Medway constituency at the 2005 UK general election.{{Cite news |date=2002-09-16 |title=A select few |url=https://advance.lexis.com/api/permalink/bbf44e3f-86d9-42c0-a089-2101dad9766a/?context=1519360&federationidp=M9JDTX59593 |url-access=subscription |access-date=2024-11-12 |work=The Guardian |pages=3 |via=Nexis}} He again came second in the seat, although his opponent Bob Marshall Andrews' majority was reduced significantly, from 3,750 to 213.{{Cite news |date=2005-05-06 |title='Beaten' Labour MP keeps his seat |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/vote_2005/england/4520257.stm |access-date=2024-11-12 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}

Reckless served as a Medway councillor between 2007 and 2011.{{Cite web |date=2024-02-20 |title=Councillor details – Councillor Mark Reckless |url=https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=141&nobdr=2 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141015173932/http://democracy.medway.gov.uk/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=141&nobdr=2 |archive-date=2014-10-15 |access-date=2024-02-20 |website=democracy.medway.gov.uk |language=en}}

In 2008, Reckless was selected to contest the Rochester and Strood constituency for the Conservative Party. He was successfully elected at the 2010 general election,.[https://web.archive.org/web/20100802022449/http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/59418/notices/1118281/from%3D2010-05-06%3Bto%3D2010-05-19%3Ball%3Dreturned%2Bwestminster LIST OF MEMBERS RETURNED TO SERVE IN PARLIAMENT AT THE GENERAL ELECTION 2010]. The London Gazette, 13 May 2010 The UK Independence Party did not run a candidate of their own in Rochester and Strood in 2010, instead endorsing Reckless, and deploying their leader, Malcolm Pearson to campaign for him.{{cite book |editor-last=Hurst |editor-first=Greg |title=The Times Guide to the House of Commons 2010 |date=2010 |publisher=Times Books |location=London |isbn=978-0-00-735158-9 |page=245}}{{Cite news |last=Woodhouse |first=Craig |date=2010-04-27 |title=UKIP leader to join Euroscpetic rivals on campaign trail |url=https://advance.lexis.com/api/permalink/76857e9c-3eb9-4f3f-a782-c34aebd178d3/?context=1519360&federationidp=M9JDTX59593 |url-access=subscription |access-date=2024-11-12 |work=Press Association |via=Nexis}}

Reckless was elected to the Home Affairs Select Committee in 2010.{{Cite web |title=Home Affairs Select Committee - membership |url=http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/home-affairs-committee/membership/ |url-status=deviated |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100904080046/http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/home-affairs-committee/membership/ |archive-date=2010-09-04 |website=parliament.uk}} In this capacity he often appeared on Newsnight and other political programmes, arguing for the deportation of clerics Abu Hamza{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mk8zW1iUCrI |title=Mark Reckless MP welcomes Abu Hamza deportation - BBC Newsnight Recording |date=2012-10-06 |last=Reckless |first=Mark |type=Television production |access-date=2024-11-12 |via=YouTube}} and Abu Qatada.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCY-r6IXUWA |title=Mark Reckless: Deport Abu Qatada now! - Recording of BBC Newsnight |date=2012-04-20 |last=Mark Reckless |access-date=2024-11-12 |via=YouTube}} He was one of parliament's most rebellious MPs and was the 13th-most rebellious Conservative MP between 2010 and 2014, casting 56 votes against the whip.{{Cite web |date=2011-12-30 |title=Order, order! Why the newest Tories are a major headache for Cameron |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/order-order-why-the-newest-tories-are-a-major-headache-for-cameron-6282999.html |access-date=2024-02-20 |website=The Independent |language=en}}{{cite web |url=http://revolts.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Four-year-itch_cover_full.pdf |title=The Four Year Itch |page=49 |last1=Cowley |first1=Philip |last2=Stuart |first2=Mark |publisher=University of Nottingham |access-date=1 October 2014 |archive-date=29 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200929152326/http://revolts.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Four-year-itch_cover_full.pdf |url-status=dead }} He was one of only six Conservative MPs to vote against increase of university tuition fees,{{Cite news |last=Pickard |first=Jim |date=2010-12-09 |title=The Tories and Lib Dems who rebelled over tuition fees. |url=http://blogs.ft.com/westminster/2010/12/the-tories-who-rebelled-over-tuition-fees/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101215155827/http://blogs.ft.com/westminster/2010/12/the-tories-who-rebelled-over-tuition-fees/ |archive-date=2010-12-15 |work=Financial Times}}{{Cite web |title=The Public Whip — University Tuition Fee Cap — Raise Upper Limit to £9,000 Per Year - 9 Dec 2010 at 17:12 |url=https://www.publicwhip.org.uk/division.php?date=2010-12-09&number=150&mpn=Mark_Reckless&mpc=Rochester_and_Strood&house=commons |access-date=2024-11-12 |website=www.publicwhip.org.uk}} and was a critic of the government's energy policy, arguing that the government's Energy Bill introduced in December 2012 was "a sad retreat for Conservatives".{{Cite news |last=Reckless |first=Mark |date=2012-12-19 |title=Mark Reckless MP: The Energy Bill is a sad retreat for Conservatives |url=http://conservativehome.blogs.com/platform/2012/12/mark-reckless-mp-the-energy-bill-is-a-sad-retreat-for-conservatives.html |work=ConservativeHome}}

