The Lord Coaker
Labour
Member of the House of Lords
M
Lord Coaker's full title is The Lord Coaker. His name is Vernon Rodney Coaker, and he is a current member of the House of Lords.
Allowance claims · 2026
Daily attendance allowance
£0
14 days attended across 1 published month
Total claimed
£0
Source: House of Lords Finance Office monthly publications, refreshed on the 5th of each month.
Ministerial activity
Records on file
23
4 meetings ·
0 hospitality ·
0 gifts ·
19 overseas trips
· 2024-01-01 → 2026-12-31
Total overseas travel cost
£220,393
Recent meetings
| Date | Met with | Purpose | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-01 | Nil-Return | Nil-Return | ministry-of-defence |
| 2025-12-16 | Chinook Justice Campaign | Engagement with bereaved families group | ministry-of-defence |
| 2025-11-19 | Progressive Policy Institute | Discussion on Ukraine policy | ministry-of-defence |
| 2025-10-23 | NATO Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Conference | Promote His Majesty's Government's message on Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear threats | ministry-of-defence |
Recent overseas travel
| Dates | Destination | Purpose | Total cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-15 → 2026-03-16 |
Rovaniemi; Finland
RAF Flight, Scheduled flight
|
Attending Exercise Cold Response | £15,000 |
| 2025-12-01 → 2025-12-05 |
Ashgabat; Turkmenistan, Baku; Azerbaijan, Yerevan; Armenia
RAF flight
|
Advance bilateral defence cooperation and opportunities | £32,953 |
| 2025-10-06 → 2025-10-09 |
Washington DC; US
Scheduled flight
|
Engagement with US counterparts | £4,366 |
| 2025-09-28 → 2025-09-30 |
Warsaw; Poland
Scheduled flight
|
Attend the Warsaw Security Forum on behalf of His Majesty's Government | £535 |
| 2025-09-21 → 2025-09-21 |
Arnhem; The Netherlands
Scheduled flight
|
Commemorate the anniversary of Op MARKET GARDEN | £211 |
| 2025-09-15 → 2025-09-17 |
Manila; Philippines
Scheduled flight
|
Attend HIGHMAST engagements to advance UK-PH relationship and commercial collaboration | £5,867 |
| 2025-06-22 → 2025-06-27 |
Singapore; Republic of Singapore, Jakarta; Indonesia
Scheduled flight
|
Defence Diplomacy | £13,780 |
| 2025-05-19 → 2025-05-20 |
Singapore; Republic of Singapore, Jakarta; Indonesia
Scheduled flight
|
Conference Attendance | £14,152 |
| 2025-05-13 → 2025-05-17 |
Tashkent; Uzbekistan, Dushanbe; Tajikistan
Scheduled flight
|
Defence Diplomacy | £6,427 |
| 2025-02-09 → 2025-02-12 |
Bengaluru; India
Scheduled flight
|
Attending the Indian Defence Expo | £16,281 |
| 2025-01-21 → 2025-01-25 |
Abuja; Nigeria, Maiduguri; Nigeria
Scheduled flight
|
Meeting with Nigerian Defence minister and MOD Forces in country | £4,240 |
| 2024-11-30 → 2024-12-06 |
Santiago; Chile, Brasilia; Brazil, Rio; Brazil
Scheduled Flight
|
Visit Chile to co-Chair the UK Chile Ministerial Strategic Dialogue and attend Latin Americas naval trade show EXPONAVAL. Bilateral with counterparts in Brazil | £9,232 |
| 2024-11-25 → 2024-11-25 |
The Hague; The Netherlands
Scheduled Flight
|
Visit the National Address at the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and bilateral discussions with key partners | £612 |
| 2024-11-20 → 2024-11-20 |
Copenhagen; Denmark
RAF Flight
|
Attend the bi-annual ministerial meeting of The Northern Group | £5,684 |
| 2024-11-07 → 2024-11-08 |
Sarajevo; Bosnia
RAF Flight
|
Build relations and show support to our key global allies | £14,759 |
| 2024-09-21 → 2024-09-21 |
Arnhem; Netherlands
Scheduled Flight
|
Ceremonial event for the 80th anniversary of Operation MARKET GARDEN and the Dutch liberation | £33,284 |
| 2024-09-04 → 2024-09-06 |
Hanoi; Vietnam
Scheduled Flight
|
Bilateral Engagements and Meetings | £12,648 |
| 2024-09-01 → 2024-09-03 |
Kuala Lupur; Malaysia
Scheduled Flight
|
Regional Engagement and Conference Attendence | £30,361 |
| 2024-07-31 → 2024-08-02 |
Warsaw; Poland
RAF Flight
|
80th anniversary of the Warsaw Uprising | — |
Source: gov.uk ministerial transparency returns. Coverage:
HM Treasury and DSIT. Published quarterly under the Ministerial
Code; refreshed monthly on the 7th.
