Steven Coprest

Steven Coprest is the first choice Democratic Socialist MP for Nilon North and the former leader of the Democratic Socialist. Under his guidance for eight years, the Democratic Socialists doubled their total support and paved the way for an election victory in another few years. He is arguably one of the most influential figures in DSP history.

Coprest was born in northern Nilon on March 18th 1937. He went to a comprehensive school nearby, in which he struggled severely. He managed to just scrape passes in English Language, History and Art, and left school aged just 16 to go on to factory work.

His political career started in 1957, when he joined the local Socialist Party. He quickly won many over with his determination and common touch, and was chosen as candidate for the party in 1958 for Nilon Sedgewood. He won the seat from the Christian Democrats and won again in 1962 and 1966. During the civil war of 1967-77, he worked as a soldier in the Anti-Fascist Alliance. He took the Nilon North seat in the provisional Parliament, and won the Nilon North proportional seat as the first Democratic Socialist choice (on a total vote of 72.9%) for the Democratic Socialist Party.

He rose up the ranks in the Democratic Socialist Party, and became Party Spokesman for Work and Pensions in 1986. He assumed the Shadow Ministerial equivalent in 1989, and eventually in 1993 after the death of Timothy Nomiro won a tight leadership contest to become party leader. He was quite successful, taking a few seats in 1995 and coming reasonably close to doubling the total in 1998. However, he resigned in 2001, citing his age and the need for a new leader. He retired to the back-benches, and is still a MP now.