Mark Wright (British politician)
{{Short description|English politician (b.1974)}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2024}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name = Mark Wright
| honorific-suffix =
|image = Markwright1.jpg
|caption =
|office = Executive Councillor responsible for Housing, Service Improvement and IT for Bristol City Council
|leader =
|term_start = 2009
|term_end = 2011
|predecessor =
|successor =
|office1 = Councillor for Hotwells and Harbourside
|leader1 =
|predecessor1 = Ward established
|successor1 = Alex Hartley
|term_start1 = 2016
|term_end1 = 9 May 2021
|office2 = Councillor for Cabot
|leader2 =
|predecessor2 =
|successor2 = Ward abolished
|term_start2 = 2005
|term_end2 = 2016
|office3 =
|term_start3 =
|term_end3 =
|predecessor3 =
|successor3 =
|majority3 =
|birth_name =
|birth_date = 1974
|birth_place =
|death_date =
|death_place =
|party = Liberal Democrats
|alma_mater = University of Bristol
|spouse =
|website =
}}
Mark Wright is a Liberal Democrat politician from Bristol, United Kingdom. He was the councillor for Cabot ward from 2005 until the ward's abolition in 2016.[https://www.bristol.gov.uk/councillorfinder/?Task=name&CouncillorId=81 Bristol City Council: Councillor Details] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130403144851/https://www.bristol.gov.uk/councillorfinder/?Task=name&CouncillorId=81 |date=3 April 2013 }} He then was elected for the new successor ward of Hotwells and Harbourside in 2016. Between 2009 and 2011 he was Executive Councillor responsible for Housing, Service Improvement and IT on Bristol City Council in Bristol, England.{{Cite web |url=http://evening-post.vlex.co.uk/vid/fliers-ripe-interviews-democrat-onions-213284887 |title=Bristol Evening Post: Mr Wright who can do no wrong |access-date=2 June 2014 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140602201735/http://evening-post.vlex.co.uk/vid/fliers-ripe-interviews-democrat-onions-213284887 |archive-date=2 June 2014 |url-status=dead }}
Background
Mark Wright was born in Bristol in 1974, went to schools in Bristol and has a degree in chemistry from University of Bristol. He also completed a PhD in astrophysics at Bristol University, with a thesis on "interstellar hydroxyl masers" that won the Royal Astronomical Society's prize for "Best PhD in the UK" in 2002.[https://ras.ac.uk/sites/default/files/thesis_prize_winners.pdf Royal Astronomical Society thesis prize winners]
Politics
In his role on the council executive, Wright was responsible for nearly 30,000 council houses in the city that house over 60,000 residents,[http://www.bristol.gov.uk/ccm/navigation/council-and-democracy/council-budgets-and-spending/council-budgets/ Bristol City Council: Budget 2009–2010] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090604224154/http://www.bristol.gov.uk/ccm/navigation/council-and-democracy/council-budgets-and-spending/council-budgets/ |date=4 June 2009 }} the first council house building program in Bristol for nearly 30 years.{{Cite web |url=http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/homepage/Bristol-build-council-houses-30-years/article-1327168-detail/article.html |title=This is Bristol: Bristol to build first council houses in 30 years |access-date=25 November 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090916012933/http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/homepage/Bristol-build-council-houses-30-years/article-1327168-detail/article.html |archive-date=16 September 2009 |url-status=dead }}[http://www.theinformationdaily.com/2010/01/13/bristol-city-council-gets-permission-to-build-more-council-houses eGov Monitor: Council wins another £2.3m to finance more new homes] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160129154027/http://www.theinformationdaily.com/2010/01/13/bristol-city-council-gets-permission-to-build-more-council-houses |date=29 January 2016 }}[http://www.bristol247.com/2010/02/04/landlords-have-social-responsibility-to-fill-empty-homes/ Bristol 24/7: Landlords have "Social responsibility" to fill empty homes] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100206055045/http://www.bristol247.com/2010/02/04/landlords-have-social-responsibility-to-fill-empty-homes/ |date=6 February 2010 }} Under his IT remit he tightened the council's rules on RIPA authorisations to limit council "snooping" on residents.[https://archive.today/20140602203936/http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/Bristol-housing-chief-won-t-snoop/story-11262474-detail/story.html This is Bristol: Bristol housing chief – we won't snoop on you][https://archive.today/20130127064642/http://www.jackbristol.com/newscentre/bristols-news/snooping-powers-only-last-resort-in-bristol-3718 Jack FM: Snooping Powers Only "Last Resort" in Bristol][http://www.publicsectorexecutive.com/Workforce-pensions-and-training/bristol-city-council-takes-action-to-safeguard-privacy Bristol City Council: Council takes action to safeguard privacy] He was also chairman of one of the City Council's planning committees from 2007 to 2009.
