Thérèse Coffey

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The Right Honourable
Thérèse Coffey
MP
Theresa Coffey.jpg
Official portrait, 2017
Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
Assumed office
6 September 2022
Prime MinisterLiz Truss
Preceded byDominic Raab
Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
Assumed office
6 September 2022
Prime MinisterLiz Truss
Preceded bySteve Barclay
Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
In office
8 September 2019 – 6 September 2022
Prime MinisterBoris Johnson
Preceded byAmber Rudd
Succeeded byChloe Smith
Minister of State for Environment and Rural Opportunity[a]
In office
17 July 2016 – 8 September 2019
Prime MinisterTheresa May
Boris Johnson
Preceded byRory Stewart
Succeeded byRebecca Pow
Deputy Leader of the House of Commons
In office
11 May 2015 – 17 July 2016
Prime MinisterDavid Cameron
Preceded byTom Brake
Succeeded byMichael Ellis
Assistant Government Whip
In office
15 July 2014 – 8 May 2015
Prime MinisterDavid Cameron
Preceded byAmber Rudd
Succeeded bySimon Kirby
Member of Parliament
for Suffolk Coastal
Assumed office
6 May 2010
Preceded byJohn Gummer
Majority20,533 (35.2%)
Personal details
Born
Thérèse Anne Coffey

(1971-11-18) 18 November 1971 (age 50)
Billinge, Lancashire, England
Political partyConservative
EducationSomerville College, Oxford (required to leave)
University College London (BS, PhD)
Websitetheresecoffey.co.uk
Scientific career
ThesisStructural and reactivity studies of Bis(imido) complexes of molybdenum (1998)

Thérèse Anne Coffey (born 18 November 1971) is a British politician who has been Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, and Secretary of State for Health and Social Care since 6 September 2022.[1] A member of the Conservative Party, she previously served as Secretary of State for Work and Pensions from 2019 to 2022. Coffey has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for Suffolk Coastal since 2010.

Coffey served under Prime Minister Theresa May as a Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs from 2016 to 2019, before serving under Prime Minister Boris Johnson as a Minister of State at the same department from July to September 2019. After Amber Rudd resigned from Johnson's Cabinet, Coffey was appointed to the post of Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in September 2019, and after Johnson resigned in 2022, Coffey supported Liz Truss's bid to become Conservative leader. Following Truss's appointment as Prime Minister, she appointed Coffey as Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, and Deputy Prime Minister.

Early life and career

Coffey was born on 18 November 1971 in Billinge, Lancashire, and grew up in Liverpool. She attended St Mary's College, Crosby,[2][3] and St Edward's College, Liverpool.[4]

She attended Somerville College, Oxford, for a single academic year[5] where she studied chemistry and was involved with the Oxford Union, and rowing.[6][7] She was required to withdraw before starting her second year, on academic grounds.[7] She then attended University College London where she graduated, and was later awarded a PhD in chemistry in 1998. [7][8][9] After graduating Coffey worked in a number of roles for Mars, Incorporated, including as finance director for Mars Drinks UK, then worked for the BBC as a finance manager in the Property division.[10][11]

Coffey stood as Conservative Party candidate for Wrexham at the 2005 general election. She came third with 6,079 votes (20% of the vote).[12]

In the European Parliament elections in June 2004, Coffey stood for election to the European Parliament for South East England.[13] The Conservative Party won 35.2% of the vote, giving it four seats, but Coffey was seventh on the list in this proportional representation system, and was not elected.

In 2009, at the next European elections, Coffey was living in Andover, Hampshire; she missed out by one place on being elected to the European Parliament for South East England. The Conservative Party won 34.79% of the vote, giving it four seats, and placing her fifth on the party list.[14]

Parliamentary career

At the 2010 general election, Coffey was elected for Suffolk Coastal, becoming the constituency's first female MP. Coffey received 25,475 votes (46.4% of the vote), an increase of 1.8% on John Gummer's 2005 campaign.[15] She is a supporter of the Free Enterprise Group.[16]

On 6 July 2011, Coffey defended Rebekah Brooks over the News of the World's involvement in the news media phone hacking scandal. She said a "witch hunt" was developing against Brooks, and that simply to say Brooks was editor of the newspaper at the time was not enough evidence against her. Coffey became a member of the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee inquiry into the hacking scandal in 2012. In that committee, she declined to support any motions critical of Rupert and James Murdoch.[17][18] However, she later joined the majority of her party in voting for exemplary damages to be a default consequence to deter press misbehaviour.[19]

