Vernon Coaker
Encyclopedia
Vernon Rodney Coaker is a British
Labour Party
politician
who has been the Member of Parliament
(MP) for Gedling
since 1997
; Coaker was appointed Minister of State
for Schools and Learners
in June 2009, a post he held until Gordon Brown
resigned as Prime Minister on 11 May 2010. He was appointed to Ed Miliband's Shadow Cabinet as Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
in October 2011.
in London. He studied for an Economics and Politics BA
(Hons) at the University of Warwick
, then obtained a PGCE
at Trent Polytechnic
(Clifton College of Education).
Coaker worked as a teacher, becoming a History teacher at Manvers Pierrepont School (now the Carlton Road Centre of Castle College Nottingham
) from 1976–1982, then Head of Department at Arnold Hill School
from 1982–1988. From 1989–1995 he was a Senior Teacher at Bramcote Park School
. From 1995–1997 he was deputy headmaster at Big Wood School in Bestwood, Nottingham
. He is a member of the NUT
.
from 1983–1997, contesting the Rushcliffe constituency
seat in 1983. He contested Gedling
in 1987 and 1992, before defeating Andrew Mitchell
in the 1997 election
, becoming the first Labour MP to win the Gedling seat.
Before taking up his present ministerial appointment he was a Minister of State
at the Home Office
. He became a government whip
in May 2005 having been as assistant whip since June 2003. He has taken part in education debates and takes an interest in 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
.
In January 2010, Mr Coaker apologised for remarks that misled MPs. Mr Coaker had earlier told MPs that 70 police officers were hurt as a result of a Climate Change
protest at Kingsnorth power station
. In fact, only four injuries involved contact with another person. The 66 others included "wasp sting", "injuries sitting in a car", and "succumbed to sun and heat" etc. The whole operation had involved more than 1000 officers.
and they have a daughter and a son. He supports Tottenham Hotspur. His wife, who is a teacher, was a town councillor in Cotgrave
.
Vernon Rodney Coaker (born 17 June 1953) is a British
Labour Party
politician
who has been the Member of Parliament
(MP) for Gedling
since 1997
; Coaker was appointed Minister of State
for Schools and Learners
in June 2009, a post he held until Gordon Brown
resigned as Prime Minister on 11 May 2010. He was appointed to Ed Miliband's Shadow Cabinet as Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
in October 2011.
in London. He studied for an Economics and Politics BA
(Hons) at the University of Warwick
, then obtained a PGCE
at Trent Polytechnic
(Clifton College of Education).
Coaker worked as a teacher, becoming a History teacher at Manvers Pierrepont School (now the Carlton Road Centre of Castle College Nottingham
) from 1976–1982, then Head of Department at Arnold Hill School
from 1982–1988. From 1989–1995 he was a Senior Teacher at Bramcote Park School
. From 1995–1997 he was deputy headmaster at Big Wood School in Bestwood, Nottingham
. He is a member of the NUT
.
from 1983–1997, contesting the Rushcliffe constituency
seat in 1983. He contested Gedling
in 1987 and 1992, before defeating Andrew Mitchell
in the 1997 election
, becoming the first Labour MP to win the Gedling seat.
Before taking up his present ministerial appointment he was a Minister of State
at the Home Office
. He became a government whip
in May 2005 having been as assistant whip since June 2003. He has taken part in education debates and takes an interest in 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
.
In January 2010, Mr Coaker apologised for remarks that misled MPs. Mr Coaker had earlier told MPs that 70 police officers were hurt as a result of a Climate Change
protest at Kingsnorth power station
. In fact, only four injuries involved contact with another person. The 66 others included "wasp sting", "injuries sitting in a car", and "succumbed to sun and heat" etc. The whole operation had involved more than 1000 officers.
and they have a daughter and a son. He supports Tottenham Hotspur. His wife, who is a teacher, was a town councillor in Cotgrave
.
Vernon Rodney Coaker (born 17 June 1953) is a British
Labour Party
politician
who has been the Member of Parliament
(MP) for Gedling
since 1997
; Coaker was appointed Minister of State
for Schools and Learners
in June 2009, a post he held until Gordon Brown
resigned as Prime Minister on 11 May 2010. He was appointed to Ed Miliband's Shadow Cabinet as Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
in October 2011.
in London. He studied for an Economics and Politics BA
(Hons) at the University of Warwick
, then obtained a PGCE
at Trent Polytechnic
(Clifton College of Education).
