Marie Rimmer
Marie Rimmer | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Shadow Minister for Disabled People | |
| In office 1 February 2017 – 9 October 2017 | |
| Leader | Jeremy Corbyn |
| Shadowing | Penny Mordaunt |
| 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 |
Marie Elizabeth Rimmer, CBE (born 27 April 1947) is a British Labour Party politician. She has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for St Helens South and Whiston since 8 May 2015.[1]
Career
Before entering Parliament, Rimmer had served as a local councillor for over 30 years, including periods as leader of St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council.[2] She was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2005 Birthday Honours for services to local government.[3]
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.[2] 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 won in 1997 as a Conservative.[4]
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.[5][6] Rimmer's case was later found not proven at Glasgow Sheriff Court in November 2016.[7]
She supported Owen Smith in the 2016 Labour Party (UK) leadership election.[8]
She was elected as MP for St Helens South and Whiston in the 2015 general election with a majority of 21,243,[9] and subsequently increased to 24,343 in the 2017 general election.
Rimmer was appointed Shadow Minister for Disabled People on 1 February 2017[10] but decided to step down from the role in October the same year.[11]
Rimmer endorsed Keir Starmer in the 2020 Labour Party leadership election.[12]
References
- ^ "St Helens South & Whiston". BBC News.
- ^ a b "Marie Rimmer: Former St Helens council leader to stand as MP". BBC News. 7 April 2014.
- ^ "No. 57665". The London Gazette (Supplement). 11 June 2005. p. 8.
- ^ "Safe seat 'stitch-up'". 13 May 2001. Retrieved 15 November 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Marie Rimmer CBE MP [@MarieRimmer] (4 January 2020). "Count me in Keir. Marie Rimmer MP. St Helens South and Whiston" (Tweet) – via Twitter.