Difference between revisions of "Luke Coffey"

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'''Luke Coffey''' was Special Adviser to the former 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>
 
'''Luke Coffey''' was Special Adviser to the former 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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==Background==
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==Education==
 
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>
 
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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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>
 
  
 
==US Army==
 
==US Army==
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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>
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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>
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==Conflicts of interest==
 
  
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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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==Westminster==
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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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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 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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===U.S. defence lobbying===
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===Fox 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>
  
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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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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>
  
 
===Lack of security vetting===
 
===Lack of security vetting===
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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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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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==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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::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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::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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::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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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>
 
  
 
==Contact, Resources, Notes==
 
==Contact, Resources, Notes==

Revision as of 10:57, 14 December 2013

Luke Coffey was Special Adviser to the former Secretary of State for Defence Liam Fox.[1]

Education

Coffey graduated from Pacific High School in 1998.[2] 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.[3]

US Army

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.[4]

Westminster

Arriving in Britain in 2006, he began working for the Tory MP Mark Harper before applying to move to Fox's office.[5]

Fox advisor in opposition

From May 2007 until May 2010, was an advisor to Shadow Defence Secretary Liam Fox.[3]

Fox advisor in Government

On Fox's appointment as Defence Secretary in May 2010, Coffey followed him into Whitehall as one of his Special Advisors.[3]

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.[5]

Lack of security vetting

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.[6]

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".[5]

Contact, Resources, Notes

Notes

  1. ↑ Department of Information Services, "Parliamentary Information List", accessed 07.09.10
  2. ↑ Moore-Coffey Engagement, www.emissourian.com, 1 April 2011.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Luke Coffey, LinkedIn, accessed 14 December 2013.
  4. ↑ CENSA, "Membership directory", accessed 12.09.10
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Isabel Oakeshott , "Minister lets US ‘mole’ roam MoD", The Sunday Times, 06.06.10, accessed 12.09.10
  6. ↑ Isabel Oakeshott , "Minister lets US ‘mole’ roam MoD", The Sunday Times, 06.06.10, accessed 12.09.10
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