Coaker worked as a teacher, becoming a History teacher at Manvers Pierrepont School (now the Carlton Road Centre of Castle College Nottingham
) from 1976–1982, then Head of Department at Arnold Hill School
from 1982–1988. From 1989–1995 he was a Senior Teacher at Bramcote Park School
. From 1995–1997 he was deputy headmaster at Big Wood School in Bestwood, Nottingham
. He is a member of the NUT
.
from 1983–1997, contesting the Rushcliffe constituency
seat in 1983. He contested Gedling
in 1987 and 1992, before defeating Andrew Mitchell
in the 1997 election
, becoming the first Labour MP to win the Gedling seat.
Before taking up his present ministerial appointment he was a Minister of State
at the Home Office
. He became a government whip
in May 2005 having been as assistant whip since June 2003. He has taken part in education debates and takes an interest in 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
.
In January 2010, Mr Coaker apologised for remarks that misled MPs. Mr Coaker had earlier told MPs that 70 police officers were hurt as a result of a Climate Change
protest at Kingsnorth power station
. In fact, only four injuries involved contact with another person. The 66 others included "wasp sting", "injuries sitting in a car", and "succumbed to sun and heat" etc. The whole operation had involved more than 1000 officers.
and they have a daughter and a son. He supports Tottenham Hotspur. His wife, who is a teacher, was a town councillor in Cotgrave
.
|-
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
who has been the Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
(MP) for Gedling
Gedling (UK Parliament constituency)
-Electiobs in the 2000s:-Elections in the 1990s:-See also:*List of Parliamentary constituencies in Nottinghamshire...
since 1997
United Kingdom general election, 1997
The United Kingdom general election, 1997 was held on 1 May 1997, more than five years after the previous election on 9 April 1992, to elect 659 members to the British House of Commons. The Labour Party ended its 18 years in opposition under the leadership of Tony Blair, and won the general...
; Coaker was appointed Minister of State
Minister of State
Minister of State is a title borne by politicians or officials in certain countries governed under a parliamentary system. In some countries a "minister of state" is a junior minister, who is assigned to assist a specific cabinet minister...
for Schools and Learners
Department for Children, Schools and Families
The Department for Children, Schools and Families was a department of the UK government, between 2007 and 2010, responsible for issues affecting people in England up to the age of 19, including child protection and education...
in June 2009, a post he held until Gordon Brown
Gordon Brown
James Gordon Brown is a British Labour Party politician who was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Labour Party from 2007 until 2010. He previously served as Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Labour Government from 1997 to 2007...
resigned as Prime Minister on 11 May 2010. He was appointed to Ed Miliband's Shadow Cabinet as Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland is a member of the UK Shadow Cabinet responsible for the scrutiny of the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and his department, the Northern Ireland Office. The post is currently held by Shaun Woodward...
in October 2011.
Early life
Coaker went to Drayton Manor Grammar SchoolDrayton Manor High School
Drayton Manor High School, formerly Drayton Manor Grammar School, is a comprehensive school located in Hanwell, Ealing, England. The current headteacher is Sir Pritpal Singh. The school is a specialist Humanities College. Its emblem is a phoenix rising from a crown with the legend 'Nec Aspera...
in London. He studied for an Economics and Politics BA
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
(Hons) at the University of Warwick
University of Warwick
The University of Warwick is a public research university located in Coventry, United Kingdom...
, then obtained a PGCE
Postgraduate Certificate in Education
The Postgraduate Certificate in Education is a one-year course in England, Wales and Northern Ireland for undergraduate degree holders that allows them to train to be a teacher....
at Trent Polytechnic
Nottingham Trent University
Nottingham Trent University is a public teaching and research university in Nottingham, United Kingdom. It was founded as a new university in 1992 from the existing Trent Polytechnic , however it can trace its roots back to 1843 with the establishment of the Nottingham Government School of Design...
(Clifton College of Education).
Coaker worked as a teacher, becoming a History teacher at Manvers Pierrepont School (now the Carlton Road Centre of Castle College Nottingham
Castle College Nottingham
Castle College Nottingham was a British further education college located in Nottingham. It was formed on 1 June 2006 from the merger of Broxtowe College and The People's College Nottingham...