Frontbench career

Coffey was a member of the Culture, Media and Sport Committee from July 2010 to October 2012, when she was appointed Parliamentary Private Secretary to Michael Fallon, Minister for Business and Energy.[20] In July 2014, she was appointed an assistant Government whip.[21]

In 2013 she voted against the legalisation of same-sex marriage, stating: "I shall be voting against the Bill because my perspective on what marriage is really about is different from that of some other Members ... for me it is fundamentally still about family, the bedrock of society."[22] She again voted against same-sex marriage in 2019 when Parliament considered the same question for Northern Ireland.[23][24]

She was appointed Deputy Leader of the House of Commons on 11 May 2015.[25]

In the House of Commons she sat on the Environmental Audit Committee from September 2017 to November 2019.[26]

Coffey's decision to write a paper for the Free Enterprise Group recommending pensioners should pay National Insurance contributions provoked criticism among some older constituents, who claimed that in an already tough economic environment, it was wrong to tax pensioners further. Coffey said that she had "no regrets writing about National Insurance" and that it was "a policy proposal – it is by no means, at this stage, anymore than that."[27]

Coffey also faced criticism from some Suffolk residents over her support for the Government's proposal to sell off forestry and woodland in public ownership, in 2011. Protesters argued that "experience shows us that when private landowners come in they close car parks and make access as difficult as possible."[28] The proposal was later dropped by the Government.[29]

In October 2016, she was criticised by the then Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron for accepting hospitality worth £890 from Ladbrokes after supporting the gambling industry in Parliament as part of the Culture, Media and Sport Committee, and denied that she had been "influenced in her considerations on matters of related policy by any hospitality received".[30]

In July 2016, Coffey joined the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment and Rural Opportunities, under Theresa May, and when Boris Johnson became Prime Minister in July 2019, Coffey was promoted to Minister of State.

Secretary of State for Work and Pensions

Coffey with Kitack Lim in 2017

Following the resignation of Amber Rudd in September 2019, Coffey joined the Cabinet as the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions. Coffey retained her position in Johnson's February 2020 cabinet reshuffle.[31][32]

In June 2020, Coffey responded to Marcus Rashford's campaign for free school meals for children during the COVID-19 pandemic, saying: "Water cannot be disconnected though" to a tweet from Rashford urging the Government to remember Britain's poorest families, and which included the sentence: "When you wake up this morning and run your shower, take a second to think about parents who have had their water turned off during lockdown." She subsequently deleted her earlier comments and asserted her help and support for Rashford.[33][34]

In September 2021, Coffey was accused of miscalculating the amount of work a Universal Credit claimant would need to do in order to make up for the proposed end of the £20-a-week increase in benefits, brought in to assist people during the COVID-19 pandemic. Speaking to BBC Breakfast, Coffey said: "We're conscious that £20 a week is about two hours' extra work every week – we will be seeing what we can do to help people perhaps secure those extra hours, but ideally also to make sure they're also in a place to get better paid jobs, as well."[35] However, given Universal Credit's "taper rate" of 63%,[36][non-primary source needed] a Universal Credit claimant sees their credit reduced by 63p for every pound they generate from work.[needs update]

In December 2021, Coffey's staff were accused of drinking and eating takeaways during the lockdown period. A Department for Work and Pensions spokesperson denied that any rules had been broken.[37] A few weeks later, she tweeted support for the prime minister (in regards to Partygate allegations), expressing that she thought his apology to be sincere.[38]

In June 2022, Coffey noted that as a practising Catholic, she opposed abortion but did not condemn those that have an abortion.[39] She had previously tabled a motion in 2010 calling for mental health assessments for those seeking abortion, and she also voted against extending abortion rights to people in Northern Ireland.[40] Her views on abortion have been criticised by Clare Murphy, CEO of the British Pregnancy Advisory Service.[40]

Coffey continued to defend Johnson in July 2022 when he was accused of overlooking MP Chris Pincher's alleged sexual misconduct when he was appointed Deputy Chief Whip. Coffey went on record to say that Johnson was "not aware" of "specific" allegations relating to Pincher. She went on to say in several interviews that she felt Johnson had dealt with the issue decisively.[41]

