Who Is Yvette Cooper? Age, Biography, and Wiki
Yvette Cooper was born on March 20, 1969, making her 55 years old as of 2025. A prominent figure in British politics, she has served as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Normanton, Pontefract, and Castleford since 1997 and held various key positions in government. Known for her intelligence and resilience, Cooper has consistently advocated for social justice, equality, and economic reform throughout her career.
You can find out more about her political journey on her Wikipedia page.
| Occupation | Politician |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | March 20, 1969 |
| Age | 56 Years |
| Birth Place | Inverness, Scotland |
| Horoscope | Pisces |
| Country |
Popularity
Yvette Cooper's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
As of 2025, Yvette Cooper stands at approximately 5 feet 6 inches (168 cm) tall and weighs around 130 pounds (59 kg). Her fitness routine and balanced diet reflect her commitment to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. While specific body measurements are not widely publicized, Cooper is often seen in well-tailored suits that complement her professional appearance.
Following the 2024 Southport stabbing, in which three young girls were killed, Cooper stated that she was concerned by the incident and described the emergency services' response as courageous. Cooper additionally visited Southport the following morning to lay flowers and meet officials and community leaders.
Starmer also visited the same day and laid flowers at the scene, and was heckled by some members of the public. Cooper later condemned the riots across England and Northern Ireland following the stabbing.
After Axel Rudakubana's guilty plea on 20 January 2025, Cooper announced a public inquiry, stating that the victims' families "needed answers about what had happened leading up to the attack".
This was followed by Starmer's promise to overhaul terrorism laws to reflect the type of non-ideological killings characterised by individuals like Rudakubana, stressing the threat from “acts of extreme violence perpetrated by loners, misfits, young men in their bedroom, accessing all manner of material online, desperate for notoriety, sometimes
inspired by traditional terrorist groups, but fixated on that extreme violence, seemingly for its own sake”.
Significant attention was drawn to the anti-radicalisation Prevent programme for failing to accept referrals of Rudakubana on the basis of him lacking a terrorist ideology.
Although an emergency review found that Prevent had followed correct procedures on each referral, Cooper concluded “that too much weight was placed on the absence of ideology” in the programme.
Cooper announced that there would be a review on the threshold at which Prevent intervenes, with senior lawyer David Anderson being assigned by Starmer as the Independent Prevent Commissioner to perform the review.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Yvette Cooper is married to fellow politician Ed Balls, who served as the Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer from 2011 to 2015. The couple met while working at the Treasury and have been together since the late 1990s. They have three children together, and their partnership is often regarded as a balanced and supportive relationship, navigating the complexities of political life while raising a family.
First elected to Parliament at the 1997 general election, Cooper was a Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in three departments under Prime Minister Tony Blair from 1999 to 2005. She was promoted to Minister of State for Housing and Planning in 2005, and was retained in the role when Gordon Brown was appointed prime minister in 2007.
In 2008, she joined Brown's Cabinet as Chief Secretary to the Treasury, before being promoted to Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in 2009. Following Labour's defeat at the 2010 general election, Cooper served in Ed Miliband's Shadow Cabinet as Shadow Foreign Secretary from 2010 to 2011.
In 2011, her husband Ed Balls was promoted to Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer; Cooper replaced Balls as shadow home secretary and served until Labour lost the 2015 general election.
Net Worth and Salary
In 2025, Yvette Cooper's estimated net worth is reported to be around £2 million. Her annual salary as an MP, along with her previous roles in government, contributes significantly to her financial status. Apart from her parliamentary earnings, Cooper has also engaged in various public speaking engagements and writing projects that enhance her income.
After Gordon Brown became prime minister, Cooper was invited to attend cabinet meetings as Housing Minister. Shortly after taking the job, she was required to introduce the Home Information Pack (HIPs) scheme.
According to Conservative columnist Matthew Parris, Cooper conceived HIPs, but avoided direct criticism for its problems because of her connection with Brown. In July 2007, Cooper announced in the House of Commons that "unless we act now, by 2026 first-time buyers will find average house prices are ten times their salary.
That could lead to real social inequality and injustice. Every part of the country needs more affordable homes – in the North and the South, in urban and rural communities".
Career, Business and Investments
Yvette Cooper's career has spanned various critical roles in the UK government, including Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and Minister for Housing. She is a key figure in the Labour Party and has served in significant shadow cabinet positions. Cooper's investments are primarily focused on her political endeavors, advocacy work, and charitable contributions. Additionally, she has written articles and published works that reflect her insights on public policy.
Cooper began her career as an economic policy researcher for Shadow Chancellor John Smith in 1990 before working in Arkansas for Bill Clinton, nominee of the Democratic Party for President of the United States, in 1992. Later that year, she became a policy advisor to then Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Harriet Harman.
Social Network
As a well-known public figure, Yvette Cooper is active on social media platforms, primarily Twitter and Instagram, where she shares updates on her political activities, personal milestones, and various campaigns. Her engagement on these platforms allows her to connect with constituents and followers, reaching thousands of admirers who appreciate her advocacy for social issues.
In 1999, she was promoted as Parliamentary under-secretary of state at the Department of Health. As a health minister, Cooper helped implement the Sure Start programme. In this post, she was also the first British government minister in history to take maternity leave.
Education
Yvette Cooper pursued her education at the University of Oxford, where she studied Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE). This strong academic foundation laid the groundwork for her future political career, providing her with the skills and knowledge to navigate the complexities of public discourse and policymaking.
She was educated at Eggar's School, a comprehensive school in Holybourne, and Alton College, both in Alton, Hampshire. She read philosophy, politics and economics (PPE) at Balliol College, Oxford, and graduated with a first-class honours degree.
She won a Kennedy Scholarship in 1991 to study at Harvard University, and completed her postgraduate studies with an MSc in economics at the London School of Economics.