) from 1976–1982, then Head of Department at Arnold Hill School
Arnold Hill Comprehensive School
Arnold Hill Comprehensive School is a mixed state school in the county of Nottinghamshire in the East Midlands. It teaches children from 11 to 18 - Years 7-13. It is located in Arnold but it serves children from various nearby areas including Killisick, Daybrook, Woodthorpe, Mapperley and Sherwood...
from 1982–1988. From 1989–1995 he was a Senior Teacher at Bramcote Park School
Bramcote Park Business & Enterprise School
Bramcote Park Business & Enterprise School is a mixed state school in Nottinghamshire. It teaches children from 11 to 16 . It is located in Bramcote. The Executive Head Teacher is Kevin Dean. it is a member of the White Hills Park Federation...
. From 1995–1997 he was deputy headmaster at Big Wood School in Bestwood, Nottingham
Bestwood Village
Bestwood Village is a village in the Gedling district of Nottinghamshire.It is part of the civil parish of Bestwood St. Albans. A small part of the village falls within the Ashfield district council area...
. He is a member of the NUT
National Union of Teachers
The National Union of Teachers is a trade union for school teachers in England, Wales, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. It is a member of the Trades Union Congress...
.
Political career
Coaker served as a district councillor for the Cotgrave Ward in RushcliffeRushcliffe
Rushcliffe is a local government district with borough status in Nottinghamshire, England. Its council is based in West Bridgford. It was formed on 1 April 1974 by merging the West Bridgford Urban District, the Bingham Rural District and part of Basford Rural District.-Political representation:The...
from 1983–1997, contesting the Rushcliffe constituency
Rushcliffe (UK Parliament constituency)
-Elections in the 2000s:-Elections in the 1990s:-Elections in the 80's:-Notes and references:...
seat in 1983. He contested Gedling
Gedling (UK Parliament constituency)
-Electiobs in the 2000s:-Elections in the 1990s:-See also:*List of Parliamentary constituencies in Nottinghamshire...
in 1987 and 1992, before defeating Andrew Mitchell
Andrew Mitchell
The Right Honourable Andrew John Bower Mitchell MP is a British Conservative Party politician and the Member of Parliament for Sutton Coldfield...
in the 1997 election
United Kingdom general election, 1997
The United Kingdom general election, 1997 was held on 1 May 1997, more than five years after the previous election on 9 April 1992, to elect 659 members to the British House of Commons. The Labour Party ended its 18 years in opposition under the leadership of Tony Blair, and won the general...
, becoming the first Labour MP to win the Gedling seat.
Before taking up his present ministerial appointment he was a Minister of State
Minister of State
Minister of State is a title borne by politicians or officials in certain countries governed under a parliamentary system. In some countries a "minister of state" is a junior minister, who is assigned to assist a specific cabinet minister...
at the Home Office
Home Office
The Home Office is the United Kingdom government department responsible for immigration control, security, and order. As such it is responsible for the police, UK Border Agency, and the Security Service . It is also in charge of government policy on security-related issues such as drugs,...
. He became a government whip
Whip (politics)
A whip is an official in a political party whose primary purpose is to ensure party discipline in a legislature. Whips are a party's "enforcers", who typically offer inducements and threaten punishments for party members to ensure that they vote according to the official party policy...
in May 2005 having been as assistant whip since June 2003. He has taken part in education debates and takes an interest in environmental and animal welfare
Animal welfare
Animal welfare is the physical and psychological well-being of animals.The term animal welfare can also mean human concern for animal welfare or a position in a debate on animal ethics and animal rights...
issues. Prior to joining the government he served as Parliamentary Private Secretary
Parliamentary Private Secretary
A Parliamentary Private Secretary is a role given to a United Kingdom Member of Parliament by a senior minister in government or shadow minister to act as their contact for the House of Commons; this role is junior to that of Parliamentary Under-Secretary, which is a ministerial post, salaried by...
to Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell
Tessa Jowell
Tessa Jowell is a British Labour Party politician, who has been the Member of Parliament for Dulwich and West Norwood since 1992. Formerly a member of both the Blair and Brown Cabinets, she is currently the Shadow Minister for the Olympics and Shadow Minister for London.-Early life:Tessa Jane...
.
