Vernon Coaker

Labour MP Gedling

Date of birth

17 June 1953

Political profile

Vernon Coaker became the first ever Labour MP for Gedling in 1997 when he unseated junior minister Andrew Mitchell (now MP for Sutton Coldfield).

He managed to secure a further swing against the Conservatives in 2001.

He was a locally active teacher and councillor, and still contributes enthusiastically to education debates.

He is an adept parliamentarian, and is proficient at securing debates and introducing bills to promote issues as diverse as lowering the voting age to 16 and strengthening the Equal Pay Act.

He is also keen on environmental issues and animal welfare.

Fiercely loyal to the government and often prepared to defend more controversial aspects of policy, he served as PPS to Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell.

In June 2003 he was made a government whip.

Contact

Commons office: 020 7219 6627

[e-mail]