| Therese Coffey MP | |
|---|---|
| Member of Parliament for Suffolk Coastal |
|
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 6 May 2010 |
|
| Preceded by | John Gummer |
| Majority | 9,128 (16.6%) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 18 November 1971 [1] Billinge, Merseyside, England |
| Nationality | British |
| Political party | Conservative |
| Alma mater | Somerville College, University of Oxford |
| Website | www.theresecoffey.com |
Therese Anne Coffey, Ph.D, (born 18 November 1971) is an English Conservative Party politician. She is the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Suffolk Coastal constituency, having won the seat at the general election in May 2010.
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Therese Coffey was born near Wigan, and grew up in Liverpool. Therese attended St Mary's College, Crosby and St Edward's College, Liverpool.[2] She studied at Somerville College, Oxford,[3] followed by University College London where she earned a PhD in Chemistry[4]
On graduation in 1997 she joined Mars, Incorporated in Hampshire as a chemist, later training as a Chartered Management Accountant, rising to hold the position of Finance director for Mars Drinks UK. As her political career progressed, she moved her work base to London, holding the position of Property Finance manager at the BBC in 2009.[5]
Coffey stood as Conservative candidate for the 2005 general election for the Wrexham constituency, in Wales. She came third with 6,079 votes (20% of the vote).[6]
In European Parliament elections in June 2004, she failed to be elected to the European Parliament for the South East region of England. The Conservative party won 35.2% of the vote giving them 4 seats, but Coffey was 7th on the list in this proportional representation system.
At the next European elections, in 2009 then living in Andover, Hampshire, she missed out by one place on being elected to the European Parliament for the South East region. The Conservative Party won 34.79% of the vote giving them 4 seats, but Coffey was fifth on the party list.[7]
In October 2009, she failed to become the Conservative candidate for South West Norfolk constituency. The candidacy was taken by Elizabeth Truss.[8] In January 2010, she unsuccessfully attempted to become the Conservative parliamentary candidate for Spelthorne, in Surrey. She did not live in Spelthorne[9] but promised to move to the area if selected. She was not selected as candidate, losing to Kwasi Kwarteng.[10]
After being selected on 6 February 2010 to as Conservative candidate in Suffolk Coastal, Coffey moved from Hampshire to Westleton.[11][12][13] Rev David Miller, the vice-chairman of the local Liberal Democrats raised questions over the status of her residency in the county claiming that "The address at which Ms Coffey currently resides is a holiday let" with reference to her Westleton property.[14] She owns a flat and partly owns a house, both in Hampshire,[15] and has a tenancy on a house in Westleton.
At the general election on 6 May 2010 she won the Suffolk Coastal seat, becoming the constituency's first female member of parliament. Coffey received 25,475 votes (46.4% of the vote) an increase of 1.8% on John Gummer's 2005 campaign.[16]
On 6 July 2011, Ms Coffey defended Rebekah Brooks in the News of the World phone-hacking scandal. Therese Coffey said a "witch hunt" is developing against Brooks. She said that simply to say she was editor at the time is not enough evidence against her. There were loud groans in the Commons as she said Mrs Brooks's own phone is thought to have been tapped and Ms Coffey says the problems are not "unique to one news group".
An avid football fan, she supports Liverpool F.C., signing the Early Day Motion set down by Labour Liverpool Walton MP Steve Rotheram, requesting a knighthood for Kenny Dalglish.[17] She also enjoys watching England at the new Wembley stadium.
Coffey, a member of CAMRA, enjoys pub quizs, Sudoko and Scrabble. She also enjoys music, and claims that Muse are her favourite band. She is also a speaker for the charity Water Aid.
| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by John Gummer |
Member of Parliament for Suffolk Coastal 2010–present |
Incumbent |