Difference between revisions of "Luke Coffey"

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'''Luke Coffey''' is Special Adviser to Secretary of State for Defence [[Liam Fox]].<ref>Department of Information Services, "[http://www.parliament.uk/documents/commons/lib/research/briefings/snpc-04810.pdf Parliamentary Information List]", accessed 07.09.10</ref>
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[[File:Coffey Luke.png|thumb]] '''Luke Coffey''' was a special advisor (SpAd) to the former UK secretary of state for defence [[Liam Fox]]<ref>Department of Information Services, "[http://www.parliament.uk/documents/commons/lib/research/briefings/snpc-04810.pdf Parliamentary Information List]", accessed 07.09.10</ref> until October 2011. He is now director of the [[Heritage Foundation]]'s Douglas and Sarah Allison Center for Foreign Policy. <ref> [http://www.heritage.org/staff/luke-coffey Luke Coffey]], Heritage Foundation, accessed 15 August 2017. </ref>
  
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==Background==
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He was previously a [[Margaret Thatcher]] Fellow at the foundation from 2013-15.<ref name="HeritageBio">[http://www.heritage.org/about/staff/c/luke-coffey Luke Coffey], Heritage Foundation], accessed 14 December 2013.</ref>  
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Coffey was a Captain in the U.S. Army, serving first as part of the [[Southern European Task Force]] (SETAF) based in Vicenza, Italy and later deployed to Afghanistan as part of [[Operation Enduring Freedom]] (OEF VI) in 2005.<ref>CENSA, "[http://www.censa.net/membership-directory-c.asp Membership directory]", accessed 12.09.10</ref>  He has a BA degree in Political Science from the University of Missouri and studied African politics as a visiting undergraduate at the University of the Western Cape in South Africa.  He later gained a Masters degree in European Politics from the [[London School of Economics]].  Arriving in Britain in 2006, he began working for the Tory MP [[Mark Harper]] before applying to move to Fox's office.<ref>Isabel Oakeshott , "[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article7144905.ece Minister lets US ‘mole’ roam MoD]", ''The Sunday Times'', 06.06.10, accessed 12.09.10</ref>
 
  
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==Conflicts of interest==
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==Education==
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Coffey graduated from Pacific High School in 1998.<ref>[http://www.emissourian.com/features_people/announcements/article_f5834eee-5c88-11e0-aaeb-001cc4c03286.html Moore-Coffey Engagement], www.emissourian.com, 1 April 2011.</ref> He earned an AA in Military Science at the Wentworth Military Academy, where he studied between 1998 and 2000. In 2001, he studied South African Politics as a visiting undergraduate at the University of the Western Cape/Universiteit van Wes-Kaapland. He earned a BA in Political Science at the University of Missouri-Saint Louis, between 2000 and 2002. He earned an MSc in Politics and Government of the European Union at the London School of Economics in 2006-07.<ref name="Linkedin">[http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=13472274&authType=NAME_SEARCH&authToken=jHSW&locale=en_US&srchid=119720151386967021322&srchindex=1&srchtotal=14&trk=vsrp_people_res_name&trkInfo=VSRPsearchId%3A119720151386967021322%2CVSRPtargetId%3A13472274%2CVSRPcmpt%3Aprimary Luke Coffey], LinkedIn, accessed 14 December 2013.</ref>
  
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Despite concerns over Coffey's suitability for the role, Liam Fox defended the decision highlighting the "special relationship" between Britain and America.  He added: "It’s not as if he is Russian".  Concerns about Coffey centred on potential conflicts of interest; with particular anxiety about his role in a forthcoming strategic defence review - central to which is the British-American relationship and the future for defence procurement programmes.  This compounds existing disquiet regarding Fox's apparent bias towards procuring cheaper military equipment from America rather than supplies from the domestic defence industry.  Highlighting these fears, Labour MP and former special adviser in the [[MoD]] [[Michael Dugher]] remarked that:
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==US Army==
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::This raises serious questions. At a time when the MoD is undertaking a sensitive defence review, vital to British national interests, is it really appropriate to have a foreign national and a former member of the US military employed by the taxpayer as a special adviser to the British secretary of state?  It will only fuel fears that Liam Fox plans to tear up important contracts with UK-based suppliers — supporting thousands of British jobs — in favour of buying ‘off the shelf’ from the Americans.<ref>Isabel Oakeshott , "[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article7144905.ece Minister lets US ‘mole’ roam MoD]", ''The Sunday Times'', 06.06.10, accessed 12.09.10</ref>
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Coffey was a Captain in the [[US Army]], serving first as part of the [[Southern European Task Force]] (SETAF) based in Vicenza, Italy and later deployed to Afghanistan as part of [[Operation Enduring Freedom]] (OEF VI) in 2005.<ref>CENSA, "[http://www.censa.net/membership-directory-c.asp Membership directory]", accessed 12.09.10</ref>
  