Coffey was campaign manager for Liz Truss in the Parliamentary stages of the 2022 Conservative Party leadership election, and she remained in a campaign role in the members' vote stage of the election.[6]

Deputy Prime Minister and Health Secretary

Truss appointed Coffey as Deputy Prime Minister, and Health and Social Care Secretary in her new government on 6 September 2022. Her appointment made her the first woman to serve as Deputy Prime Minister.[42]

Personal life

Coffey is single,[6] and her sister Clare has worked in her parliamentary office as a secretary since 2015.[43]

Coffey is an avid football fan, supporting Liverpool Football Club. She signed an Early Day Motion in 2011 set down by Labour Liverpool Walton MP Steve Rotheram requesting a knighthood for Kenny Dalglish.[44] She enjoys gardening, karaoke, and music.[25][45]

Notes

  1. ^ As Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State from 2016 to July 2019.

References

  1. ^ "Liz Truss – live updates: Truss outlines three priorities as PM – as Raab and Shapps confirm departure". Sky News. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  2. ^ "Celebrated Alumni". St Marys College. Archived from the original on 12 January 2019. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
  3. ^ Crosby Herald 16 February 1989 Archived 25 April 2012 at the Wayback Machine from Friends of St. Mary's website
  4. ^ Anon (2011). "Coffey, Dr Therese Anne". Who's Who. ukwhoswho.com (online Oxford University Press ed.). A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc. doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.U251482. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.) (subscription required)
  5. ^ "Four Somervillian MPs appointed to new roles in Cabinet reshuffle". Somerville, University of Oxford. 20 July 2016. Archived from the original on 14 January 2021. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
  6. ^ a b c Ivers, Charlotte (20 August 2022). "Thérèse Coffey: the cigar-smoking, karaoke-singing tip for chief whip". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 20 August 2022.
  7. ^ a b c Ben, Quinn (7 September 2022). "Thérèse Coffey had to leave Oxford University – but made it to deputy PM". The Guardian. Retrieved 7 September 2022.
  8. ^ Coffey, Therese Anne (1998). Structural and reactivity studies of Bis(imido) complexes of molybdenum. jisc.ac.uk (PhD thesis). University College London (University of London). OCLC 557362689. EThOS uk.bl.ethos.286225.
  9. ^ "Biodata on Coffey". Archived from the original on 13 September 2012.
  10. ^ "Q&A Session with DR Thérèse Coffey MP". London School of Economics Student Union. Archived from the original on 10 October 2021. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
  11. ^ "Coffey, Therese". politics.co.uk. Archived from the original on 12 March 2022. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
  12. ^ "Politics section Therese Coffey: Electoral history and profile". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 3 July 2022. Retrieved 16 December 2016.
  13. ^ "2004 Election Candidates". European Parliament Liaison Office. Archived from the original on 13 August 2018. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
  14. ^ "European elections 2009: South East region". telegraph.co.uk. 26 May 2009. Archived from the original on 12 March 2022. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
  15. ^ "BBC News – Election 2010 – Constituency – Suffolk Coastal". news.bbc.co.uk. Archived from the original on 12 March 2022. Retrieved 14 January 2019.
  16. ^ "Free Enterprise Group". Archived from the original on 11 November 2011.
  17. ^ The Guardian. 2 May 2012.
  18. ^ Prodhan, Georgina (1 May 2012). "UK Conservatives tried to soften Murdoch criticism". Reuters.
  19. ^ The Public Whip Archived 14 July 2014 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 26 March 2013
  20. ^ "Dr Thérèse Coffey MP". UK Parliament. Archived from the original on 22 August 2016. Retrieved 2 July 2016.
  21. ^ "Thérèse Coffey". www.conservatives.com. Archived from the original on 25 May 2019. Retrieved 2 July 2016.
  22. ^ Hansard, Commons Debates, col 220, 5 February 2013.
  23. ^ "Therese Coffey MP, Suffolk Coastal". TheyWorkForYou. mySociety. Archived from the original on 20 December 2019. Retrieved 11 September 2019.
  24. ^ "Liz Truss given ministerial role covering equalities and women's issues". BBC News. 10 September 2019. Archived from the original on 12 March 2022. Retrieved 11 September 2019.
  25. ^ a b "Thérèse Coffey MP". GOV.UK. Archived from the original on 12 March 2022. Retrieved 2 July 2016.