Shortly after being appointed Minister for Drugs & Crime Reduction in the May 2006 reshuffle, he revealed to the Coventry Evening Telegraph
Coventry Evening Telegraph
The Coventry Telegraph is a local English tabloid newspaper. Originally called The Midland Daily Telegraph, it was founded in 1891 by William Isaac Iliffe as Coventry's first daily newspaper, a four-page broadsheet newspaper originally sold for a half penny...
that, as a student, he had smoked cannabis
Cannabis (drug)
Cannabis, also known as marijuana among many other names, refers to any number of preparations of the Cannabis plant intended for use as a psychoactive drug or for medicinal purposes. The English term marijuana comes from the Mexican Spanish word marihuana...
. This provoked some controversy owing to his new responsibilities.
He supports people taking part in shooting sports
Shooting sports
A shooting sport is a competitive sport involving tests of proficiency using various types of guns such as firearms and airguns . Hunting is also a shooting sport, and indeed shooting live pigeons was an Olympic event...
and angling
Angling
Angling is a method of fishing by means of an "angle" . The hook is usually attached to a fishing line and the line is often attached to a fishing rod. Fishing rods are usually fitted with a fishing reel that functions as a mechanism for storing, retrieving and paying out the line. The hook itself...
.
In January 2010, Mr Coaker apologised for remarks that misled MPs. Mr Coaker had earlier told MPs that 70 police officers were hurt as a result of a Climate Change
Climate change
Climate change is a significant and lasting change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns over periods ranging from decades to millions of years. It may be a change in average weather conditions or the distribution of events around that average...
protest at Kingsnorth power station
Kingsnorth power station
Kingsnorth is a dual-fired coal and oil power station on the Hoo Peninsula at Medway in Kent, South East England. The four-unit station is owned and operated by energy firm E.ON UK, and has a generating capacity of 1,940 megawatts. It is capable of operating on either coal or oil though in practice...
. In fact, only four injuries involved contact with another person. The 66 others included "wasp sting", "injuries sitting in a car", and "succumbed to sun and heat" etc. The whole operation had involved more than 1000 officers.
Personal life
He married Jacqueline Heaton on 23 December 1978 in BasfordBasford Rural District
Basford was an rural district close to Nottingham, England, from 1894 to 1974. The district consisted of two detached parts, to the north and south of Nottingham...
and they have a daughter and a son. He supports Tottenham Hotspur. His wife, who is a teacher, was a town councillor in Cotgrave
Cotgrave
-History:Cotgrave is a town in the borough of Rushcliffe, in Nottinghamshire, England, lying south east of Nottingham. With a relatively small population and an ancient heart that has largely escaped development Cotgrave has a village atmosphere...
.
External links
Vernon Rodney Coaker (born 17 June 1953) is a British
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
who has been the Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
(MP) for Gedling
Gedling (UK Parliament constituency)
-Electiobs in the 2000s:-Elections in the 1990s:-See also:*List of Parliamentary constituencies in Nottinghamshire...
since 1997
United Kingdom general election, 1997
The United Kingdom general election, 1997 was held on 1 May 1997, more than five years after the previous election on 9 April 1992, to elect 659 members to the British House of Commons. The Labour Party ended its 18 years in opposition under the leadership of Tony Blair, and won the general...
; Coaker was appointed Minister of State
Minister of State
Minister of State is a title borne by politicians or officials in certain countries governed under a parliamentary system. In some countries a "minister of state" is a junior minister, who is assigned to assist a specific cabinet minister...
for Schools and Learners
Department for Children, Schools and Families
The Department for Children, Schools and Families was a department of the UK government, between 2007 and 2010, responsible for issues affecting people in England up to the age of 19, including child protection and education...
in June 2009, a post he held until Gordon Brown
Gordon Brown
James Gordon Brown is a British Labour Party politician who was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Labour Party from 2007 until 2010. He previously served as Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Labour Government from 1997 to 2007...
resigned as Prime Minister on 11 May 2010. He was appointed to Ed Miliband's Shadow Cabinet as Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland is a member of the UK Shadow Cabinet responsible for the scrutiny of the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and his department, the Northern Ireland Office. The post is currently held by Shaun Woodward...
in October 2011.
Early life
Coaker went to Drayton Manor Grammar SchoolDrayton Manor High School
Drayton Manor High School, formerly Drayton Manor Grammar School, is a comprehensive school located in Hanwell, Ealing, England. The current headteacher is Sir Pritpal Singh. The school is a specialist Humanities College. Its emblem is a phoenix rising from a crown with the legend 'Nec Aspera...
in London. He studied for an Economics and Politics BA
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
(Hons) at the University of Warwick
University of Warwick
The University of Warwick is a public research university located in Coventry, United Kingdom...
