Marie Rimmer
Marie Rimmer CBE MP | |
---|---|
Opposition Whip | |
In office 14 April 2020 – 4 December 2021 | |
Leader | Keir Starmer |
Shadow Minister for Disabled People | |
In office 1 February 2017 – 9 October 2017 | |
Leader | Jeremy Corbyn |
Preceded by | Debbie Abrahams |
Succeeded by | Marsha de Cordova |
Member of Parliament for St Helens South and Whiston | |
Assumed office 7 May 2015 | |
Preceded by | Shaun Woodward |
Majority | 19,122 (38.0%) |
Personal details | |
Born | 27 April 1947 |
Political party | Labour |
Website | Official website |
Marie Elizabeth Rimmer,
Early life
Born in 1947, Rimmer grew up in St Helens. After she left school, she worked at the
Councillor career (1978-2014)
Rimmer first became a Labour local councillor for St Helens in 1978.
In the
In 2006, police investigated Rimmer for allegations that she had spent £1,000 more than what was allowed in her ward during May's local elections, breaking rules governing election campaign expenses.[11] The original complaints originated from a member of the now defunct Community Action Party, Eric Guest, who was hit back by the Labour Party who called the allegations 'spurious and malicious.'[12]
Rimmer became leader of the council for a third time following the
Her leadership ended following the 2014 St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council election where despite winning a large Labour majority, Rimmer was replaced by her deputy, Barrie Grunewald, in May 2013 after a 22 to 18 vote of the Labour group on the council.[16]
Parliamentary career (2014-present)
In 2014, Rimmer was picked from an all-women shortlist as Labour's candidate in the 2015 general election to succeed Shaun Woodward as MP for St Helens South and Whiston.[17] Thirteen years prior, she was blocked from being shortlisted for the same seat ahead of the 2001 general election by Labour's national executive committee, amidst accusations of a "stitch-up" to parachute Woodward into the seat, as he was unlikely to win his Witney seat which he had won in 1997 as a Conservative.[18] Labour officials refused to disclose reasons why Rimmer was excluded from the shortlist, and despite being noted as a local favourite, Rimmer insisted that, despite her exclusion, she was not angry and that she "...did not come into politics to be angry."[19] She was elected as MP for St Helens South and Whiston in the 2015 general election with a majority of 21,243.[20]
On the day of the Scottish independence referendum in 2014, an incident at a polling station in Shettleston, Glasgow, led to her arrest and being charged with assault.[21][22] Rimmer's case was later found not proven at Glasgow Sheriff Court in November 2016.[23]
Initially supporting Yvette Cooper, she supported Owen Smith in the 2016 Labour leadership election.[24] In the 2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum, Rimmer voted remain.[25] Following the murder of Jo Cox, Rimmer was among 20 MP's, and musicians including Ricky Wilson, MP4, and Royal Opera House Thurrock Community Chorus, to record a charity single covering The Rolling Stones' You Can't Always Get What You Want.[26]
In the 2017 general election, Rimmer held her seat and increased her majority to 24,343.[27] This was reduced to 19,122 at the 2019 general election.[28]
Rimmer was appointed Shadow Minister for Disabled People on 1 February 2017[29] but decided to step down from the role in October the same year.[30] On 14 April 2020, she was appointed as an opposition whip, a position she held until 4 December 2021.[31]
Rimmer endorsed Keir Starmer in the 2020 Labour Party leadership election.[32]
Personal life
Rimmer has a sister, Marlene Mary Quinn, who also ran as councillor in St Helens as recently as 2019.[33]
References
- ^ "St Helens South & Whiston". BBC News.
- ^ a b c Benjamin, Alison (9 April 2003). "Peer pressures". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 February 2022.
- ^ "Results | From 5th Jul 1985 | Liverpool Echo | Publication | Lancashire, England | Location | British Newspaper Archive". Retrieved 18 October 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Pilkington Brothers Plc". UK Parliament. 15 December 1986. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
- ^ BTR withdraws offer for Pilkington
- ^ "Marie's back as council leader". Lancashire County Publications. NewsBank. 14 May 1999.
- ^ "Ballot box - Elections". The Times. NewsBank. 12 June 2004. p. 26.
- ^ "Funding threat to key NW projects". Liverpool Echo. 4 March 2004. Retrieved 23 February 2022.
- ^ "Club announce £100m ground plan". BBC. 3 July 2004. Retrieved 23 February 2022.
- ^ "No. 57665". The London Gazette (Supplement). 11 June 2005. p. 8.
- ^ "Ex-leader in vote expenses probe". BBC. 28 June 2006. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
- ^ "War of words on election expenses allegation". St Helens Star. 6 July 2006. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
- ^ "Rimmer: 'Labour council will be 'transparent and accountable'". St Helens Star. NewsBank. 27 May 2010.
- ^ Weston, Alan (8 May 2010). "Labour regains control of St Helens council". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
- ^ Bartlett, David (10 November 2011). "Council leaders divided over Merseyside mayor idea". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
- ^ Kilmurray, Andrew (8 May 2013). "Marie Rimmer ousted as St Helens Council leader and replaced by Barrie Grunewald". St Helens Star. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
- ^ "Marie Rimmer: Former St Helens council leader to stand as MP". BBC News. 7 April 2014.
- ^ "Safe seat 'stitch-up'". 13 May 2001. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
- ^ Wintour, Patrick; Chrisafis, Angelique; Maguire, Kevin (14 May 2001). "Woodward scrapes in". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 February 2022.
- ^ Belger, Tom (8 May 2015). "St Helens General Election results 2015: Veteran councillor and new kid on the block town's two new MPs". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 15 March 2018.
- ^ Morris, Nigel; Cusick, James (18 September 2014). "Scottish independence: Historic day marred by isolated reports of intimidation, abuse and violence". The Independent. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
- ^ Staff writer (17 September 2015). "Labour MP Marie Rimmer charged with attacking a woman at a polling station on day of indyref". Herald Scotland. Retrieved 22 September 2015.
- ^ Staff writer (2 November 2016). "Labour MP Marie Rimmer on not proven verdict". BBC News. Retrieved 29 November 2016.
- ^ Smith, Mikey; Bloom, Dan (20 July 2016). "Which MPs are nominating Owen Smith in the Labour leadership contest?". Mirror. Retrieved 10 November 2018.
- ^ "How might your local MP have cast their vote?". ITV News. 24 June 2016. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
- ^ Evans, Sophie; Wardle, Sally (17 November 2016). "Rock stars and MPs record Jo Cox charity single - a Rolling Stones song". mirror. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
- ^ Parliament, United Kingdom. "2017 General Election results - St Helens South and Whiston". UK Parliament. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
- ^ Parliament, United Kingdom. "2019 General Election result - St Helens South and Whiston". UK Parliament. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
- ^ Mulligan, Simon (1 February 2017). "Marie Rimmer MP named shadow minister for disabled people". St Helens Star. Retrieved 15 March 2018.
- ^ Staff writer (9 October 2017). "Marsha de Cordova appointed shadow disabilities minister". LabourList. Retrieved 15 March 2018.
- ^ Parliament, United Kingdom. "Ms Marie Rimmer - Parliamentary career". UK Parliament. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
- ^ LabourList (8 January 2020). "Rolling list: MP/MEP nominations for Labour leadership candidates". LabourList | Latest UK Labour Party news, analysis and comment. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
- ^ "Labour aims for 2008". Liverpool Echo. NewsBank. 4 May 2007.