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Catharine Letitia Hoey, known as Kate Hoey (born 21 June 1946, Belfast) is a Labour Party politician in the United Kingdom. She has been the Member of Parliament for Vauxhall since a by-election in 1989.

Contents 1 Background 2 Sport 3 Politics 4 Other interests 5 Government and Parliamentary positions 6 References 7 External links

Hoey studied at Belfast Royal Academy. While attending the Ulster College of Physical Education she joined the International Marxist Group, one of the few people with an Ulster Unionist background to do so in the 1960s.^[1] After relocating to England, Hoey graduated in economics from the City of London College. She was a senior lecturer at Kingsway College from 1976 to 1985, during which time she left the International Marxist Group.

Hoey is know for her longstanding interest in sport. She was Northern Ireland High Jump Champion and worked for football clubs including Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, Queens Park Rangers, Chelsea and Brentford, as and Educational Advisor. Prior to entering Parliament she was educational adviser to Arsenal Football Club from 1985 to 1989.

A founder member of the London Northern Ireland Supporters' Club, Hoey took part in a St Patrick's Day parade in London with Northern Ireland manager Lawrie Sanchez.^[2]

She was Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Home Office from 1998 to 1999, and Minister for Sport in the Department of Culture, Media and Sport from 1999 to 2001. She campaigned against London's candidacy for the 2012 Olympics but has actively promoted sport in schools and is involved in gun politics in the UK. The current handgun ban affects training and participation in international shooting competitions. Hoey has been involved in the issues of affordable housing, top-up tuition fees, foundation trust hospitals and provision for pensioners.

Hoey quite often rebels against her party.^[3] She has voted against government policy on the war in Iraq, foundation hospitals, university tuition and top-up fees, ID cards and extended detention without trial.

The existence of the British Telecom Tower was covered by the Official Secrets Act (and therefore officially secret) until the mid 1990s. It was finally "confirmed" by Kate Hoey on 19 February 1993: "Hon. Members have given examples of seemingly trivial information that remains officially secret. An example that has not been mentioned, but which is so trivial that it is worth mentioning, is the absence of the British Telecom tower from Ordnance Survey maps. I hope that I am covered by parliamentary privilege when I reveal that the British Telecom tower does exist and that its address is 60 Cleveland Street, London."^[4]

She voted against government policy on war in Iraq, foundation hospitals, university tuition and top-up fees, ID cards and extended detention without trial.

Hoey opposes her party's effective racist ban on membership from Northern Ireland, which is slowly being changed under legislation against racism.^[5]

Hoey is known for her fight against the Labour Government's plans to ban fox hunting in the UK, a rare position among Labour MPs,^[6][7]

On the 22nd of July 2005, Ms Hoey was named the new chairman of the Countryside Alliance (the main pro-hunting group in the UK). She said the appointment was a "great honour and a great challenge". The Alliance's headquarters are in Ms Hoey's Vauxhall constituency.^[8]

Hoey has been a trustee of charity The Outward Bound Trust since October 2002.^[9]

• Backbencher (2001 - present)
• Junior minister, department of culture, media and sport (1999 - 2001)
• Junior minister, home office (1998 - 1999)
• PPS to Frank Field, Department of Social Security (1997 - 1998)
• Opposition spokesperson, citizen's charter and women (1992 - 1993)

1. ^ The Gaurdian
2. ^ BBC News
3. ^ The Public Whip website
4. ^ Hansard text.
5. ^ The Times Online
6. ^ The Telegraph
7. ^ Hansard text
8. ^ Western Mail & Echo
9. ^ Outward Bound website

• Labour Party - Kate Hoey MP
• LambethLabour.com Lambeth Labour Party
• Guardian Unlimited Politics - Ask Aristotle: Kate Hoey MP
• TheyWorkForYou.com - Kate Hoey MP
• Interview with Kate Hoey, Candidate for Vauxhall three-part video interview from The Chatshow Network
• Sunday Times Magazine profile
• Kate Hoey Voting record
• July 22nd - Hoey becomes Countryside Alliance Chairman
• A proxy blog run by some of kates constituents
• An online petition regarding Hoey's chairmanship of the Countryside Alliance

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Stuart Holland	Member of Parliament for Vauxhall 1989 – present	Incumbent
Political offices
Preceded by Tony Banks	Minister for Sport 1999–2001	Succeeded by Richard Caborn