, then obtained a PGCE
Postgraduate Certificate in Education
The Postgraduate Certificate in Education is a one-year course in England, Wales and Northern Ireland for undergraduate degree holders that allows them to train to be a teacher....
at Trent Polytechnic
Nottingham Trent University
Nottingham Trent University is a public teaching and research university in Nottingham, United Kingdom. It was founded as a new university in 1992 from the existing Trent Polytechnic , however it can trace its roots back to 1843 with the establishment of the Nottingham Government School of Design...
(Clifton College of Education).
Coaker worked as a teacher, becoming a History teacher at Manvers Pierrepont School (now the Carlton Road Centre of Castle College Nottingham
Castle College Nottingham
Castle College Nottingham was a British further education college located in Nottingham. It was formed on 1 June 2006 from the merger of Broxtowe College and The People's College Nottingham...
) from 1976–1982, then Head of Department at Arnold Hill School
Arnold Hill Comprehensive School
Arnold Hill Comprehensive School is a mixed state school in the county of Nottinghamshire in the East Midlands. It teaches children from 11 to 18 - Years 7-13. It is located in Arnold but it serves children from various nearby areas including Killisick, Daybrook, Woodthorpe, Mapperley and Sherwood...
from 1982–1988. From 1989–1995 he was a Senior Teacher at Bramcote Park School
Bramcote Park Business & Enterprise School
Bramcote Park Business & Enterprise School is a mixed state school in Nottinghamshire. It teaches children from 11 to 16 . It is located in Bramcote. The Executive Head Teacher is Kevin Dean. it is a member of the White Hills Park Federation...
. From 1995–1997 he was deputy headmaster at Big Wood School in Bestwood, Nottingham
Bestwood Village
Bestwood Village is a village in the Gedling district of Nottinghamshire.It is part of the civil parish of Bestwood St. Albans. A small part of the village falls within the Ashfield district council area...
. He is a member of the NUT
National Union of Teachers
The National Union of Teachers is a trade union for school teachers in England, Wales, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. It is a member of the Trades Union Congress...
.
Political career
Coaker served as a district councillor for the Cotgrave Ward in RushcliffeRushcliffe
Rushcliffe is a local government district with borough status in Nottinghamshire, England. Its council is based in West Bridgford. It was formed on 1 April 1974 by merging the West Bridgford Urban District, the Bingham Rural District and part of Basford Rural District.-Political representation:The...
from 1983–1997, contesting the Rushcliffe constituency
Rushcliffe (UK Parliament constituency)
-Elections in the 2000s:-Elections in the 1990s:-Elections in the 80's:-Notes and references:...
seat in 1983. He contested Gedling
Gedling (UK Parliament constituency)
-Electiobs in the 2000s:-Elections in the 1990s:-See also:*List of Parliamentary constituencies in Nottinghamshire...
in 1987 and 1992, before defeating Andrew Mitchell
Andrew Mitchell
The Right Honourable Andrew John Bower Mitchell MP is a British Conservative Party politician and the Member of Parliament for Sutton Coldfield...
in the 1997 election
United Kingdom general election, 1997
The United Kingdom general election, 1997 was held on 1 May 1997, more than five years after the previous election on 9 April 1992, to elect 659 members to the British House of Commons. The Labour Party ended its 18 years in opposition under the leadership of Tony Blair, and won the general...
, becoming the first Labour MP to win the Gedling seat.
Before taking up his present ministerial appointment he was a Minister of State
Minister of State
Minister of State is a title borne by politicians or officials in certain countries governed under a parliamentary system. In some countries a "minister of state" is a junior minister, who is assigned to assist a specific cabinet minister...
at the Home Office
Home Office
The Home Office is the United Kingdom government department responsible for immigration control, security, and order. As such it is responsible for the police, UK Border Agency, and the Security Service . It is also in charge of government policy on security-related issues such as drugs,...