In July 2010, Reckless apologised for missing a vote on the budget because he was drunk. He said that he "did not feel it was appropriate to take part in the vote because of the amount he had drunk".{{Cite news |date=2010-07-11 |title=Mark Reckless MP sorry for being 'too drunk to vote' |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/10590725 |access-date=2024-02-20 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}} In 2011, he abstained on the military intervention in Libya.{{Cite news|date=2011-03-22|title=The full list of how MPs voted on Libya action|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-12816279|access-date=2021-10-20}}

A Eurosceptic,{{cite news |first=Patrick |last=Wintour |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2011/oct/30/conservative-eurosceptics-turn-fire-uk-negotiator |title=Conservative Eurosceptics turn fire on UK negotiator |newspaper=The Guardian |date=30 October 2011 |access-date=28 February 2014}} Reckless is also a critic of the European Court of Human Rights, saying it erodes "British freedom and democracy".{{Cite web |last=Beckford |first=Martin |date=2012-06-21 |title=European Court of Human Rights 'gets out begging bowl' |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/9347478/European-Court-of-Human-Rights-gets-out-begging-bowl.html |access-date=2024-02-20 |website=The Telegraph |language=en}}

He was chair of the all-party parliamentary group on Georgia.{{Cite web |date=2012-12-20 |title=Register Of All-Party Groups - Georgia |url=http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmallparty/register/georgia.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130205091834/http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmallparty/register/georgia.htm |archive-date=2013-02-05 |website=publications.parliament.uk}} The group's aims are "to facilitate greater parliamentary awareness of developments in Georgia".

On 30 September 2014, Reckless applied for the Stewardship of the Chiltern Hundreds and therefore ceased to be an MP. A by-election was called on 20 November, at which Reckless was nominated to stand as the UKIP candidate. He was returned as a member of parliament for UKIP, becoming the party's second elected MP.

On 31 October 2012, Reckless led a rebellion of 53 Conservative MPs which inflicted the first House of Commons defeat (307 votes to 294) on the coalition government.{{Cite news |last1=Watt |first1=Nicholas |last2= |first2= |date=2012-10-31 |title=David Cameron suffers Commons defeat on EU budget |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2012/oct/31/cameron-commons-defeat-eu-budget |access-date=2024-02-20 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}} The Tory rebels voted with Labour MPs to pass an amendment calling for a real-terms cut in the 2014–2020 EU budget multi-annual financial framework. The coalition government supported only a real-terms freeze in the EU budget as a minimum. The amendment was not binding on the government, but damaged prime minister David Cameron's authority on Europe before key EU budget negotiations in November 2012.{{cite news |last=Watt |first=Nicholas |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2012/oct/31/cameron-commons-defeat-eu-budget |title=David Cameron suffers Commons defeat on EU budget |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |date=31 October 2012 |access-date=28 February 2014}}