He was a member of the South West Provisional Council[http://www.swcouncils.gov.uk/nqcontent.cfm?a_id=2825&tt=swra South West Provincial Council Members] and sat on the "West of England Partnership" Planning and Housing Board.[http://www.westofengland.org/media/152689/members%20of%20the%20phcb.pdf West of England Partnership Planning and Housing Board]{{dead link|date=June 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} He was a Governor of St George's Primary School, which he helped save from closure in 2008.{{Cite web |url=http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/news/Bristol-primaries-axed-survives/article-645546-detail/article.html |title=This is Bristol: Two Bristol primaries axed – but one survives |access-date=29 November 2009 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120912035139/http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/news/Bristol-primaries-axed-survives/article-645546-detail/article.html |archive-date=12 September 2012 |url-status=dead }}
He has a record of opposing ID cards,[https://www.theguardian.com/society/2005/nov/23/localgovernment.politics The Guardian: Council votes to oppose ID cards]{{Cite web |url=http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/news/Bristol-schools-letting-ID-cards-door/article-632970-detail/article.html |title=This is Bristol: 'Bristol schools letting in ID cards by the back door' |access-date=5 November 2009 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130505071911/http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/news/Bristol-schools-letting-ID-cards-door/article-632970-detail/article.html |archive-date=5 May 2013 |url-status=dead }} supporting tidal power in the Severn Estuary{{Cite web |url=http://www.thisissomerset.co.uk/news/Lib-Dems-oppose-barrage-Bristol-Channel/article-1354499-detail/article.html |title=This is Somerset: Lib Dems oppose barrage across Bristol Channel |access-date=25 November 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091009212328/http://www.thisissomerset.co.uk/news/Lib-Dems-oppose-barrage-Bristol-Channel/article-1354499-detail/article.html |archive-date=9 October 2009 |url-status=dead }} and supporting civil liberties,[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-26609949 The BBC: Bristol plans to restrict outdoor play in parks withdrawn][https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/mar/18/bristol-plans-ban-tree-climbing-skateboarding-parks The Guardian: Bristol plans ban for tree-climbing, skateboarding and 'annoying' football] and campaigning for reform of Parliamentary expenses.{{Cite web |url=http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/news/Bristol-MP-backs-calls-change-politicians-expenses/article-896239-detail/article.html |title=This is Bristol: Would-be Bristol MP backs calls to change politicians' expenses |access-date=5 November 2009 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130505162755/http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/news/Bristol-MP-backs-calls-change-politicians-expenses/article-896239-detail/article.html |archive-date=5 May 2013 |url-status=dead }} He has also campaigned against nuclear power[http://www.originalbristol.com/newscentre/bristol-news/bristolians-should-have-say-on-nuclear-plans-3585 Original 106.5: Bristolians "Should Have Say" On Nuclear Plans]{{Failed verification|date=March 2010}}[http://www.bristol247.com/2009/12/22/call-for-city-to-oppose-new-nuclear-power-plants/ Bristol 24/7: Call for city to oppose new nuclear power plants] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091227164542/http://www.bristol247.com/2009/12/22/call-for-city-to-oppose-new-nuclear-power-plants/ |date=27 December 2009 }} and against light pollution.[http://www.bristol.gov.uk/ccm/content/press-releases/2009/oct/help-us-reduce-unnecessary-floodlighting-says-council-housing-chief.en Bristol City Council: Help us reduce unnecessary floodlighting says council housing chief] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091202103654/http://www.bristol.gov.uk/ccm/content/press-releases/2009/oct/help-us-reduce-unnecessary-floodlighting-says-council-housing-chief.en |date=2 December 2009 }}[http://www.build.co.uk/construction_news.asp?newsid=101492 Build.co.uk: Reduce Floodlighting, Says Housing Chief]
In 2006 he helped save a popular piece of graffiti by local artist Banksy; an online petition he started collected over 3,500 signatures.[http://www.bristol.indymedia.org.uk/article/25445 Bristol Indymedia: Help protect Banksy's Park St mural, again!] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110911061723/http://www.bristol.indymedia.org.uk/article/25445# |date=11 September 2011 }}{{Dubious|date=March 2010}}
He was the Liberal Democrat candidate for Bristol South constituency at the 2010 General Election and again for the 2015 General Election.[https://archive.today/20140506114341/http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/Tories-grip-power/story-11282980-detail/story.html Bristol Post]
=Open Standards advocacy=
Wright has been a proponent of open source,[https://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/09/22/bristol_city_open_source_microsoft_mix/ The Register: Bristol Council mulls mixed FOSS, Microsoft upgrade] open document formats, and open data in UK local government.{{Cite web |url=http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/news/money-s-going-understand/article-2720099-detail/article.html |title=BEP Find out where your money's going |access-date=13 May 2011 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130505062730/http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/news/money-s-going-understand/article-2720099-detail/article.html |archive-date=5 May 2013 |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web |url=http://www.bristol247.com/2011/01/13/wikipedia-founder-in-bristol-to-celebrate-10th-anniversary/ |title=Bristol 24/7: Wikipedia founder in Bristol to celebrate 10th anniversary |access-date=13 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120327135826/http://www.bristol247.com/2011/01/13/wikipedia-founder-in-bristol-to-celebrate-10th-anniversary/ |archive-date=27 March 2012 |url-status=dead }}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.bristol.gov.uk/ Bristol City Council]
- [http://www.bristollibdems.org/ Bristol Liberal Democrats]
- [http://www.markwright.info/ Personal web page]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wright, Mark}}
Category:Liberal Democrats (UK) councillors