At a glanceYvette Cooper is a Labour MP for Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley, and has represented the seat for 29 years, 2 months. They currently serve as Foreign Secretary. They have cast 170 votes in Commons divisions (30% attendance), tabled 189 written questions and registered 4 financial interests.
Attendance is votes cast as a share of the 575 Commons divisions since the 2024 election; Yvette Cooper did not vote in 405. A rebellion is a vote against the way most of their own party voted; free votes, where no party line applies, are left out.
Party-loyalty figures are our own analysis of the official voting records (recorded votes only; they do not describe the formal whip). How we work this out.
Biography
She currently holds the Government post of Foreign Secretary.
Current roles
- Foreign Secretary Government post · Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office since 5 Sep 2025
- Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley Representation · Elected 1 time since 4 Jul 2024
- Labour Party since 1 May 1997
Voting record
Voting alignment
Votes most like
-
Sir Alan Campbell
Labour
100.0% · 169 of 169 shared votes
-
Rachel Hopkins
Labour
100.0% · 169 of 169 shared votes
-
Alex Mayer Labour 100.0% · 168 of 168 shared votes
-
Andy Slaughter
Labour
100.0% · 168 of 168 shared votes
-
Josh Dean
Labour
100.0% · 168 of 168 shared votes
Votes least like
-
Sir Roger Gale
Conservative
0.0% · 0 of 93 shared votes
-
George Freeman
Conservative
1.2% · 1 of 81 shared votes
-
Sir Geoffrey Cox
Conservative
1.3% · 1 of 80 shared votes
-
Sir James Cleverly
Conservative
1.8% · 2 of 111 shared votes
-
Mrs Kemi Badenoch
Conservative
1.8% · 1 of 55 shared votes
Alignment figures are our own analysis of the official voting records (recorded votes only; they do not describe the formal whip). How we work this out.
Register of financial interests
From the official Register; shown as registered.
Employment and earnings1
- Writing a book - Conville and Walsh
Employment and earnings - Ad hoc payments2
- Payment received on 28 April 2026 - £758.06 (registered 14 May 2026)
- Payment received on 28 October 2025 - £643.01 (registered 5 Nov 2025)
Gifts, benefits and hospitality from UK sources1
- Barbara Follett - £2,350.00 (registered 21 Oct 2025)
Written questions
Homes for Ukraine Scheme: Visas
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many visa applications under the Homes for Ukraine scheme have currently been outstanding for more than (a) one month, (b) three months and (c) six months.
Answer · 23 Mar 2023
UKVI aims to assess all Ukraine Schemes visa applications as quickly as possible and straightforward applications are processed within a matter of days. It is right, however, that visas are only issued after all necessary checks have been completed which ...
Homes for Ukraine Scheme: Visas
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the average processing time for a Homes for Ukraine Scheme visa was in the latest period for which data is available.
Answer · 23 Mar 2023
UKVI aims to assess all Ukraine Schemes visa applications as quickly as possible and straightforward applications are processed within a matter of days. It is right, however, that visas are only issued after all necessary checks have been completed which ...
National Crime Agency: Finance
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to Statement by the Prime on Illegal Immigration of 13tDecember 202, Official Report column 885, what the total budget of the National Crime Agency for organised immigration crime was i
Answer · 15 Feb 2023
The NCA’s budget for the 2022-23 financial year is £800 million. The NCA prioritises resources to target offenders operating across a range of serious and organised crime threats, including Organised Immigration Crime.
Asylum: Albania
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many returns there have been since 13 December 2022 arising from unsuccessful asylum claims made by Albanian nationals.
Answer · 9 Feb 2023
The Home Office publishes data on asylum and returns from the UK in the ‘Immigration Statistics Quarterly Release’. Data on the outcomes of asylum applications at initial decision by nationality are published in table Asy_D02 of the asylum and resettlemen...
Asylum: Albania
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum claims by Albanian nationals have been decided since 13 December 2022.
Answer · 9 Feb 2023
The Home Office publishes data on asylum and returns from the UK in the ‘Immigration Statistics Quarterly Release’. Data on the outcomes of asylum applications at initial decision by nationality are published in table Asy_D02 of the asylum and resettlemen...
People Smuggling: English Channel
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate her Department has made of the number of organised crime groups active in facilitating people smuggling across the English Channel.
Answer · 26 Jan 2023
The Government is resolute in its commitment to tackle Organised Immigration Crime (OIC).Tackling people smuggling of all types is a priority for Immigration Enforcement, working through its international network upstream as well as conducting OIC investi...
