Thérèse Coffey
A steadfast Conservative MP who briefly held the UK's second-highest office during a period of remarkable political turbulence.
Born 1971 (age 55)·Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in 2022·Birthday: November 18·Generation X
Biography
Born in Lancashire, Thérèse Coffey studied chemistry at Oxford before a career in finance, working for Mars and the BBC. Her political ascent began in 2010 when she was elected MP for Suffolk Coastal, a seat she has held since. Known for her loyalty and no-nonsense style, she served in various ministerial roles under David Cameron and Theresa May, most notably as Environment Secretary. Her political peak came in 2022 when Liz Truss appointed her Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Health, a dual role she held for just 49 days during Truss's short-lived premiership. Coffey's tenure was defined by navigating the inherited NHS backlog and winter crises amidst intense political instability, cementing her reputation as a resilient, if sometimes polarizing, figure on the Tory frontbench.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Thérèse was born in 1971, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Thérèse Was Born
The biggest hits of 1971
#1 Movie
Fiddler on the Roof
Best Picture
The French Connection
#1 TV Show
Marcus Welby, M.D.
Thérèse's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1971Born
Voting age lowered to 18 in the US
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $18,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Joy to the World" — Three Dog NightBest Picture: The French Connection
1976Started school
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1984Became a teenager
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1987Could drive
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1989Could vote
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1992Turned 21
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
2001Turned 30
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2011Turned 40
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2021Turned 50
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 55 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Served as Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from September to October 2022.
- Held the position of Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs from 2019 to 2022.
- Appointed Secretary of State for Health and Social Care concurrently with her role as Deputy Prime Minister.
Did You Know?
She is a trained classical soprano and has sung with the Parliament Choir.
Coffey holds a PhD in chemistry from University College London.
She is a supporter of the football club Tottenham Hotspur.
“My focus is on delivering for people in Suffolk Coastal and getting on with the job.”