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===U.S. defence lobbying===
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==Westminster==
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Arriving in Britain in 2006, he began working for the Tory MP [[Mark Harper]] before applying to move to Fox's office.<ref name="Oakeshott">Isabel Oakeshott , "[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article7144905.ece Minister lets US ‘mole’ roam MoD]", ''The Sunday Times'', 06.06.10, accessed 12.09.10</ref>
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===Fox special advisor in opposition===
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From May 2007 until May 2010, was an advisor to Shadow Defence Secretary [[Liam Fox]].<ref name="Linkedin">[http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=13472274&authType=NAME_SEARCH&authToken=jHSW&locale=en_US&srchid=119720151386967021322&srchindex=1&srchtotal=14&trk=vsrp_people_res_name&trkInfo=VSRPsearchId%3A119720151386967021322%2CVSRPtargetId%3A13472274%2CVSRPcmpt%3Aprimary Luke Coffey], LinkedIn, accessed 14 December 2013.</ref>
  
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Coffey established the London chapter of American think tank the [[Council for Emerging National Security Affairs]] (CENSA) whose aim it is to "shape US national security policy" and "become the premier venue for virtual collaboration in addressing national security affairs and policy renewals".<ref>Isabel Oakeshott , "[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article7144905.ece Minister lets US ‘mole’ roam MoD]", ''The Sunday Times'', 06.06.10, accessed 12.09.10</ref>
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===Fox special advisor in Government===
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On Fox's appointment as Defence Secretary in May 2010, Coffey followed him into Whitehall as one of his special advisors.<ref name="Linkedin">[http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=13472274&authType=NAME_SEARCH&authToken=jHSW&locale=en_US&srchid=119720151386967021322&srchindex=1&srchtotal=14&trk=vsrp_people_res_name&trkInfo=VSRPsearchId%3A119720151386967021322%2CVSRPtargetId%3A13472274%2CVSRPcmpt%3Aprimary Luke Coffey], LinkedIn, accessed 14 December 2013.</ref> Coffey oversaw policy on Europe, the US, the Middle East, military operations and welfare.<ref>Rupert Neate, [http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2011/oct/13/fox-werritty-dubai-stag-party Fox and Werritty joined stag party during taxpayer-funded trip to Dubai], ''The Guardian'', 13 October 2011.</ref> His biography today states that he was 'the first non-UK citizen appointed by Prime Minister David Cameron to provide advice to senior British ministers'.
  
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===Lack of security vetting===
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In June 2010, a ''Sunday Times'' article by [[Isabel Oakeshott]] queried the appointment of an American to this role pointing to Coffey's US military background, and his role in the CENSA think-tank alongside US intelligence personnel. Oakeshott wrote: Highlighting these fears, Labour MP and former special adviser in the [[MoD]] [[Michael Dugher]] remarked that:
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::This raises serious questions. At a time when the MoD is undertaking a sensitive defence review, vital to British national interests, is it really appropriate to have a foreign national and a former member of the US military employed by the taxpayer as a special adviser to the British secretary of state?  It will only fuel fears that Liam Fox plans to tear up important contracts with UK-based suppliers — supporting thousands of British jobs — in favour of buying ‘off the shelf’ from the Americans.<ref name="Oakeshott">Isabel Oakeshott , "[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article7144905.ece Minister lets US ‘mole’ roam MoD]", ''The Sunday Times'', 06.06.10, accessed 12.09.10</ref>
  
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Coffey was granted an all access pass to the MoD in advance of being "defence vetted" by the security clearance process.  The process, which can take months, was apparently delayed due to Coffey's nationality. In an article for ''The Sunday Times'', journalist Isabel Oakeshott notes:
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Coffey was granted an all access pass to the MoD in advance of being "defence vetted" by the security clearance process.  The process, which can take months, was apparently delayed due to Coffey's nationality. A question from Labour MP [[Kevan Jones]] about the nationality of special advisors was blocked by [[Francis Maude]].<ref>Isabel Oakeshott , "[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article7144905.ece Minister lets US ‘mole’ roam MoD]", ''The Sunday Times'', 06.06.10, accessed 12.09.10</ref>
  
