From Queen of Karaoke to Work and Pensions
NEW Work and Pensions Secretary Therese Coffey may have a low public profile – but she is well known to MPs as Westminster’s ‘queen of karaoke’.
A video available online shows the 47-year-old singing Queen’s hit Don’t Stop Me Now at the Tory party conference two years ago.
Amber Rudd’s replacement also holds regular karaoke sessions for MPs in her Commons office, is a member of the Campaign for Real Ale, an avid fan of the rock band Muse and a supporter of Liverpool FC.
She is also reported to have confronted comedian Jimmy Carr over his taxes.
As a guest at the Baftas in 2015, she shared a lift at the ceremony in London with Carr, who was facing criticism over alleged tax avoidance, and allegedly told him: ‘Please can you pay your taxes this year?’
Born in Lancashire, she was educated at Catholic schools before going to Somerville College, Oxford.
Miss Coffey took a PhD in chemistry from University College London and worked for the confectionary giant Mars and the BBC before winning the Suffolk Coastal seat for the Tories in 2010.
Known as a loyalist, she backed Remain in the 201 referendum but has supported Brexit since. Her seat was 55 per cent Leave.
She was appointed deputy leader of the Commons by David Cameron, and Theresa May made her a junior environment minister with responsibility for air quality.
Promoted to minister of state by Boris Johnson, her recent rise through the ranks has been swift.
She voted against legalising gay marriage in 2013, which may be partly why she does not inherit part of Miss Rudd’s brief covering women and equalities.
Last night, International Trade Secretary Liz Truss said she was an ‘absolutely brilliant appointment’, while Miss Rudd herself said she’d do an ‘excellent job’.