. He became a government whip
Whip (politics)
A whip is an official in a political party whose primary purpose is to ensure party discipline in a legislature. Whips are a party's "enforcers", who typically offer inducements and threaten punishments for party members to ensure that they vote according to the official party policy...
in May 2005 having been as assistant whip since June 2003. He has taken part in education debates and takes an interest in environmental and animal welfare
Animal welfare
Animal welfare is the physical and psychological well-being of animals.The term animal welfare can also mean human concern for animal welfare or a position in a debate on animal ethics and animal rights...
issues. Prior to joining the government he served as Parliamentary Private Secretary
Parliamentary Private Secretary
A Parliamentary Private Secretary is a role given to a United Kingdom Member of Parliament by a senior minister in government or shadow minister to act as their contact for the House of Commons; this role is junior to that of Parliamentary Under-Secretary, which is a ministerial post, salaried by...
to Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell
Tessa Jowell
Tessa Jowell is a British Labour Party politician, who has been the Member of Parliament for Dulwich and West Norwood since 1992. Formerly a member of both the Blair and Brown Cabinets, she is currently the Shadow Minister for the Olympics and Shadow Minister for London.-Early life:Tessa Jane...
.
Shortly after being appointed Minister for Drugs & Crime Reduction in the May 2006 reshuffle, he revealed to the Coventry Evening Telegraph
Coventry Evening Telegraph
The Coventry Telegraph is a local English tabloid newspaper. Originally called The Midland Daily Telegraph, it was founded in 1891 by William Isaac Iliffe as Coventry's first daily newspaper, a four-page broadsheet newspaper originally sold for a half penny...
that, as a student, he had smoked cannabis
Cannabis (drug)
Cannabis, also known as marijuana among many other names, refers to any number of preparations of the Cannabis plant intended for use as a psychoactive drug or for medicinal purposes. The English term marijuana comes from the Mexican Spanish word marihuana...
. This provoked some controversy owing to his new responsibilities.
He supports people taking part in shooting sports
Shooting sports
A shooting sport is a competitive sport involving tests of proficiency using various types of guns such as firearms and airguns . Hunting is also a shooting sport, and indeed shooting live pigeons was an Olympic event...
and angling
Angling
Angling is a method of fishing by means of an "angle" . The hook is usually attached to a fishing line and the line is often attached to a fishing rod. Fishing rods are usually fitted with a fishing reel that functions as a mechanism for storing, retrieving and paying out the line. The hook itself...
.
In January 2010, Mr Coaker apologised for remarks that misled MPs. Mr Coaker had earlier told MPs that 70 police officers were hurt as a result of a Climate Change
Climate change
Climate change is a significant and lasting change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns over periods ranging from decades to millions of years. It may be a change in average weather conditions or the distribution of events around that average...
protest at Kingsnorth power station
Kingsnorth power station
Kingsnorth is a dual-fired coal and oil power station on the Hoo Peninsula at Medway in Kent, South East England. The four-unit station is owned and operated by energy firm E.ON UK, and has a generating capacity of 1,940 megawatts. It is capable of operating on either coal or oil though in practice...
. In fact, only four injuries involved contact with another person. The 66 others included "wasp sting", "injuries sitting in a car", and "succumbed to sun and heat" etc. The whole operation had involved more than 1000 officers.
Personal life
He married Jacqueline Heaton on 23 December 1978 in BasfordBasford Rural District
Basford was an rural district close to Nottingham, England, from 1894 to 1974. The district consisted of two detached parts, to the north and south of Nottingham...
and they have a daughter and a son. He supports Tottenham Hotspur. His wife, who is a teacher, was a town councillor in Cotgrave
Cotgrave
-History:Cotgrave is a town in the borough of Rushcliffe, in Nottinghamshire, England, lying south east of Nottingham. With a relatively small population and an ancient heart that has largely escaped development Cotgrave has a village atmosphere...
.
External links
Vernon Rodney Coaker (born 17 June 1953) is a British
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
who has been the Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
(MP) for Gedling
Gedling (UK Parliament constituency)
-Electiobs in the 2000s:-Elections in the 1990s:-See also:*List of Parliamentary constituencies in Nottinghamshire...
since 1997
United Kingdom general election, 1997
The United Kingdom general election, 1997 was held on 1 May 1997, more than five years after the previous election on 9 April 1992, to elect 659 members to the British House of Commons. The Labour Party ended its 18 years in opposition under the leadership of Tony Blair, and won the general...