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::MoD sources say that until he has been cleared he will be working on a restricted computer and will not be allowed into the most confidential meetings. Since Fox became defence secretary there have been two highly sensitive briefings — on special forces and Britain’s nuclear deterrent — which Coffey was not allowed to attend.  However, Whitehall insiders say he will still have ready access to highly confidential documents relating to security and commercial contracts.
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Coffey stepped down as a special advisor in October 2011.<ref name="Linkedin">[http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=13472274&authType=NAME_SEARCH&authToken=jHSW&locale=en_US&srchid=119720151386967021322&srchindex=1&srchtotal=14&trk=vsrp_people_res_name&trkInfo=VSRPsearchId%3A119720151386967021322%2CVSRPtargetId%3A13472274%2CVSRPcmpt%3Aprimary Luke Coffey], LinkedIn, accessed 14 December 2013.</ref>
  
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::Based on the sixth floor of the MoD, an enormous open plan office, he is likely to come across many documents stamped “UK eyes only” which are not intended to be seen by any foreign citizens. A Whitehall source said: “In this job you have incredible access to sensitive material. The offices are open plan and every desk has confidential papers on it. Because of the layout of the office, you can’t help but see this stuff.”
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Concern over Coffey's access to Whitehall and Westminster saw [[Thomas Docherty]] MP in 2013 ask the then Conservative defence secretary  [[Philip Hammond]]  'on how many occasions Mr Luke Coffey has been registered as a visitor to his Department’s main building ' since Coffey had stopped working as Fox's adviser. Hammond replied that:
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:Since November 2011 [...] Mr Luke Coffey has been registered as a visitor on three occasions.
  
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::As a member of the US armed forces, Coffey will have taken an oath of allegiance to America, promising to defend the constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic.  However, he has told friends that his primary loyalty is now to Fox, for whom he has been working for several years. He works alongside another special adviser who is British.
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:These were on 2 December 2011 for a meeting with the special advisor, on 23 January 2012 to meet staff in the Permanent Secretary’s Office, and on 24 January 2012 for a personal meeting with an Army Officer.  In addition, my private office records show both Mr Waghorn and Mr Coffey attended a meeting with me in my MOD office on 3 November 2011. <ref> [https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201314/cmhansrd/chan54.pdf PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) Monday 14 October 2013] House of Commons Official Report, No 568 </ref>
  
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The former armed forces minister, Labour MP [[Kevan Jones]], tabled a question about the nationality of special advisers.  This was blocked by [[Francis Maude]] due to the information being deemed "personal".<ref>Isabel Oakeshott , "[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article7144905.ece Minister lets US ‘mole’ roam MoD]", ''The Sunday Times'', 06.06.10, accessed 12.09.10</ref>
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==CENSA==
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Coffey established the London chapter of American think tank the [[Council for Emerging National Security Affairs]] (CENSA) whose aim it is to "shape US national security policy" and "become the premier venue for virtual collaboration in addressing national security affairs and policy renewals".<ref name="Oakeshott">Isabel Oakeshott , "[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article7144905.ece Minister lets US ‘mole’ roam MoD]", ''The Sunday Times'', 06.06.10, accessed 12.09.10</ref>
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==Heritage Foundation==
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Coffey joined the [[Heritage Foundation]] as fellow of the [[Margaret Thatcher Center for Freedom]] in 2012.<ref name="HeritageBio">[http://www.heritage.org/about/staff/c/luke-coffey Luke Coffey], Heritage Foundation], accessed 14 December 2013.</ref>
  
 
==Contact, Resources, Notes==
 
==Contact, Resources, Notes==

Latest revision as of 02:41, 6 September 2017

Coffey Luke.png

Luke Coffey was a special advisor (SpAd) to the former UK secretary of state for defence Liam Fox[1] until October 2011. He is now director of the Heritage Foundation's Douglas and Sarah Allison Center for Foreign Policy. [2]

He was previously a Margaret Thatcher Fellow at the foundation from 2013-15.[3]