{{See also|2014 Rochester and Strood by-election}}

On 27 September 2014, Reckless defected to the UK Independence Party at its party conference in Doncaster, and announced his resignation in order to seek re-election at a by-election.{{cite news|date=27 September 2014|title=Mark Reckless defects to UKIP from Tories|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-29394697|access-date=27 September 2014}} He became the second Conservative MP in the space of a month to defect to UKIP, the first being his close friend Douglas Carswell. In a speech delivered to the conference, Reckless claimed that the Conservative leadership was 'not serious about real change on Europe', and that 'Britain could be better'.

Although he won the by-election on 20 November 2014 as a UKIP candidate, in the 2015 general election Reckless lost his seat to the Conservative candidate, Kelly Tolhurst.

In June 2015, Reckless was made Director of Policy Development by UKIP.

In March 2016, Reckless was announced as UKIP's lead candidate for the regional seat of South Wales East despite having no previous links to Wales.{{cite news |title=Mark Reckless's political journey from UKIP back to Tory fold |url=http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-politics-41097375 |access-date=9 January 2021 |publisher=BBC News |date=17 September 2017}} He was elected on 5 May 2016.

On 6 April 2017, Reckless left UKIP to join the Conservative Group; however, he did not rejoin the Conservative Party. This move made the Conservative group the second-largest in the Welsh Assembly. Upon leaving, he said, "I leave UKIP positively, having achieved our joint aim, a successful referendum to leave the EU".{{cite news|date=6 April 2017|title=New Ukip turmoil as Conservative defector Mark Reckless quits and rejoins Tories|work=The Daily Telegraph|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/04/06/conservative-defector-mark-reckless-quits-ukip-rejoins-tories/}}{{cite web |last=Servini |first=Nick |title=UKIP's Mark Reckless to join Conservatives in assembly |website=BBC News |date=6 April 2017 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-39513743 |access-date=6 April 2017}}{{cite web |title=Mark Reckless quits Ukip to rejoin Conservatives |website=ITV News |date=6 April 2017 |url=http://www.itv.com/news/2017-04-06/tory-defector-mark-reckless-quits-ukip-to-join-conservatives/ |access-date=6 April 2017}}{{cite tweet |user=MarkReckless |number=849956389279739904 |date=6 April 2017 |title=Job done: Why I am joining the Conservative Group in the Welsh Assembly |author=Reckless, Mark |access-date=6 April 2017}}{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/04/06/conservative-defector-mark-reckless-quits-ukip-rejoins-tories/ |title=New Ukip turmoil as Conservative defector Mark Reckless quits and rejoins Tories |work=The Daily Telegraph}}

On 14 April 2019, Reckless left the Conservative Group over the party's failure to deliver Brexit. He then sat as an independent member{{cite news |title=Reckless leaves Tories in Cardiff Bay |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-48267050 |access-date=14 May 2019 |agency=BBC News |publisher=BBC News |date=14 May 2019}} before joining the Brexit Party the following month.

On 15 May 2019, Reckless stated his intention to form a new Brexit Party political group in the Senedd, along with Caroline Jones, Mandy Jones, and David Rowlands, with himself as the leader of the group. In July 2020, he attracted criticism from pro-devolution Brexit Party volunteers when he stated that he would support the campaign to abolish the Senedd.{{cite web|url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/politics/mutiny-brexit-party-volunteers-after-18588941|title=Mutiny by Brexit Party volunteers after leader Mark Reckless says he wants to abolish the Senedd|author=Robert Harries|date=13 July 2020|website=WalesOnline|access-date=15 July 2020}} He then left the party and joined the Abolish the Welsh Assembly Party.{{Cite web|last=Grimes|first=Darren|date=20 October 2020|title=Mark Reckless: From Brexit To Abolish The Welsh Assembly Party|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5OdCIHRuk6M&ab_channel=Reasoned |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211215/5OdCIHRuk6M |archive-date=2021-12-15 |url-status=live|website=Reasoned|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}} He said, since Brexit had been effectively achieved, the work of the Brexit Party was complete.{{Cite news|date=2020-10-19|title=Mark Reckless quits Brexit Party to joins Senedd abolition party|language=en-gb|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-politics-54598135|access-date=2020-11-02}} Two weeks later, the Brexit Party was rebranded as Reform UK.{{Cite web|date=2020-11-02|title=Reform UK: Brexit party to rebrand as anti-lockdown voice|url=http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/nov/02/reform-uk-brexit-party-to-rebrand-as-anti-lockdown-voice|access-date=2020-11-02|website=the Guardian|language=en}}

