Kate Hoey - Politics

Politics

Kate Hoey was Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Home Office from 1998 to 1999, and Minister for Sport in the Department of Culture, Media and Sport from 1999 to 2001. She campaigned against London's candidacy for the 2012 Olympics on the basis that Paris is more deserving, due to the volume of sporting facilities in the city, but has actively promoted sport in schools and is involved in gun politics in the UK. The current handgun ban affects training and participation in international shooting competitions. Hoey has been involved in the issues of affordable housing, top-up tuition fees, foundation trust hospitals and provision for pensioners.

In Parliament, Hoey has participated in 50% of votes, described as "well below average amongst MPs", but has spoken in 36 debates in the last year in parliament, which has been described as "above average for MPs". On top of her income as an MP, she is paid over £5,000 a year for articles in the Daily Telegraph, a conservative newspaper, and over £15,000 a year for her campaigning work on behalf of the Countryside Alliance, a rural pressure group.

Hoey has often rebelled against her party. She has voted against government policy on the war in Iraq, foundation hospitals, university tuition and top-up fees, ID cards and extended detention without trial. She was a leading Labour rebel supporting a referendum on the EU Lisbon Treaty.

Although having a voting record moderately in favour of gay rights, she has been described as "the least gay-friendly of all Labour MPs" by the Chief Executive of Stonewall.

On 29 April 2008 it was announced that Hoey would form part of the team of Conservative Boris Johnson, should he become Mayor, as an unpaid non-executive director advising on sport and the 2012 Olympics.