Background

After getting a PhD in chemistry, Thérèse Coffey MP qualified as a chartered management accountant and had stints at the multinational company Mars and the BBC.

Political Career

Coffey was elected to Parliament in 2010 for the Suffolk Coastal constituency. She has held a handful of frontbench roles since her election, most recently as Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (2019-22) and Minister of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (2019). She has also served as Assistant Government Whip and Deputy Leader of the House of Commons. A close ally of the new Prime Minister Liz Truss, she was appointed to her current dual-role of Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on Truss taking office, showing the trust the new Prime Minister places in her.

Views on Portfolio

"Known for her love of karaoke and the occasional cigar, Coffey has laid out the following areas of focus: ambulances, backlogs, care, doctors and dentists (ABCD). She has said that health and social care will be funded through general taxation and insisted that she will 'not seek to undo' abortion laws, amid concern from campaigners about her voting record on the issue. She faces a challenging and daunting in-tray with patients struggling to access important care amidst dangerously long waiting times and a potential wave of strikes over pay by NHS staff. She is expected to set an emergency plan for the NHS imminently, but few details have emerged yet.

Her appointment to Deputy Prime Minister is somewhat unsurprising given her close friendship with Liz Truss, dating back to when they both ran to be the Conservative candidate in the same Norfolk seat. She acted as Truss’ campaign manager during the parliamentary stages of the Conservative Party leadership contest. She is the first woman to serve as Deputy Prime Minister.".

 

The Rt Hon Therese Coffey MP

Deputy Prime Minister & Secretary of State for Health and Social Care

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