Education

Coffey graduated from Pacific High School in 1998.[4] He earned an AA in Military Science at the Wentworth Military Academy, where he studied between 1998 and 2000. In 2001, he studied South African Politics as a visiting undergraduate at the University of the Western Cape/Universiteit van Wes-Kaapland. He earned a BA in Political Science at the University of Missouri-Saint Louis, between 2000 and 2002. He earned an MSc in Politics and Government of the European Union at the London School of Economics in 2006-07.[5]

US Army

Coffey was a Captain in the US Army, serving first as part of the Southern European Task Force (SETAF) based in Vicenza, Italy and later deployed to Afghanistan as part of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF VI) in 2005.[6]

Westminster

Arriving in Britain in 2006, he began working for the Tory MP Mark Harper before applying to move to Fox's office.[7]

Fox special advisor in opposition

From May 2007 until May 2010, was an advisor to Shadow Defence Secretary Liam Fox.[5]

Fox special advisor in Government

On Fox's appointment as Defence Secretary in May 2010, Coffey followed him into Whitehall as one of his special advisors.[5] Coffey oversaw policy on Europe, the US, the Middle East, military operations and welfare.[8] His biography today states that he was 'the first non-UK citizen appointed by Prime Minister David Cameron to provide advice to senior British ministers'.

In June 2010, a Sunday Times article by Isabel Oakeshott queried the appointment of an American to this role pointing to Coffey's US military background, and his role in the CENSA think-tank alongside US intelligence personnel. Oakeshott wrote: Highlighting these fears, Labour MP and former special adviser in the MoD Michael Dugher remarked that:

This raises serious questions. At a time when the MoD is undertaking a sensitive defence review, vital to British national interests, is it really appropriate to have a foreign national and a former member of the US military employed by the taxpayer as a special adviser to the British secretary of state? It will only fuel fears that Liam Fox plans to tear up important contracts with UK-based suppliers — supporting thousands of British jobs — in favour of buying ‘off the shelf’ from the Americans.[7]

Coffey was granted an all access pass to the MoD in advance of being "defence vetted" by the security clearance process. The process, which can take months, was apparently delayed due to Coffey's nationality. A question from Labour MP Kevan Jones about the nationality of special advisors was blocked by Francis Maude.[9]

Coffey stepped down as a special advisor in October 2011.[5]

Concern over Coffey's access to Whitehall and Westminster saw Thomas Docherty MP in 2013 ask the then Conservative defence secretary Philip Hammond 'on how many occasions Mr Luke Coffey has been registered as a visitor to his Department’s main building ' since Coffey had stopped working as Fox's adviser. Hammond replied that:

Since November 2011 [...] Mr Luke Coffey has been registered as a visitor on three occasions.
These were on 2 December 2011 for a meeting with the special advisor, on 23 January 2012 to meet staff in the Permanent Secretary’s Office, and on 24 January 2012 for a personal meeting with an Army Officer. In addition, my private office records show both Mr Waghorn and Mr Coffey attended a meeting with me in my MOD office on 3 November 2011. [10]

CENSA

Coffey established the London chapter of American think tank the Council for Emerging National Security Affairs (CENSA) whose aim it is to "shape US national security policy" and "become the premier venue for virtual collaboration in addressing national security affairs and policy renewals".[7]

Heritage Foundation

Coffey joined the Heritage Foundation as fellow of the Margaret Thatcher Center for Freedom in 2012.[3]

Contact, Resources, Notes

Notes

  1. ↑ Department of Information Services, "Parliamentary Information List", accessed 07.09.10
  2. ↑ Luke Coffey], Heritage Foundation, accessed 15 August 2017.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Luke Coffey, Heritage Foundation], accessed 14 December 2013.
  4. ↑ Moore-Coffey Engagement, www.emissourian.com, 1 April 2011.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Luke Coffey, LinkedIn, accessed 14 December 2013.
  6. ↑ CENSA, "Membership directory", accessed 12.09.10
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Isabel Oakeshott , "Minister lets US ‘mole’ roam MoD", The Sunday Times, 06.06.10, accessed 12.09.10
  8. ↑ Rupert Neate, Fox and Werritty joined stag party during taxpayer-funded trip to Dubai, The Guardian, 13 October 2011.
  9. ↑ Isabel Oakeshott , "Minister lets US ‘mole’ roam MoD", The Sunday Times, 06.06.10, accessed 12.09.10
  10. ↑ PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) Monday 14 October 2013 House of Commons Official Report, No 568
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