Lords votes · 2026
189 divisions
6 Content(3.2%)
152 Not-Content(80.4%)
31 didn't vote(16.4%)
2026-09-08
Not-Content
26–63
Not-Content
2026-07-21
Not-Content
173–234
Not-Content
2026-07-13
Not-Content
41–118
Not-Content
2026-07-13
Not-Content
142–138
Content
2026-07-13
Not-Content
158–239
Not-Content
2026-06-09
Not-Content
13–66
Not-Content
2026-04-13
Not-Content
27–89
Not-Content
2026-04-13
Not-Content
30–130
Not-Content
2026-04-13
Not-Content
46–117
Not-Content
2026-04-13
Not-Content
135–154
Not-Content
2026-04-13
Not-Content
65–173
Not-Content
2026-04-13
Not-Content
178–231
Not-Content
2026-04-13
Not-Content
69–332
Not-Content
2026-03-26
Not-Content
115–197
Not-Content
2026-03-26
Not-Content
64–140
Not-Content
2026-03-25
Not-Content
95–137
Not-Content
2026-03-24
Not-Content
70–132
Not-Content
2026-03-24
Not-Content
80–166
Not-Content
2026-03-05
Not-Content
193–143
Content
2026-03-05
Not-Content
194–140
Content
2026-03-05
Not-Content
198–139
Content
2026-03-05
Not-Content
208–142
Content
2026-03-05
Not-Content
214–142
Content
2026-02-04
Not-Content
62–295
Not-Content
2026-01-12
Not-Content
201–169
Content
2026-01-05
Not-Content
131–127
Content
2026-01-05
Not-Content
194–130
Content
2026-01-05
Not-Content
168–178
Not-Content
2026-01-05
Not-Content
210–131
Content
2026-01-05
Not-Content
132–124
Content
Source: lordsvotes-api.parliament.uk. "Result" shows the headline
Content vs Not-Content tally (including tellers). The Lords doesn't
publish a "didn't vote" attendance roll like the Commons, so the
figure above conflates absence with abstention.
Recent Hansard contributions · latest 25
2026-09-15
Ukraine and Russia
I thank the noble Baroness for that question. She is absolutely right. It is a sin of omission not to mention underwater cables and some of the other points that she made. Being able to explain that to the British people is important. Part of the problem
2026-09-15
Ukraine and Russia
If you have evidence that something has happened, it is quite right to talk about, for example, drone attacks such as the one in Leipzig to which my noble friend refers. Sometimes, when I am asked questions, I want to go further than I do; I want to use
2026-09-15
Ukraine and Russia
In my response to the noble Earl, Lord Minto, I think I said that, for 21 days in July, ships were escorted by the Royal Navy. We see our ships deployed not only in the channel but elsewhere. We had the carrier in the north Atlantic to ensure that shippi
2026-09-15
Ukraine and Russia
We all deplore the loss of life. We are all human. We reflect on the casualties, the killed and the wounded, and the impact psychologically on many people. We do not always talk about the numbers of casualties in Ukraine but the level of suffering is cle
2026-09-15
Ukraine and Russia
The bravery and courage of the Ukrainian people cannot be overstated. They are simply immense. This is a point that I have made before, but I am going to make it again: Russia did not attack Ukraine when it did in the belief that years later it would sti
2026-09-15
Ukraine and Russia
We need to be careful about talking about taking Russian drones down in Ukrainian airspace. However, my noble friend is right when he talks about the need for a robust response to the incursions that we have seen. He talked about Lithuania. He will know
2026-09-15
Ukraine and Russia
I do absolutely agree with that. Certainly, the Government are looking at accelerating the progress—or not—that they are making on a national conversation. The noble and gallant Lord is absolutely right when he talks about resilience and the need to hav
2026-09-15
Ukraine and Russia
It is difficult to argue that completely. If that were the case, why would we be doing what we are doing in Ukraine, under the last Government and this Government? If we did not believe that the freedom of Ukraine was ultimately and intrinsically linked
2026-09-15
Ukraine and Russia
First, I thank the noble Lord for his comments about standing up against Russia. The UK Government have made significant efforts to disrupt the Russian economy through sanctions and through various measures that we have taken. I think it is really import
2026-09-15
Ukraine and Russia
I thank my noble friend for his question. Of course, we have to prevent escalation and be careful in the language we use, which I think by and large this House is, because it is aware that a word misplaced can have very serious consequences. I say to my
2026-09-15
Ukraine and Russia
My Lords, I thank the noble Earl, Lord Minto, and the noble Baroness, Lady Smith, for their overall constructive remarks and rightful challenge to the Government.