Reckless was the Abolish candidate for Monmouth at the 2021 Senedd election, taking 1,173 votes (3.3%).{{cite web|title = Election results for Monmouth, 6 May 2021|url = https://business.senedd.wales/mgElectionAreaResults.aspx?ID=325|website = Senedd Cymru|access-date = 1 February 2025}}{{cite news|title = Monmouth - Welsh Parliament constituency - BBC News|url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election/2021/wales/constituencies/W09000034|work = BBC News|access-date = 1 February 2025}}He notably came behind the Conservative-turned-independent MS Nick Ramsay, who was also unsuccessful in his re-election bid.{{cite news|title = Senedd election 2021 result for Monmouth: Conservatives hold seat|url = https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/politics/senedd-election-2021-monmouth-candidates-20530997|work = Wales Online|date = 7 May 2021|access-date = 1 February 2025}} Additionally, Reckless was the lead Abolish candidate in South Wales East, with the party receiving 9,995 list votes (4.8%), and no seats.{{cite web|title = Election results for South Wales East, 6 May 2021|url = https://business.senedd.wales/mgElectionAreaResults.aspx?ID=352|website = Senedd Cymru|access-date = 1 February 2025}}{{cite news|title = Senedd election 2021 result in South Wales East region|url = https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/politics/south-wales-east-senedd-election-20532475|work = Wales Online|date = 8 May 2021|access-date = 1 February 2025}}

In November 2024, Reckless appeared at Reform UK's Wales conference as a speaker and member of the party. He was later confirmed by Caroline Jones, also of Reform Wales, to be working on Reform's policies for Wales at the 2026 election.{{Cite news |last=Deans |first=David |date=2025-05-06 |title=Senedd election could be seismic, expert says |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c8ep2pgd9kko |access-date=2025-05-09 |work=BBC News}}

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}}

• 2016 Welsh Assembly Election, South Wales East

Rochester and Strood, 2015

{{Election box begin|title=General election 2015: Rochester and Strood{{cite web|url=http://ukpollingreport.co.uk/2015guide/rochesterandstrood/|title=UK Polling Report}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Kelly Tolhurst

|votes = 23,142

|percentage = 44.1

|change = -5.1

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = UK Independence Party

|candidate = Mark Reckless

|votes = 16,009

|percentage = 30.5

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Labour Party (UK)

|candidate = Naushabah Khan

|votes = 10,396

|percentage = 19.8

|change = -8.7

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Green Party of England and Wales

|candidate = Clive Gregory

|votes = 1,516

|percentage = 2.9

|change = +1.4

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Liberal Democrats (UK)

|candidate = Prue Bray

|votes = 1,251

|percentage = 2.4

|change = -13.9

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition

|candidate = Dan Burn

|votes = 202

|percentage = 0.4

|change = +0.4

}}

{{Election box majority

|votes = 7,133

|percentage = 13.6

|change =

}}

{{Election box turnout

|votes = 52,516

|percentage = 66.5

|change =

}}

{{Election box gain with party link

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

|loser = UK Independence Party

|swing = -17.8

}}

{{Election box end}}

;Rochester and Strood 2014

See 2014 Rochester and Strood by-election

{{Election box begin|title=Rochester and Strood by-election, 20 November 2014{{cite web |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/ukip/11244748/Mark-Reckless-of-Ukip-wins-Rochester-by-election-with-2900-majority.html |title=Mark Reckless wins Rochester by-election for Ukip with 2,900 majority |date=21 November 2014 |work=The Daily Telegraph |access-date=21 November 2014}}{{cite news |title=UKIP's Reckless wins Rochester seat |work=BBC News |date=21 November 2014 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-30140747 |access-date=21 November 2014}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

