Marie Rimmer

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2015}}{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Marie Rimmer

| honorific-suffix = {{postnominals|country=GBR|size=100%|CBE|MP}}

| image = Official portrait of Ms Marie Rimmer MP crop 2.jpg

| caption = Official portrait, 2020

| office = Opposition Whip

| leader = Keir Starmer

| term_start = 14 April 2020

| term_end = 4 December 2021

| office1 = Shadow Minister for Disabled People

| leader1 = Jeremy Corbyn

| term_start1 = 1 February 2017

| term_end1 = 9 October 2017

| predecessor1 = Debbie Abrahams

| successor1 = Marsha de Cordova

| office2 = Member of Parliament
for St Helens South and Whiston

| term_start2 = 7 May 2015

| term_end2 =

| predecessor2 = Shaun Woodward

| successor2 =

| majority2 = 11,945 (31.4%)

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1947|4|27|df=y}}

| birth_place =

| death_date =

| death_place =

| party = Labour

| religion =

| website = {{Official website|https://www.marierimmer.co.uk/}}

}}

Marie Elizabeth Rimmer, {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|CBE}} (born 27 April 1947) is a British Labour Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for St Helens South and Whiston since 2015.{{cite news |title=St Helens South & Whiston |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/E14000963 |work=BBC News}}

She has previously been a local councillor for St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council in Merseyside, England, and has served as Labour leader of the council three times between 1978 and 2014.

Early life and career

Marie Rimmer was born on 27 April 1947, and grew up in St Helens. After she left school, she worked at the Pilkington Glass manufacturing plant, first as a comptometer operator, and later as a buyer for the engineering division.{{Cite web|last=Benjamin|first=Alison|date=2003-04-09|title=Peer pressures|url=http://www.theguardian.com/society/2003/apr/09/publicsectorcareers.modlocalgov|access-date=2022-02-23|website=The Guardian|language=en}}

Political career

Rimmer first became a Labour local councillor for St Helens in 1978. In 1985, she became Labour leader of the council.{{Cite web |title=Results {{!}} From 5th Jul 1985 {{!}} Liverpool Echo {{!}} Publication {{!}} Lancashire, England {{!}} Location {{!}} British Newspaper Archive |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/search/results/1985-07-05?NewspaperTitle=Liverpool+Echo&IssueId=BL/0000271/19850705/&County=Lancashire,%20England |access-date=2023-10-18 |via=British Newspaper Archive}} In 1986, Rimmer debated against the unfriendly take-over bid from BTR Industries, arguing that the loss of local control of the company would greatly harm St Helens.{{Cite web|date=1986-12-15|title=Pilkington Brothers Plc|url=https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/1986-12-15/debates/caf58138-45ce-498f-b198-dc23d4bbc0a0/PilkingtonBrothersPlc|access-date=2022-02-24|website=UK Parliament}} BTR withdrew its offer the same year.[http://www.alacrastore.com/storecontent/Thomson_M&A/BTR_PLC_withdraws_offer_for_Pilkington_PLC-13487040 BTR withdraws offer for Pilkington] In 1993, Rimmer stepped down as Labour leader of the council and returned to Pilkington Glass as a health and safety advisor, until retiring from the position following the 1999 St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council election, where she became Labour leader of the council for the second time.{{cite news|date=14 May 1999|title=Marie's back as council leader|work=Lancashire County Publications|publisher=NewsBank}}

Prior to the 2001 general election, Rimmer was blocked from being shortlisted for St Helens South and Whiston by Labour's National Executive Committee, amidst accusations of a "stitch-up" to parachute Shaun Woodward into the seat, as he was unlikely to win his Witney seat which he had won in 1997 as a Conservative.{{Cite news |date=2001-05-13 |title=Safe seat 'stitch-up' |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/news/vote2001/hi/english/newsid_1327000/1327507.stm |access-date=2018-11-15 |language=en-GB}} Labour officials refused to disclose reasons why Rimmer had been excluded from the shortlist, and despite being noted as a local favourite, Rimmer insisted that, despite her exclusion, she was not angry and that she "...did not come into politics to be angry".{{Cite web |last1=Wintour |first1=Patrick |last2=Chrisafis |first2=Angelique |last3=Maguire |first3=Kevin |date=2001-05-14 |title=Woodward scrapes in |url=http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2001/may/14/election2001.labour |access-date=2022-02-23 |website=The Guardian |language=en}}

