Mark Jenkinson

After joining the Conservative Party, Jenkinson became active in local government, representing the Seaton and Northside Ward of Allerdale Borough Council, where he became deputy leader in 2019. He was also chairman of Seaton Parish Council and stood down from this role after being elected a MP.

Jenkinson was first elected to the House of Commons in the 2019 general election, defeating Shadow Environment Secretary Sue Hayman with a majority of 4,136 votes.

Jenkinson ran as the UK Independence Party candidate for Workington in 2015. He was a founding member of UKIP's West Cumbria branch but quit in 2016, citing disagreements about the party's approach to the EU referendum and concerns over internal democracy.

Following his victory, Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage congratulated Jenkinson on Twitter, writing "A personal congratulations to Mark Jenkinson. He was an excellent UKIP candidate in 2015." Jenkinson's win marked the first time since the 1970s that Workington had elected a Conservative MP. Until then, the Labour Party had won the seat in every general election since 1979. The Conservatives had only been elected once in Workington since World War 2, at a 1976 by-election.

Mark Ian Jenkinson (born 28 January 1982) is a British Conservative Party politician serving as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Workington since 2019.