Who is former Labour Party MP Ann Coffey, why did she resign and what’s her view on Brexit?
ONE of the Labour Party's longest serving MPs, Ann Coffey, has resigned along with six colleagues to form an independent political party.
But who is Ann Coffey, and what are her views on Brexit? Here's everything you need to know.
Who is Ann Coffey?
On Monday, February 18, 2019, Ann Coffey, the Labour MP for Stockport who was elected in the 1992 general election, resigned to join The Independent Group.
The 72-year-old was elected as a councillor to the Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council in 1984 and became its Labour group leader 1988-92, stepping down from the council in 1992 to become an MP.
She served as member of the trade and industry select committee until she was made Opposition whip in 1995 and then Opposition health spokeswoman in 1996.
When Labour won the general election in 1997, Coffey was appointed as Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) to Prime Minister Tony Blair.
In 1998 she became PPS to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Alistair Darling and was his assistant from 2002-2006 in his role as the Secretary of State for Transport and then as Secretary of State for Trade and Industry.
As the chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Runaway and Missing Children and Adults, Coffey published a report ‘Real Voices – Child sexual exploitation in Greater Manchester,’ commissioned by the Greater Manchester Police and Crime Commissioner in the wake of the Rochdale child sexual abuse scandal in October 2014.
She published a follow up report in 2017 called 'Real Voices - Are they being heard?' looking at improvements in tackling child exploitation.
Why did she resign from the Labour Party?
On the morning of February 18, 2019, seven Labour MPs stepped down to form a new independent party called The Independent Group.
These were Luciana Berger, Chuka Umunna, Mike Gapes, Ann Coffey, Chris Leslie, Gavin Shuker and Angela Smith.
The rebels are furious at Mr Corbyn's Brexit policy and his failure to tackle anti-Semitism in the party.
The seven MPs will now sit in parliament as an independent group of MPs.
Coffey says the Labour party is no longer a broad church as she left it with "great sadness".
She said of Labour: “Any criticism of the leadership is responded to with abuse and accusations of treachery.
"Anti-Semitism is rife and tolerated. The current leadership have been very successful at changing this party beyond recognition.
"And in doing so is failing the people who have supported the Labour Party all their lives and who I joined to help. Loyalty cannot be an end in itself."
She says the new independent group will work to change a political system in which they feel they have no voice.
Coffey remains committed to her constituents: “My values haven’t changed.”
MORE ON THE LABOUR PARTY
What is her view on Brexit?
Coffey is a supporter of the movement to have a second referendum.
In the 1975 referendum, Coffey voted to stay in the European Union.
: "My view is that we should have another public vote.
"This time people would be voting on proper detailed options for the way forward with the full knowledge of what is actually on the table – the Prime Minister’s compromise deal, another deal, no deal or remaining in the EU.
"It is difficult to see now exactly what MPs will be asked to vote on.
"If we do not get support for a People’s Vote then I will support the option that is the least damaging to the economic and social fabric of the nation."
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