National Crime Agency: Staff
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many National Crime Agency staff are posted to (a) Belgium (b) Germany and (c) Netherlands.
Answer · 26 Jan 2023
The Government is resolute in its commitment to tackle Organised Immigration Crime (OIC).Tackling people smuggling of all types is a priority for Immigration Enforcement, working through its international network upstream as well as conducting OIC investi...
People Smuggling
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many National Crime Agency staff are currently in roles tasked primarily with the disruption of (a) organised immigration crime and (b) people smuggling across the English Channel.
Answer · 26 Jan 2023
The Government is resolute in its commitment to tackle Organised Immigration Crime (OIC).Tackling people smuggling of all types is a priority for Immigration Enforcement, working through its international network upstream as well as conducting OIC investi...
Speeches in the chamber
9 Jul 2026 NATO Summit
I agree that we need to go further. The defence investment plan has set out a plan that takes us from 2.3% up to 2.7%. We have made commitments to go to 3% and then to 3.5% on core defence spending, so we of course need to go further. We n…
9 Jul 2026 NATO Summit
I welcome the hon. Member’s question. I can assure him that the commitment to increasing investment in defence—both in each country’s sovereign defence and in our shared defence—was evident right around the NATO council table from every co…
9 Jul 2026 NATO Summit
Defence and foreign policy are rightly reserved matters, because they relate to the security of the whole United Kingdom. Scotland plays a crucial role as part of that—not just as part of our armed forces, but by having crucial parts of ou…
9 Jul 2026 NATO Summit
I pay tribute to the right hon. Member for being liberal in his criticism of all Governments—I accept that point. The US assessment of what is happening recognises Ukraine’s strength and resilience and the fact that, despite all the initia…
9 Jul 2026 NATO Summit
I can tell the right hon. Gentleman that there were extensive discussions at the NATO summit about air defences for Ukraine and the potential to mobilise a wide range of different partners and allies from across the world who may have othe…
9 Jul 2026 NATO Summit
As I have said, our security since the second world war has very much depended on the NATO alliance, which has always been a defensive alliance that has built its strength through deterrence. Deterrence is immensely important. When we reac…
9 Jul 2026 NATO Summit
That work is under way, and has a joint commitment from our Prime Minister and the Canadian Prime Minister, who have been responsible in parallel for beginning those initiatives. The multilateral defence mechanism focuses mostly on the joi…
9 Jul 2026 NATO Summit
I agree with the right hon. Member about the importance of preventing another El Fasher. That is exactly why I raised the issue directly with a series of European allies and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and why the Prime Minister rai…
9 Jul 2026 NATO Summit
I did take the opportunity to discuss the situation in both the west bank and Gaza with some of our allies and partners. I am deeply worried that last year’s 20-point plan for Gaza—which was hugely important and which we supported, as did …
9 Jul 2026 NATO Summit
I agree with the hon. Member about the importance of challenging Russia in every sphere. Not only does it attempt to use different spheres for its narratives and its misinformation, but it has used misinformation on an industrial scale to …
9 Jul 2026 NATO Summit
My hon. Friend makes a really important point. We know that no one country can do this alone, especially for some of the most advanced capabilities; we also know that if we want really effective interoperability, joint procurement with our…
9 Jul 2026 NATO Summit
I can certainly tell the hon. Member that we support what I think were very positive bilateral discussions between President Trump and President Zelensky, which included the range of support they discussed, as well as the progress that Ukr…
9 Jul 2026 NATO Summit
This is partly about the immediate support that Ukraine needs, both in terms of its military capabilities—we provide support, but we also learn from Ukraine’s phenomenal innovation and strength, and the way in which it is using that invest…
9 Jul 2026 NATO Summit
We agree about the nature of the increasingly dangerous world we live in and the importance of us being able to defend ourselves and maintain our security. We have committed to reaching the 3.5% commitment on defence, but that is part of a…
9 Jul 2026 NATO Summit
I welcome my hon. Friend’s points. We need to see an end to Iran’s attacks on commercial shipping in the strait. Crucially, that means Iran must give up its claim that it somehow has the right to control international shipping routes and O…
9 Jul 2026 NATO Summit
The hon. Gentleman mentions a range of issues. In terms of the areas of agreement and disagreement, there will be areas where we continue to disagree with the President of the United States and have said so, including in our continued supp…
9 Jul 2026 NATO Summit
My right hon. Friend makes a really important point. There are links between our national security and our economic security; they are closely intertwined. That comes from the fact that if our economic security is jeopardised, including th…
9 Jul 2026 NATO Summit
Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. For most of the period before the election, defence spending was nearer 2% of GDP. That is just too low, which is why we are increasing it; we have already increased it from 2.3% to 2.7%, and we have com…
9 Jul 2026 NATO Summit
The shadow Foreign Secretary says from a sedentary position that times have changed. She is right: times did change. Times changed when Russia invaded Crimea. That was the evidence that the post-cold war peace dividend had gone, and yet i…
9 Jul 2026 NATO Summit
I thank the shadow Foreign Secretary for her response, particularly her support for the commitments made in Ankara and the continuing condemnation of the Russian strikes. It has been an important part of the cross-party debates in this Hou…
Source: contributions on parliament.uk.