As both noble Lords started by saying, the House will be aware that a member of the UK A
2026-09-10
Defence Spending
Yes, I do. My noble friend makes an important point, because research and development is a battleground as well. If we can get in front of our adversaries in terms of the technological battle, that will make a real difference. I will lay this out to your
2026-09-10
Defence Spending
I do not have the exact answer at my fingertips, but the defence industry is an important part of this country’s defence and what we do. There are thousands upon thousands of jobs right across the nation which depend on a legitimate defence industry cont
2026-09-10
Defence Spending
I have seen various figures around the Chagos deal and where the funding may go. The previous Government sought to ensure that the Diego Garcia base was maintained; they were in negotiations about that. This Government are determined that ,whatever the r
2026-09-10
Defence Spending
I thank the noble Baroness for remarks about me attending the Royal Air Force show in Enniskillen last Saturday and for hosting me. Something the Government need to accelerate is the national conversation and the ability to explain to people why changes
2026-09-10
Defence Spending
I accept the points that my noble friend has made. As the Defence Minister, I always lay out what the Government are trying to do to deal with the situation as it currently exists. One or two years on from the last spending review, the Government took re
2026-09-10
Defence Spending
I will take the last point first on what the Government are doing now. The noble Lord will know that, in the DIP, there was £11 billion-worth of investment announced, to be invested in six munition sites, to give us the stockpiles that we need. What we c
2026-09-10
Defence Spending
In the overall MoD budget, there is funding for the defence diplomacy strategy. For example—I know this will be of keen interest to the noble Baroness—the strategy seeks to professionalise the integrated global defence network with better language traini
2026-09-10
Defence Spending
Let me first say something that I have always said from the Dispatch Box: I do not believe that there is anybody in this House or the other place who does not want to keep this country safe—I just do not believe that. On the noble Baroness’s question, pr
2026-09-10
Defence Spending
My Lords, the defence investment plan published in the summer increased defence spending by £15 billion over what was agreed at last year’s spending review. This means that MoD spending over the next four years will total almost £300 billion. Under curre
2026-09-08
Armed Forces Bill
I will finish with an upbeat message: I have never felt that I have lacked scrutiny on the defence investment plan or on accountability with respect to defence spending. I have answered numerous questions from the noble Baronesses, Lady Smith and Lady Go
2026-09-08
Armed Forces Bill
My Lords, let me just say this: none of us is going to do justice to the amendments that the noble Baroness, Lady Smith, has brought forward. She made a couple of important points, as did the noble Baroness, Lady Brinton, and the noble Lord, Lord De Maul
2026-09-08
Armed Forces Bill
I thank the noble Earl, Lord Minto, and I particularly thank the right reverend Prelate the Bishop of Norwich. I have had a number of conversations with him about this outside the Chamber. I have asked my officials to look at his Amendment 59, with respe
2026-09-08
Armed Forces Bill
The Government can make the laws and derogate should they wish to do so. I have pointed out the inconsistency of the amendment moved by the noble Baroness, Lady Gouldie, which would require us to derogate from the Human Rights Act but would not achieve h
2026-09-08
Armed Forces Bill
In all the time that I have been in this House, that is the first time that I have not understood what the noble Lord means. I have said what I have said and I will leave it there.
