Derek Draper is an English former lobbyist. He is famous for his two political scandals. His first scandal dubbed “Lobbygate” occurred in 1998 and his second scandal occurred in 2009 while he was editor of the LabourList website. He also worked as a psychotherapist while inactive in politics.
What is Derek Draper Famous For?
- Former lobbyist.
Where is Derek Draper From?
Derek Draper was born on 15 August 1967. His birth name is Derek William Draper. His birth place is Chorley in the United Kingdom. He holds English nationality. He belongs to the white ethnicity. Information about his parents and siblings is not available.
Regarding his educational background, he attended Southlands High School. He later attended Runshaw College in Leyland and the University of Manchester.
Derek Draper Career
- Derek Draper started his political career in 1990.
- His political career started as the constituency secretary for Nick Brown.
- He left the job to become the researcher for Peter Mandelson, the MP for Hartlepool in 1992.
- He became the director of a lobbying firm, GPC Market Access in 1996.
- He set up the new Labour organization Progress with Liam Byrne while working there.
- He worked there until 1999.
- He worked as the Political Editor of the Modern Review in the late 1990s.
- He worked as a columnist for the Daily Express and presenter on Talk Radio UK.
- He is known for two political scandals.
- His first scandal was the “Lobbygate” scandal in 1998.
- While he was working as a director at GPC Market Access, he was caught on tape, with Jonathan Mendelsohn, boasting to Greg Palast – an undercover reporter from The Observer posing as a businessman – about how they could sell access to government ministers and create tax breaks for their clients.
- When the press got hold of the story, they dubbed it “Lobbygate”. He denied the allegations and accused The Observer of attempting to entrap him.
- He was sacked from his job at the Daily Express and generally shunned by Labour insiders.
- He then left politics and obtained an MA in clinical psychology.
- He then started working as a psychotherapist in Berkeley, California.
- He worked as “the development director of a community counseling centre”.
- He also claimed to have entered “private practice in Marylebone, London”.
- He is a member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP).
- He writes an occasional column for the Mail on Sunday newspaper on psychotherapy issues.
- He also wrote monthly columns in the magazines, Psychologies, and Therapy Today.
- He is the author of a chapter in The Future of the NHS.
- He urged people to vote tactically against Labour during the 2005 general election campaign.
- He returned to politics in 2008 as a Labour Campaign Advisor to Ray Collins, the then General Secretary of the Labour Party.
- He was the founder and editor of the LabourList website. It was founded in January 2009.
- David Lammy, Peter Mandelson, James Purnell, and Piers Morgan are some of the contributors to his website.
- He was once again dragged into scandal in 2009. The Daily Telegraph reported in April 2009 that Gordon Brown’s special adviser, Damian McBride, had sent a series of emails to Draper discussing plans to set up a blog that would be used to post false rumours about the private lives of senior or prominent members of the Conservative Party and their spouses. These smears would have included sexual and personal fabrications against MP Nadine Dorries, Conservative leader David Cameron and his wife, Samantha, and Shadow Chancellor George Osborne and his wife Frances.
- The emails, which had been sent from the Downing Street Press Office, found their way to Paul Staines, who brought them to the attention of the media.
- McBride resigned later the same day, and 10 Downing Street issued an apology for the “juvenile and inappropriate” emails.
- Brown sent personal letters to those who had been mentioned in the emails and expressed his regret over the incident.
- After a call for a public apology, Brown apologized publicly while on a visit to Glasgow.
- Draper apologized for his part in the affair.
- It was found out that the controversial Red Rag blogsite had already been set up.
- He resigned from his post as editor of LabourList.
- He is the author of two books, Blair’s 100 Days and Life Support.
Source: @News.Yahoo
Who is Derek Draper Wife?
Derek Draper is a married man. He is married to Good Morning Britain presenter, Kate Garraway. The couple got married in 2005 in Camden, London. The couple shares two children, Darcey Mary and William.
Draper tested positive for COVID-19 in March 2020. He was admitted to an ICU. He was in critical condition and was placed in an induced coma. His condition did not progress as he remained in hospital for a year. He returned home on a trial basis in April 2021. His wife stated that Draper still can’t move, sleeps 20 hours a day, and receives round-the-clock care. As of April 2022, his wife revealed that Draper still remains incapacitated and struggles to speak.
What is Derek Draper Height?
Derek Draper stands around the height of 1.72 m i.e. 5 feet and 8 inches tall. He has a body weight of around 167 lbs i.e. 76 kg. His current health condition due to COVID-19 contraction must have affected his body. He has an average body build. His eye color is dark brown and his hair color is black. His sexual orientation is straight.
What is Derek Draper Net Worth?
Derek Draper is a former lobbyist who mostly worked with Labour Party. His net worth is estimated at around $1 million at present.
Did You Know?
- While at the University of Manchester, Draper provided hospitality for Ken Livingstone, who had missed his train after a Labour Club meeting.
- He had a large poster of Labour Party deputy leader, Roy Hattersley in his student room.
Source: Gossip G