; Coaker was appointed Minister of State
Minister of State
Minister of State is a title borne by politicians or officials in certain countries governed under a parliamentary system. In some countries a "minister of state" is a junior minister, who is assigned to assist a specific cabinet minister...
for Schools and Learners
Department for Children, Schools and Families
The Department for Children, Schools and Families was a department of the UK government, between 2007 and 2010, responsible for issues affecting people in England up to the age of 19, including child protection and education...
in June 2009, a post he held until Gordon Brown
Gordon Brown
James Gordon Brown is a British Labour Party politician who was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Labour Party from 2007 until 2010. He previously served as Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Labour Government from 1997 to 2007...
resigned as Prime Minister on 11 May 2010. He was appointed to Ed Miliband's Shadow Cabinet as Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland is a member of the UK Shadow Cabinet responsible for the scrutiny of the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and his department, the Northern Ireland Office. The post is currently held by Shaun Woodward...
in October 2011.
Early life
Coaker went to Drayton Manor Grammar SchoolDrayton Manor High School
Drayton Manor High School, formerly Drayton Manor Grammar School, is a comprehensive school located in Hanwell, Ealing, England. The current headteacher is Sir Pritpal Singh. The school is a specialist Humanities College. Its emblem is a phoenix rising from a crown with the legend 'Nec Aspera...
in London. He studied for an Economics and Politics BA
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
(Hons) at the University of Warwick
University of Warwick
The University of Warwick is a public research university located in Coventry, United Kingdom...
, then obtained a PGCE
Postgraduate Certificate in Education
The Postgraduate Certificate in Education is a one-year course in England, Wales and Northern Ireland for undergraduate degree holders that allows them to train to be a teacher....
at Trent Polytechnic
Nottingham Trent University
Nottingham Trent University is a public teaching and research university in Nottingham, United Kingdom. It was founded as a new university in 1992 from the existing Trent Polytechnic , however it can trace its roots back to 1843 with the establishment of the Nottingham Government School of Design...
(Clifton College of Education).
Coaker worked as a teacher, becoming a History teacher at Manvers Pierrepont School (now the Carlton Road Centre of Castle College Nottingham
Castle College Nottingham
Castle College Nottingham was a British further education college located in Nottingham. It was formed on 1 June 2006 from the merger of Broxtowe College and The People's College Nottingham...
) from 1976–1982, then Head of Department at Arnold Hill School
Arnold Hill Comprehensive School
Arnold Hill Comprehensive School is a mixed state school in the county of Nottinghamshire in the East Midlands. It teaches children from 11 to 18 - Years 7-13. It is located in Arnold but it serves children from various nearby areas including Killisick, Daybrook, Woodthorpe, Mapperley and Sherwood...
from 1982–1988. From 1989–1995 he was a Senior Teacher at Bramcote Park School
Bramcote Park Business & Enterprise School
Bramcote Park Business & Enterprise School is a mixed state school in Nottinghamshire. It teaches children from 11 to 16 . It is located in Bramcote. The Executive Head Teacher is Kevin Dean. it is a member of the White Hills Park Federation...
. From 1995–1997 he was deputy headmaster at Big Wood School in Bestwood, Nottingham
Bestwood Village
Bestwood Village is a village in the Gedling district of Nottinghamshire.It is part of the civil parish of Bestwood St. Albans. A small part of the village falls within the Ashfield district council area...
. He is a member of the NUT
National Union of Teachers
The National Union of Teachers is a trade union for school teachers in England, Wales, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. It is a member of the Trades Union Congress...
.
Political career
Coaker served as a district councillor for the Cotgrave Ward in RushcliffeRushcliffe
Rushcliffe is a local government district with borough status in Nottinghamshire, England. Its council is based in West Bridgford. It was formed on 1 April 1974 by merging the West Bridgford Urban District, the Bingham Rural District and part of Basford Rural District.-Political representation:The...
from 1983–1997, contesting the Rushcliffe constituency
Rushcliffe (UK Parliament constituency)
-Elections in the 2000s:-Elections in the 1990s:-Elections in the 80's:-Notes and references:...
seat in 1983. He contested Gedling
Gedling (UK Parliament constituency)
-Electiobs in the 2000s:-Elections in the 1990s:-See also:*List of Parliamentary constituencies in Nottinghamshire...
in 1987 and 1992, before defeating Andrew Mitchell
Andrew Mitchell
The Right Honourable Andrew John Bower Mitchell MP is a British Conservative Party politician and the Member of Parliament for Sutton Coldfield...
in the 1997 election
United Kingdom general election, 1997
The United Kingdom general election, 1997 was held on 1 May 1997, more than five years after the previous election on 9 April 1992, to elect 659 members to the British House of Commons. The Labour Party ended its 18 years in opposition under the leadership of Tony Blair, and won the general...
, becoming the first Labour MP to win the Gedling seat.