|party = UK Independence Party

|candidate = Mark Reckless

|votes = 16,867

|percentage = 42.1

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Kelly Tolhurst

|votes = 13,947

|percentage = 34.8

|change = -14.4

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Labour Party (UK)

|candidate = Naushabah Khan

|votes = 6,713

|percentage = 16.8

|change = -11.7

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Green Party of England and Wales

|candidate = Clive Gregory

|votes = 1,692

|percentage = 4.2

|change = +2.7

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Liberal Democrats (UK)

|candidate = Geoff Juby

|votes = 349

|percentage = 0.9

|change = -15.5

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Official Monster Raving Loony Party

|candidate = Hairy Knorm Davidson

|votes = 151

|percentage = 0.4

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Independent politician

|candidate = Stephen Goldsborough

|votes = 69

|percentage = 0.2

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Lewisham People Before Profit

|candidate = Nick Long

|votes = 69

|percentage = 0.2

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Britain First

|candidate = Jayda Fransen

|votes = 56

|percentage = 0.1

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Independent politician

|candidate = Mike Barker

|votes = 54

|percentage = 0.1

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Independent politician

|candidate = Charlotte Rose

|votes = 43

|percentage = 0.1

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box candidate

|party = Patriotic Socialist Party

|candidate = Dave Osborn

|votes = 33

|percentage = 0.1

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Independent politician

|candidate = Christopher Challis

|votes = 22

|percentage = 0.1

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box majority

|votes = 2,920

|percentage = 7.3

|change =

}}

{{Election box turnout

|votes = 40,065

|percentage = 50.6

|change = -14.3

}}

{{Election box gain with party link

|winner = UK Independence Party

|loser = Conservative Party (UK)

|swing = 28.3%

}}

{{Election box end}}

;Rochester and Strood 2010

The Rochester and Strood seat was fought for the first time at the 2010 general election.

Following its boundary review of parliamentary representation in Kent, the Boundary Commission for England renamed the Medway (UK Parliament constituency) seat to Rochester and Strood. This is because the commission agreed that the term Medway is now primarily used for the larger unitary authority.{{cite book |title=Fifth Periodical Report, Volume I: Report, Cm 7032-i |year=2007 |publisher=The Stationery Office |location=London |isbn=978-0-10-170322-2 |page=347 |url=http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/cm70/7032/7032.pdf |access-date=13 April 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726095050/http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/cm70/7032/7032.pdf |archive-date=26 July 2011 }}

{{Election box begin | title=General election 2010: Rochester and Strood{{cite news |title=Rochester & Strood |newspaper=BBC News |date=7 May 2010 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/election2010/results/constituency/d72.stm}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Mark Reckless

|votes = 23,604

|percentage = 49.2

|change = +6.6

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Labour Party (UK)

|candidate = Teresa Murray

|votes = 13,651

|percentage = 28.5

|change = −13.1

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Liberal Democrats (UK)

|candidate = Geoff Juby

|votes = 7,800

|percentage = 16.3

|change = +3.9

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = English Democrats Party

|candidate = Ron Sands

|votes = 2,182

|percentage = 4.5

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Green Party of England and Wales

|candidate = Simon Marchant

|votes = 734

|percentage = 1.5

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box majority

|votes = 9,953

|percentage = 20.7

|change =

}}

{{Election box turnout

|votes = 47,971

|percentage = 64.9

|change = +2.5

}}

{{Election box gain with party link

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

|loser = Labour Party (UK)

