My name is Mark Fletcher and I’m incredibly proud to be the MP for Bolsover, an area I now call home. I’m not from here originally, I grew up in Doncaster, a similar former mining area which feels unloved and left behind. I had a difficult life growing up, my mum died tragically while I was young, and I know what it’s like to feel ignored while the rest of the world moves forward without you. This is why I got into politics, I wanted to make a real difference and make sure opportunity is spread to everyone no matter where you grew up or what has happened to you in your past.
Bolsover is an amazing place, since coming here I have been blown away by the character of the different towns and villages across the constituency. My grandfather was a miner and my mum worked for British Coal, so I understand the unique challenges that the pits closing has left for us. It is my firm belief that with the right support and the right ambition we can bring industry and quality jobs back to Bolsover.
Coming from a state school background, I was the first member of my family to go to university and I had the opportunity to attend Cambridge and then on go to work in Westminster. As the Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy to Uganda and Rwanda, I spent years promoting Britain’s international trade and development in other countries. I then moved into a role working on innovation in the healthcare sector therefore I know the great challenges that face the NHS and I understand the need for creative thinking to meet them.
I am passionate about regenerating our area and fundamental to this is education. With education comes new ideas, ventures, business, jobs, and investment. I am a Governor at two schools in the constituency and I am always working to improve outcomes and raise aspirations in our borough.
Bolsover is a genuinely beautiful piece of this country and I’m passionate about showing the rest of the world what we have to offer. Our constituency has three distinct tourist attractions; Hardwick Hall, Bolsover Castle, and Creswell Crags. I want to create a more joined-up approach to these destinations by linking this to our cycle network, so that our area can benefit from cycle and short-stay tourism.
I believe in a compassionate politics driven by my working-class British values. In 2016, I voted to leave the European Union as power needs to be accountable to the people and not held by unelected bureaucrats. In Parliament I am a member of a number of All-Party Parliamentary Groups (APPGs) which have allowed detailed discussion on a number of issues such as Domestic Abuse, our Regional Economy, and my own personal passion: British wrestling.