Mark Oaten
Mark Oaten | |
|---|---|
| Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesman | |
| In office 12 June 2003 – 21 January 2006 | |
| Leader | Charles Kennedy |
| Preceded by | Simon Hughes |
| Succeeded by | Alistair Carmichael |
| Chair of the Liberal Democrats | |
| In office 7 June 2001 – 12 June 2003 | |
| Leader | Charles Kennedy |
| Preceded by | Malcolm Bruce |
| Succeeded by | Matthew Taylor |
| Member of Parliament for Winchester | |
| In office 1 May 1997 – 12 April 2010 | |
| Preceded by | Gerry Malone |
| Succeeded by | Steve Brine |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 8 March 1964 Watford, England |
| Political party | Liberal Democrats (1988–2018; 2019–present) |
| Other political affiliations | Social Democratic Party (before 1988) |
| Spouse | Belinda (former) |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | University of Hertfordshire |
Mark Oaten (born 8 March 1964) is a British politician who was a senior member of the Liberal Democrats. He served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Winchester from 1997 to 2010.
Born in Watford, Hertfordshire, Oaten became a councillor in local government, joining the centre-left Social Democratic Party, which merged with the Liberal Party to form the Liberal Democrats in 1988. He became the party's Home Affairs spokesman in 2003. He stood for the position of Leader of the Liberal Democrats in 2006, but withdrew from the contest. He was later hit by a series of scandals which also led to his resignation as Home Affairs spokesman. He did not seek re-election to the House of Commons at the 2010 general election.
Following his retirement from active politics, Oaten published two books, before becoming executive of the International Fur Trade Federation in 2011.