In the 2004 St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council election, Rimmer held her seat in West Park after 3 recounts, however the Labour council lost its majority and lost overall control of the council to no overall control.{{cite news|date=12 June 2004|title=Ballot box – Elections|page=26|work=The Times|publisher=NewsBank}} In the same year, Rimmer was a board member of the Northwest Development Agency (NWDA), a regional development agency for the North West England.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=2004-03-04|title=Funding threat to key NW projects|url=https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/funding-threat-key-nw-projects-3545894|access-date=2022-02-23|website=Liverpool Echo|language=en}} In July, Rimmer and the St Helens Council backed the plans for the construction for a new stadium for St Helens R.F.C. as part of a £100m leisure complex.{{Cite news|date=2004-07-03|title=Club announce £100m ground plan|language=en-GB|work=BBC|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/merseyside/3861839.stm|access-date=2022-02-23}} She was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2005 Birthday Honours for services to local government.{{London Gazette

| issue = 57665

| date = 11 June 2005

| page = 8

| supp = y

}}

In 2006, police investigated Rimmer for allegations that she had spent £1,000 more than what was allowed in her ward during May's local elections, breaking rules governing election campaign expenses.{{Cite news|date=2006-06-28|title=Ex-leader in vote expenses probe|work=BBC|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/merseyside/5125892.stm|access-date=2022-02-24}} The original complaints originated from a member of the now defunct Community Action Party, Eric Guest, who was hit back by the Labour Party who called the allegations 'spurious and malicious.'{{Cite web|date=2006-07-06|title=War of words on election expenses allegation|url=https://www.sthelensstar.co.uk/news/6680489.war-of-words-on-election-expenses-allegation/|access-date=2022-02-24|website=St Helens Star|language=en}}

Rimmer became leader of the council for a third time following the 2010 St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council election.{{cite news|date=27 May 2010|title=Rimmer: 'Labour council will be 'transparent and accountable'|work=St Helens Star|publisher=NewsBank}} She criticised the then outgoing administration, led by Liberal Democrats leader Brian Spencer, for driving people away from the town centre after their implementation of car parking charges in some areas of St Helens.{{Cite web|last=Weston|first=Alan|date=2010-05-08|title=Labour regains control of St Helens council|url=https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/labour-regains-control-st-helens-3422678|access-date=2022-02-24|website=Liverpool Echo|language=en}} In 2011, Rimmer opposed plans to introduce the Metro Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, stating that "St Helens has a long and proud tradition of helping to support the sub region economy by working closely with our colleagues. I do not believe that investing power in one individual is the right thing to do."{{Cite web|last=Bartlett|first=David|date=2011-11-10|title=Council leaders divided over Merseyside mayor idea|url=http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/local-news/council-leaders-divided-over-merseyside-3359614|access-date=2022-02-24|website=Liverpool Echo|language=en}}

Her leadership ended following the 2014 St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council election where despite winning a large Labour majority, Rimmer was replaced by her deputy, Barrie Grunewald, in May 2013 after a 22 to 18 vote of the Labour group on the council.{{cite news|last=Kilmurray|first=Andrew|date=8 May 2013|title=Marie Rimmer ousted as St Helens Council leader and replaced by Barrie Grunewald|work=St Helens Star|url=http://www.sthelensstar.co.uk/news/10405972.Marie_Rimmer_ousted_as_St_Helens_Council_leader/?ref=rss|access-date=7 March 2015}}

On the day of the Scottish independence referendum in 2014, an incident at a polling station in Shettleston, Glasgow, led to Rimmer's arrest and being charged with assault.{{cite news |last1=Morris |first1=Nigel |last2=Cusick |first2=James |date=18 September 2014 |title=Scottish independence: Historic day marred by isolated reports of intimidation, abuse and violence |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/scottish-independence/scottish-independence-historic-day-marred-by-isolated-reports-of-intimidation-abuse-and-violence-9741987.html |access-date=24 July 2015 |work=The Independent}}{{cite news |last=Staff writer |date=17 September 2015 |title=Labour MP Marie Rimmer charged with attacking a woman at a polling station on day of indyref |url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/13768144.Labour_MP_Marie_Rimmer_charged_with_attacking_a_woman_at_a_polling_station_on_day_of_indyref/ |access-date=22 September 2015 |work=Herald Scotland}} Rimmer's case was later found not proven at Glasgow Sheriff Court in November 2016.{{cite news |last=Staff writer |date=2 November 2016 |title=Labour MP Marie Rimmer on not proven verdict |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-37853195 |access-date=29 November 2016 |work=BBC News}}

Parliamentary career

In April 2014, Rimmer was picked from an all-women shortlist as Labour's candidate for St Helens South and Whiston.{{cite news|date=7 April 2014|title=Marie Rimmer: Former St Helens council leader to stand as MP|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-26913782}} At the 2015 general election, Rimmer was elected to Parliament as MP for St Helens South and Whiston with 59.8% of the vote and a majority of 21,243.{{cite web |title=Election Data 2015 |url=http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2015.txt |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017112223/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2015.txt |archive-date=17 October 2015 |access-date=17 October 2015 |publisher=Electoral Calculus}}{{cite news |title=St Helens South & Whiston |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/E14000963 |access-date=10 May 2015 |publisher=BBC News}}{{cite news | last = Belger | first = Tom | title = St Helens General Election results 2015: Veteran councillor and new kid on the block town's two new MPs | url = https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/st-helens-general-election-results-9212401 | work = Liverpool Echo | date = 8 May 2015 | access-date = 15 March 2018}}

