In the space of a few days, Thérèse Coffey became the second most powerful woman in Westminster. Taking over health and becoming second in command to long-time ally Liz Truss, the current Work and Pensions Secretary will face the toughest political challenge of her career as she tries to contain a growing crisis in the NHS. Much of Ms Coffey’s attention will be consumed by the NHS backlog, with 6.7 million Britons waiting for routine hospital care. Record A&E waits and frustrated ambulance response times caused by a broken social care system will also feature high on her to-do list as voters grow impatient with Tory management of the health service. As she prepares to take the reins at the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), the Standard charts the rise of Thérèse Coffey.
Her political career
Born in 1971 in Lancashire, Ms Coffey attended St Edward’s College in Liverpool and went on to study Chemistry at Oxford. After graduating, she worked in various finance roles for confectionery giant Mars and as finance director at the BBC.
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She was first elected MP in the safe Tory seat of Suffolk Coast in 2010 and secured a role in David Cameron’s government as Parliamentary Private Secretary to then Business Secretary Michael Fallon. After stints as assistant chief whip and deputy leader of the Commons, he joined the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) as a junior minister in 2016 after Theresa May became Tory leader. Like Ms Truss, she campaigned to remain in the EU but later changed her mind, saying: “When a decision of constitutional importance is taken, it is important that democratic procedures are followed.” Ms Coffey joined Boris Johnson’s cabinet in September 2019 as Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, where she has worked since. Thérèse Coffey (centre), with Liz Truss (left) and Nadine Dorries (right) / AFP via Getty Images
What is she known for?
Ms Coffey is popular with Tory MPs, who have described her as an “absolute workhorse” with an eye for detail. Outgoing Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries told the Sunday Times there was “nothing wrong” in a department led by Ms Coffey. But last year he sparked outrage after scrapping a £20 weekly rise in Universal Credit payments introduced during the pandemic and falsely claiming recipients could pay back the money by working two extra hours a week. He was also embroiled in a bitter row with Manchester United star Marcus Rashford last year after he forced the government to extend the free school lunch voucher scheme. In his campaign, Rushford tweeted: “When you wake up this morning and take your shower, take a second to think about the parents who had their water turned off during the lockdown.” In response, Ms Coffey tweeted: “The water can’t be disconnected though.” Rashford replied: “I’m worried this is the only tweet of mine you’ve recognised. Please put rivalries aside for a second and make a difference.” Coffey is also known in Westminster for hosting painful karaoke sessions. Last year, footage emerged of her joining welfare minister Will Queens for a cover of “(I’ve Had) The Time Of My Life” at the Conservative Party Conference. It came just a day after the rise in Universal Credit was scrapped. As an MP, he voted against same-sex marriage in 2013 and also said he would “prefer people not having abortions”. In March this year, she voted with 174 Tory MPs against extending access to abortion pills at home. DWP Secretary Therese Coffey ‘comes out’ in GMB interview
What is her relationship with Liz Truss?
Ms Truss and Coffey are believed to have first met in the late 90s and early 90s while campaigning as young Tories and have been friends ever since, according to the Telegraph. A source told the paper that Ms Coffey was a “team player” while Ms Truss was a “loner”. They added: “This is the social glue in the party – it brings people together. “She’s famous because she loves karaoke and organizes parties for MPs and staff. But that’s why it works. Liz needs her for her social skills. It’s a good yin and yang.”