|swing = +9.8

}}

{{Election box end}}

;Medway 2005

{{Election box begin|title=General election 2005: Medway{{cite web | title=UK General Election results May 2005 | url=http://www.psr.keele.ac.uk/area/uk/ge05/i13.htm | work=Political Science Resources | publisher=University of Keele | date=11 March 2008 | access-date=13 April 2009 | archive-date=6 March 2009 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090306144830/http://www.psr.keele.ac.uk/area/uk/ge05/i13.htm | url-status=dead }}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

|party = Labour Party (UK)

|candidate = Bob Marshall-Andrews

|votes = 17,333

|percentage = 42.2

|change = -6.8

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Mark Reckless

|votes = 17,120

|percentage = 41.7

|change = +2.5

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Liberal Democrats (UK)

|candidate = Geoffrey Juby

|votes = 5,152

|percentage = 12.5

|change = +3.2

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = UK Independence Party

|candidate = Bob Oakley

|votes = 1,488

|percentage = 3.6

|change = +1.1

}}

{{Election box majority

|votes = 213

|percentage = 0.5

|change =

}}

{{Election box turnout

|votes = 41,093

|percentage = 61.1

|change = 1.6

}}

{{Election box hold with party link

|winner = Labour Party (UK)

|swing = -4.6

}}

{{Election box end}}

;Medway 2001

{{Election box begin|title=General election 2001: Medway{{cite web | title=Medway | url=http://www.psr.keele.ac.uk/area/uk/constit/397.htm | work=Political Science Resources | publisher=University of Keele | date=3 November 2008 | access-date=13 April 2009}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

|party = Labour Party (UK)

|candidate = Bob Marshall-Andrews

|votes = 18,914

|percentage = 49.0

|change = +0.1

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Mark Reckless

|votes = 15,134

|percentage = 39.2

|change = +2.3

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Liberal Democrats (UK)

|candidate = Geoffrey Juby

|votes = 3,604

|percentage = 9.3

|change = -0.8

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = UK Independence Party

|candidate = Nikki Sinclaire

|votes = 958

|percentage = 2.5

|change = +1.6

}}

{{Election box majority

|votes = 3,780

|percentage = 9.8

|change =

}}

{{Election box turnout

|votes = 38,610

|percentage = 59.5

|change = -12.8

}}

{{Election box hold with party link

|winner = Labour Party (UK)

|swing =

}}

{{Election box end}}

• List of elected British politicians who have changed party affiliation

{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

{{Commons category|Mark Reckless}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20121127083520/http://www.conservatives.com/People/Members_of_Parliament/Reckless_Mark.aspx Mark Reckless MP] Conservative Party official biog
• [https://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/mark_reckless/rochester_and_strood TheyWorkForYou] Voting Record
• [http://www.publicwhip.org.uk/mp.php?mpn=Mark_Reckless&mpc=Rochester_and_Strood&house=commons Public Whip] Voting Record
• [http://news.bbc.co.uk/democracylive/hi/representatives/profiles/31596.stm BBC Democracy Live] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130627173706/http://news.bbc.co.uk/democracylive/hi/representatives/profiles/31596.stm |date=27 June 2013 }} MP Profile
• [http://markreckless.wordpress.com] MP Website (old)
• [https://www.c-span.org/person/?9278400/MarkReckless Appearances] on C-SPAN

{{s-start}}

{{s-par|uk}}

{{s-new|constituency}}

{{ s-ttl

| title = Member of Parliament
for Rochester and Strood

| years = 2010–2015

}}

{{s-aft|after = Kelly Tolhurst}}

{{s-par|wal}}

{{s-bef | before= William Graham}}

{{s-ttl

| title=Member of the Senedd
for South Wales East

| years=2016 –2021

}}

{{s-aft|after=Natasha Asghar}}

{{s-off}}

{{succession box|title=Economics Spokesman
of the UK Independence Party|years=2015–2017|before=Patrick O'Flynn|after=Patrick O'Flynn}}

{{s-end}}

{{Welsh AMs 2016-2021}}

{{Brexit Party}}

{{UKIP}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Reckless, Mark}}

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Category:Conservative Party (UK) MPs for English constituencies

Category:People educated at Marlborough College

Category:People from Kent

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