Vernon Coaker

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Vernon Coaker MP
Vernon Coaker
Member of Parliament
for Gedling
Incumbent
Assumed office 
1 May 1997
Preceded by Andrew Mitchell
Born 17 June 1953 (1953-06-17) (age 54)
London, England
Nationality British
Political party Labour

Vernon Rodney Coaker (born June 17, 1953, London) is the Labour Member of Parliament for Gedling in Nottinghamshire, England.

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[edit] Early life

He is the son of Edwin Coaker. He went to Drayton Manor Grammar School in London. He studied for an economics and politics BA (Hons) at the University of Warwick, then obtained a PGCE at Trent Polytechnic. He worked as a teacher, becoming deputy headmaster at Big Wood School on Bewcastle Road in Bestwood, Nottingham. He served as a local councillor in Rushcliffe from 1983. He is a member of the Socialist Education Association and NUT.

[edit] Political career

He is a Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Home Office. He originally won the seat in the 1997 election, defeating Andrew Mitchell; the first time a Labour MP had won the Gedling seat. He became a government whip, serving as Lord Commissioner in the House of Commons, in May 2005 having been as assistant whip since June 2003 playing an active role in education debates. He is also keen on environmental and animal welfare issues. Prior to joining the government he served as Parliamentary Private Secretary to Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell.

Shortly after being appointed Minister for Drugs & Crime Reduction in the May 2006 reshuffle, he revealed to the Coventry Evening Telegraph that, as a student, he had smoked cannabis. This provoked some controversy owing to his new responsibilities.

He supports people taking part in shooting sports and angling.

[edit] Personal life

He married Jacqueline Heaton on December 23, 1978 and has a daughter and a son. He enjoys watching Tottenham Hotspur. He likes the book, Animal Farm by George Orwell.

[edit] External links

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