Before taking up his present ministerial appointment he was a Minister of State
Minister of State
Minister of State is a title borne by politicians or officials in certain countries governed under a parliamentary system. In some countries a "minister of state" is a junior minister, who is assigned to assist a specific cabinet minister...
at the Home Office
Home Office
The Home Office is the United Kingdom government department responsible for immigration control, security, and order. As such it is responsible for the police, UK Border Agency, and the Security Service . It is also in charge of government policy on security-related issues such as drugs,...
. He became a government whip
Whip (politics)
A whip is an official in a political party whose primary purpose is to ensure party discipline in a legislature. Whips are a party's "enforcers", who typically offer inducements and threaten punishments for party members to ensure that they vote according to the official party policy...
in May 2005 having been as assistant whip since June 2003. He has taken part in education debates and takes an interest in environmental and animal welfare
Animal welfare
Animal welfare is the physical and psychological well-being of animals.The term animal welfare can also mean human concern for animal welfare or a position in a debate on animal ethics and animal rights...
issues. Prior to joining the government he served as Parliamentary Private Secretary
Parliamentary Private Secretary
A Parliamentary Private Secretary is a role given to a United Kingdom Member of Parliament by a senior minister in government or shadow minister to act as their contact for the House of Commons; this role is junior to that of Parliamentary Under-Secretary, which is a ministerial post, salaried by...
to Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell
Tessa Jowell
Tessa Jowell is a British Labour Party politician, who has been the Member of Parliament for Dulwich and West Norwood since 1992. Formerly a member of both the Blair and Brown Cabinets, she is currently the Shadow Minister for the Olympics and Shadow Minister for London.-Early life:Tessa Jane...
.
Shortly after being appointed Minister for Drugs & Crime Reduction in the May 2006 reshuffle, he revealed to the Coventry Evening Telegraph
Coventry Evening Telegraph
The Coventry Telegraph is a local English tabloid newspaper. Originally called The Midland Daily Telegraph, it was founded in 1891 by William Isaac Iliffe as Coventry's first daily newspaper, a four-page broadsheet newspaper originally sold for a half penny...
that, as a student, he had smoked cannabis
Cannabis (drug)
Cannabis, also known as marijuana among many other names, refers to any number of preparations of the Cannabis plant intended for use as a psychoactive drug or for medicinal purposes. The English term marijuana comes from the Mexican Spanish word marihuana...
. This provoked some controversy owing to his new responsibilities.
He supports people taking part in shooting sports
Shooting sports
A shooting sport is a competitive sport involving tests of proficiency using various types of guns such as firearms and airguns . Hunting is also a shooting sport, and indeed shooting live pigeons was an Olympic event...
and angling
Angling
Angling is a method of fishing by means of an "angle" . The hook is usually attached to a fishing line and the line is often attached to a fishing rod. Fishing rods are usually fitted with a fishing reel that functions as a mechanism for storing, retrieving and paying out the line. The hook itself...
.
In January 2010, Mr Coaker apologised for remarks that misled MPs. Mr Coaker had earlier told MPs that 70 police officers were hurt as a result of a Climate Change
Climate change
Climate change is a significant and lasting change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns over periods ranging from decades to millions of years. It may be a change in average weather conditions or the distribution of events around that average...
protest at Kingsnorth power station
Kingsnorth power station
Kingsnorth is a dual-fired coal and oil power station on the Hoo Peninsula at Medway in Kent, South East England. The four-unit station is owned and operated by energy firm E.ON UK, and has a generating capacity of 1,940 megawatts. It is capable of operating on either coal or oil though in practice...
. In fact, only four injuries involved contact with another person. The 66 others included "wasp sting", "injuries sitting in a car", and "succumbed to sun and heat" etc. The whole operation had involved more than 1000 officers.
Personal life
He married Jacqueline Heaton on 23 December 1978 in BasfordBasford Rural District
Basford was an rural district close to Nottingham, England, from 1894 to 1974. The district consisted of two detached parts, to the north and south of Nottingham...
and they have a daughter and a son. He supports Tottenham Hotspur. His wife, who is a teacher, was a town councillor in Cotgrave
Cotgrave
-History:Cotgrave is a town in the borough of Rushcliffe, in Nottinghamshire, England, lying south east of Nottingham. With a relatively small population and an ancient heart that has largely escaped development Cotgrave has a village atmosphere...
.
External links
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