Holly Lynch
Holly Lynch | |
---|---|
![]() Official Parliamentary portrait, June 2017 | |
Shadow Minister for Flooding & Coastal Communities | |
In office 3 July 2017 – 30 July 2018 | |
Leader | Jeremy Corbyn |
Member of Parliament for Halifax | |
Assumed office 7 May 2015 | |
Preceded by | Linda Riordan |
Majority | 5,376 (11.1%) |
Personal details | |
Born | Halifax, England | 8 October 1986
Political party | Labour |
Spouse | Chris Walker |
Alma mater | Lancaster University |
Website | Official website |
Holly Lynch (born 8 October 1986), also known as Holly Walker-Lynch, is a British Labour politician. She was first elected as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Halifax at the 2015 general election.[1]
Lynch was given just over six weeks to retain the marginal seat of Halifax for Labour having been selected as the party's candidate only at the end of March 2015.[2]
Labour's search for a new candidate was triggered by the decision of sitting MP Linda Riordan in February to stand down on health grounds.[3] Her decision, and Lynch's subsequent selection, set up one of the most closely fought contests in Yorkshire in the election.
Riordan had held Halifax for Labour in 2010 by a majority of just 1,472 votes, and the seat was considered a key target for the Conservative Party.[4] Lynch was successful on election night and held the Halifax seat for Labour with a majority of only 428 votes over the Conservative candidate.[5]
In the 2017 general election, Lynch increased her majority to 5,376 (11.1% of those voting) over the Conservative candidate, Chris Pearson.[6]
Early life
Lynch was born in Halifax and grew up in Northowram. She then attended Brighouse High School and studied Politics and History at Lancaster University.[7] She worked in a fast food outlet in Halifax town centre, before joining a small local business involved in exporting Halifax goods around the world.[7]
Political career
Lynch made her maiden speech in the House of Commons on 9 June 2015.[8] She stated her priorities as being Human Rights, the UK's relations with Europe and the protection of services at Calderdale Royal Hospital.[9]
Lynch was a member of the Environmental Audit Committee from July to October 2015 and was appointed to the Procedure Committee in February 2016.[10] Lynch was appointed as an Opposition Whip in the Commons on 18 September 2015.
Lynch is the chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Fairtrade[11] and a Co-Chair of the British Museum group and Population, Development and Reproductive Health group.[9]
Lynch has also been a member of All-Party Parliamentary Groups on Migration, Britain-Palestine, Labour Friends of Palestine and the Middle East, Art and Health, Kashmir, Policing and Rugby Union.[9]
Following the October Shadow Cabinet reshuffle and the firing of Dame Rosie Winterton as Chief Whip, Walker-Lynch resigned as a whip.[12]
She was reappointed to the front bench by Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn on 3 July 2017, taking on the role of Shadow Flooding & Coastal Communities Minister within the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs team.[13][14]
Personal life
Lynch married Chris Walker in December 2014.[15]
Lynch is a former rugby union player for both Lancaster University and Halifax Vandals and has talked of her desire to encourage others to take up the sport.[16]
References
- ^ "Halifax". BBC News. Retrieved 8 May 2015.
- ^ "Thrown in at the deepend in one of country's key marginals". Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 6 June 2015.
- ^ "Halifax MP Linda Riordan to stand down at general election". BBC News. Retrieved 6 June 2015.
- ^ "Halifax is 'Tories' key target seat'". Retrieved 6 June 2015.
- ^ "Labour retain Halifax seat... just". Halifax Courier. Retrieved 6 June 2015.
- ^ "Halifax". BBC News. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
- ^ a b "About – Holly Lynch MP". hollylynch.org.uk. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
- ^ "European Union Referendum Bill: Part of the debate – in the House of Commons". www.theyworkforyou.com. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
- ^ a b c "In Parliament – Holly Lynch MP". hollylynch.org.uk. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
- ^ "Holly Lynch MP". UK Parliament. Retrieved 19 February 2016.
- ^ "House of Commons – Register Of All-Party Parliamentary Groups as at 3 February 2016: Fairtrade". www.publications.parliament.uk. Retrieved 19 February 2016.
- ^ "Two Labour MPs resign as whips after Rosie Winterton sacking". The Guardian. 9 October 2016. Retrieved 9 October 2016.
- ^ "Reshuffle 2: The Maintenance of the Malcontents". New Socialist. 8 July 2017. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
- ^ "David Drew MP to oversee waste and recycling for Labour - letsrecycle.com". letsrecycle.com. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
- ^ "Labour candidate Holly Walker-Lynch proud to be fighting for Halifax seat". Halifax Courier. Retrieved 8 May 2015.
- ^ "VIDEO: World Cup comes to town – Halifax Courier". halifaxcourier.co.uk. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
External links
- 1986 births
- Living people
- Alumni of Lancaster University
- Female members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for English constituencies
- Labour Party (UK) MPs for English constituencies
- People educated at Brighouse High School
- People from Halifax, West Yorkshire
- UK MPs 2015–17
- UK MPs 2017–
- 21st-century women politicians