Initially supporting Yvette Cooper, she supported Owen Smith in the 2016 Labour leadership election.{{cite news|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/mps-nominating-owen-smith-labour-8451186|title=Which MPs are nominating Owen Smith in the Labour leadership contest?|last1=Smith|first1=Mikey|date=20 July 2016|work=Mirror|access-date=10 November 2018|last2=Bloom|first2=Dan}}

In the 2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum, Rimmer voted remain.{{Cite web|date=2016-06-24|title=How might your local MP have cast their vote?|url=https://www.itv.com/news/granada/2016-06-24/how-might-your-local-mp-have-cast-their-vote|access-date=2022-02-24|website=ITV News|language=en}}

Following the murder of Jo Cox, Rimmer was among 20 MP's, and musicians including Ricky Wilson, MP4, and Royal Opera House Thurrock Community Chorus, to record a charity single in November 2016 covering The Rolling Stones' You Can't Always Get What You Want.{{Cite web|last1=Evans|first1=Sophie|last2=Wardle|first2=Sally|date=2016-11-17|title=Rock stars and MPs record Jo Cox charity single – a Rolling Stones song|url=http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/rock-stars-mps-record-jo-9280614|access-date=2022-02-24|website=mirror|language=en}}

Rimmer was appointed Shadow Minister for Disabled People on 1 February 2017{{cite news |last=Mulligan |first=Simon |date=1 February 2017 |title=Marie Rimmer MP named shadow minister for disabled people |url=http://www.sthelensstar.co.uk/news/15063335.Marie_Rimmer_MP_named_shadow_minister_for_disabled_people/ |access-date=15 March 2018 |work=St Helens Star}} but decided to step down from the role in October the same year.{{cite news |last=Staff writer |date=9 October 2017 |title=Marsha de Cordova appointed shadow disabilities minister |url=https://labourlist.org/2017/10/marsha-de-cordova-appointed-shadow-disabilities-minister/ |access-date=15 March 2018 |work=LabourList}}

At the snap 2017 general election, Rimmer was re-elected as MP for St Helens South and Whiston with an increased vote share of 67.8% and an increased majority of 24,343.{{Cite web |last=Parliament |first=United Kingdom |title=2017 General Election results – St Helens South and Whiston |url=https://electionresults.parliament.uk/election/2017-06-08/results/Location/Constituency/St%20Helens%20South%20and%20Whiston |access-date=18 October 2023 |website=UK Parliament}}{{cite news |title=St Helens South & Whiston parliamentary constituency |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/E14000963 |work=BBC News}} She was again re-elected at the 2019 general election, with a decreased vote share of 58.5% and a decreased majority of 19,122.{{Cite web |last=Parliament |first=United Kingdom |title=2019 General Election result – St Helens South and Whiston |url=https://members.parliament.uk/member/4457/electionresult |access-date=18 October 2023 |website=UK Parliament}}{{cite web |title=Statement of persons nominated |url=https://www.sthelens.gov.uk/media/10930/statement-of-persons-nominated-st-helens-south-and-whiston.pdf}}

Rimmer endorsed Keir Starmer in the 2020 Labour Party leadership election.{{Cite web |last=LabourList |date=2020-01-08 |title=Rolling list: MP/MEP nominations for Labour leadership candidates |url=https://labourlist.org/2020/01/rolling-list-mp-mep-nominations-for-labour-leadership-candidates/ |access-date=2023-10-18 |website=LabourList {{!}} Latest UK Labour Party news, analysis and comment |language=en-GB}}

On 14 April 2020, she was appointed as an opposition whip, a position she held until 4 December 2021.{{Cite web |last=Parliament |first=United Kingdom |title=Ms Marie Rimmer – Parliamentary career |url=https://members.parliament.uk/member/4457/career |access-date=18 October 2023 |website=UK Parliament}}

At the 2024 general election, Rimmer was again re-elected with a decreased vote share of 49.7% and a decreased majority of 11,945.[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election/2024/uk/constituencies/E14001510 St Helens South and Whiston]{{Cite web |title=GENERAL ELECTION RESULTS DECLARED IN ST HELENS BOROUGH |url=https://sthelens.gov.uk/article/11050/General-Election-results-declared-in-St-Helens-Borough |access-date=6 July 2024 |publisher=St. Helens Council}}

Personal life

Rimmer has a sister, Marlene Mary Quinn, who also ran as a councillor in St Helens as recently as 2019.{{cite news|date=4 May 2007|title=Labour aims for 2008|work=Liverpool Echo|publisher=NewsBank}}