  26. ^ "Dr Thérèse Coffey – Parliamentary career". UK Parliament. Archived from the original on 22 November 2021. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  27. ^ Porrit, Richard (16 July 2012). "Suffolk Coastal: MP stands by proposals to force pensioners to pay NI". East Anglian Daily Times. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 10 July 2014.
  28. ^ Robinson, Craig (12 February 2011). "Gallery: MP faces criticism at heated forest meeting". East Anglian Daily Times. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 10 July 2014.
  29. ^ "'No sell-off' for public forests". BBC News. 31 January 2013. Archived from the original on 20 July 2014. Retrieved 10 July 2014.
  30. ^ Lo, Joseph (27 October 2016). "Tory MP Criticised After Accepting Trips To Horse Racing From Ladbrokes". Buzzfeed. Archived from the original on 29 December 2017. Retrieved 28 December 2017.
  31. ^ Proctor, Kate; Mason, Rowena (12 February 2020). "Cabinet reshuffle: expected winners and losers in Johnson's new order". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 12 March 2022. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
  32. ^ "Cabinet reshuffle: Who is in Boris Johnson's new cabinet?". BBC News. 14 February 2020. Archived from the original on 25 July 2019. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
  33. ^ Johnston, John (16 June 2020). "Marcus Rashford slams Therese Coffey over tweet on water supply amid free school meals campaign". politicshome.com. Archived from the original on 16 June 2020. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  34. ^ Child, David (16 June 2020). "Rashford hits back at minister in row over feeding starving children". Evening Standard. Archived from the original on 16 June 2020. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  35. ^ Walker, Peter (13 September 2021). "Thérèse Coffey accused of getting universal credit figures wrong". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 13 September 2021. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
  36. ^ "Universal Credit work allowances". GOV.UK. Archived from the original on 13 September 2021. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
  37. ^ Smith, Mikey; Wearmouth, Rachel (11 December 2021). "DWP staff 'drank into the night' in Therese Coffey's private office during lockdown". The Mirror. Archived from the original on 29 January 2022. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
  38. ^ Williams, Angus (13 January 2022). "Suffolk MP backs prime minister's 'sincere' apology over BYOB event". East Anglian Daily Times. Archived from the original on 29 January 2022. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
  39. ^ "Cabinet minister Therese Coffey says she would 'prefer that people didn't have abortions' but law won't change". Sky News. 30 June 2022. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  40. ^ a b Wells, Ione (6 September 2022). "Therese Coffey's views on abortion concerning, charity says". BBC News. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  41. ^ Brown, Hannah (3 July 2022). "Boris Johnson 'not aware' of 'specific' Chris Pincher allegations, says Therese Coffey". The Scotsman. Archived from the original on 3 July 2022. Retrieved 3 July 2022.
  42. ^ Salisbury, Josh (6 September 2022). "Thérèse Coffey, Kwasi Kwarteng and James Cleverly given key roles in Cabinet". Evening Standard. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  43. ^ "Register of Members' Financial Interests as at 2 March 2020" (PDF). UK Parliament. p. 97. Archived (PDF) from the original on 21 March 2020. Retrieved 10 March 2020.
  44. ^ "Commons call for Kenny Dalglish knighthood". BBC News. 27 April 2011. Archived from the original on 29 April 2011. Retrieved 27 April 2011.
  45. ^ Keane, Daniel (6 September 2022). "Who is Thérèse Coffey, set to become UK's new cigar-smoking Health Secretary?". Evening Standard. Retrieved 6 September 2022.

External links

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Member of Parliament
for Suffolk Coastal
2010–present 		Incumbent
Political offices
Preceded by Assistant Government Whip
2014–2015 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Deputy Leader of the House of Commons
2015–2016 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment and Rural Opportunity
2016–2019 		Succeeded by
Herself
as Minister of State for Environment and Rural Opportunity
Preceded by
Herself
as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment and Rural Opportunity 		Minister of State for Environment and Rural Opportunity
2019 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
2019–2022 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
2022–present 		Incumbent
Preceded by Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
2022–present

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