Source: hansard.parliament.uk via hansard-api. Snippets shown
verbatim from the search API; click any debate title for the full record.
Register of Interests · 2 entries on file
Declarations under the Lords Code of Conduct. Free text — no monetary values, no hours worked. A declaration that an interest exists, not a claim about its size.
Category 1: Remunerated employment etc.
-
Minister of State, Ministry of Defence
registered 2024-08-06 · amended 2025-04-05
Category 6: Gifts, benefits and hospitality
-
Three tickets and hospitality received from Nottingham Forest FC for Nottingham Forest v Newcastle United match, 10 May 2026
registered 2026-05-18
Source: UK Parliament Members API (Lords register). Refreshed weekly.
Read the full
Lords Code of Conduct
for what each category covers and the disclosure thresholds.
Party history
1997-05-01 → present
Labour
current
Government posts
2024-07-08 → present
Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
2009-06-09 → 2010-05-06
Minister of State (Department for Children, Schools and Families) (Schools and Learners)
2008-10-05 → 2009-06-09
Minister of State (Home Office) (Policing, Crime & Security)
2007-07-02 → 2008-10-05
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office) (Crime Reduction)
2006-05-05 → 2007-06-28
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
2005-05-10 → 2006-05-05
Lord Commissioner (HM Treasury) (Whip)
2003-06-13 → 2005-05-10
Assistant Whip (HM Treasury)
Opposition posts
2021-05-18 → 2024-07-05
Opposition Whip (Lords)
2021-05-18 → 2024-07-05
Shadow Spokesperson (Defence)
2021-05-18 → 2024-07-05
Shadow Spokesperson (Home Affairs)
2015-09-14 → 2016-06-26
Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
2013-10-07 → 2015-09-14
Shadow Secretary of State for Defence
2011-10-07 → 2013-10-07
Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
2010-10-08 → 2011-10-07
Shadow Minister (Home Affairs)
2010-05-12 → 2010-10-08
Shadow Minister (Education) (Schools)
Committee memberships
1998-11-09 → 1999-02-01
Social Security
2017-10-16 → 2019-11-06
Business, Innovation, Science and Trade Committee
Contact
Parliamentary office
contactholmember@parliament.uk
020 7219 5353 · House of Lords, London, SW1A 0PW
020 7219 5353 · House of Lords, London, SW1A 0PW
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APPGs (2026) · 2 active officership(s) · 1 historic
| Group | Role(s) | Funders | Officers in group | Next deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
All-Party Parliamentary Group for Sport, Modern Slavery and Human Rights
Subject Group
|
Treasurer | UN Global Compact Network UK | 6 | 2023-07-04 |
|
Midlands Engine All-Party Parliamentary Group
Subject Group
|
Vice Chair | — | 4 | 2024-11-22 |
One row per active APPG. Funder names link out via the
/appgs Top secretariat funders panel — click any funder
there to open its full relationship graph. Officer matching is name-based against
the parliament.uk register text and may miss titled / hyphenated variants.
Written parliamentary questions · 2026
No written questions tabled in 2026.
Bills sponsored & supported · 2026
1 bills
0 as lead sponsor
1 as supporter
| Bill | Info | Role | Status | Introduced |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Armed Forces Bill | Supporter | Report stage | 2026-01-15 |
Source: UK Parliament Bills API. "Lead" sponsor is the
primary mover (sortOrder = 1); "Supporter" rows are
members of either House who
backed the bill at introduction. Year is the bill's first-reading
date.
Historic bills (all-time)
2 bills
0 as lead sponsor
2 as supporter
| Bill | Info | Role | Status | Introduced |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Armed Forces Bill | Supported | Report stage | 2026-01-15 | |
| Armed Forces Commissioner Act | Supported | Royal Assent | 2024-11-06 |
Same source as the year-scoped panel above, but unconstrained by
year. The "Sponsored" tag = lead sponsor; "Supported" = backed at
introduction. Sorted newest first.