Derek Draper: Political Adviser, Psychotherapist and Husband of Kate Gar

Derek Draper was a British political adviser, lobbyist and psychotherapist, best known as the husband of television presenter Kate Garraway. Born on August 15, 1967, in Chorley, Lancashire, he rose quickly in New Labour politics before building a second career in psychotherapy.

Draper worked as an adviser to Peter Mandelson and became a director of the lobbying firm GPC Market Access in 1996. He was caught in the 1998 "Lobbygate" sting, which helped popularize the phrase "cash for access." He co-founded the group Progress, earned a master's degree in psychology from the Wright Institute in Berkeley in 2004 and launched the LabourList website in 2009.

Draper married Kate Garraway in 2005, and they had two children. He contracted COVID-19 in March 2020 and spent more than a year in hospital. His long illness was the subject of the ITV documentary Finding Derek, which won a National Television Award in 2021. He died in a north London hospital on January 3, 2024, at age 56, from complications of the illness.

Achievements: Became a director of GPC Market Access (1996), co-founded Progress, earned a master's degree in psychology at the Wright Institute (2004), launched the LabourList website (2009).

Birth: August 15, 1967 - Chorley, Lancashire, England.

Profession: Political adviser, lobbyist and psychotherapist.

Interesting Facts: Garraway's documentary about his long COVID battle, Finding Derek, won a National Television Award in 2021.