Full parliamentary career
Government posts
- Home Secretary · Home Office 5 Jul 2024 – 5 Sep 2025
- Secretary of State for Work and Pensions · Department for Work and Pensions 6 Jun 2009 – 6 May 2010
- Chief Secretary to the Treasury · HM Treasury 24 Jan 2008 – 5 Jun 2009
- Minister of State (Department of Communities and Local Government) (Housing) · Department for Communities and Local Government 28 Jun 2007 – 24 Jan 2008
- Minister of State (Department of Communities and Local Government) (Housing and Planning) · Department for Communities and Local Government 5 May 2006 – 28 Jun 2007
- Minister of State (Office of the Deputy Prime Minister) (Housing and Planning) · Office of the Deputy Prime Minister 10 May 2005 – 5 May 2006
- Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Office of the Deputy Prime Minister) (Regeneration and Regional Developement) · Office of the Deputy Prime Minister 13 Jun 2003 – 10 May 2005
- Parliamentary Secretary (Lord Chancellor's Department) · Lord Chancellor's Department 29 May 2002 – 13 Jun 2003
- Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health) · Department of Health 11 Oct 1999 – 28 May 2002
Opposition posts
- Shadow Secretary of State for the Home Department · Home Office 29 Nov 2021 – 30 May 2024
- Shadow Home Secretary · Home Office 20 Jan 2011 – 14 Sep 2015
- Shadow Minister (Equalities Office) (Women and Equalities) · Government Equalities Office 20 Jan 2011 – 7 Oct 2013
- Shadow Foreign Secretary and Minister for Women and Equalities · HM Official Opposition 8 Oct 2010 – 20 Jan 2011
- Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions · Department for Work and Pensions 12 May 2010 – 8 Oct 2010
Committee memberships
- National Security Strategy (Joint Committee) 11 May 2020 – 25 Jan 2022
- Liaison Committee (Commons) 20 May 2020 – 15 Dec 2021
- Home Affairs Committee · Chair 27 Jan 2020 – 1 Dec 2021
- Liaison Committee Sub-committee on the effectiveness and influence of the select committee system 13 Feb 2019 – 6 Nov 2019
- Liaison Committee (Commons) 6 Nov 2017 – 6 Nov 2019
- National Security Strategy (Joint Committee) 30 Oct 2017 – 6 Nov 2019
- Home Affairs Committee · Chair 12 Jul 2017 – 6 Nov 2019
- National Security Strategy (Joint Committee) 28 Nov 2016 – 3 May 2017
- Home Affairs Committee · Chair 19 Oct 2016 – 3 May 2017
- Liaison Committee (Commons) 19 Oct 2016 – 3 May 2017
- Education & Employment 14 Jul 1997 – 29 Nov 1999
Previous seats
- Normanton, Pontefract and Castleford · Elected 4 times 6 May 2010 – 30 May 2024
- Pontefract and Castleford · Elected 3 times 1 May 1997 – 6 May 2010
Expenses
Contact & offices
020 7219 5080
Parliamentary office
House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA
Constituency office
Queen's Mill, Aire Street, Castleford, WF10 1JL
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Yvette Cooper, answered from official Parliament data.
Who is Yvette Cooper?
Yvette Cooper is a Member of Parliament representing Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley in the House of Commons. See Yvette Cooper's official Parliament profile.
Which party does Yvette Cooper represent?
Yvette Cooper sits as Labour. See Yvette Cooper's official Parliament profile.
Which constituency does Yvette Cooper represent?
Yvette Cooper is the Member of Parliament for Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley. See Yvette Cooper's official Parliament profile.
How long has Yvette Cooper been an MP?
Yvette Cooper has served in the House of Commons for 29 years, 2 months. See Yvette Cooper's official Parliament profile.
What registered interests are listed for Yvette Cooper?
Yvette Cooper has 4 entries in the Register of Members' Financial Interests. See Yvette Cooper's official Parliament profile.
Source: this MP's official Parliament profile. Last updated 26 Jul 2026.