Holly Lynch

Holly Lynch (born 8 October 1986), also known as Holly Walker-Lynch, is a British Labour politician and Member of Parliament (MP) for Halifax, being first elected at the 2015 general election.[2] Since April 2020 she has served as Shadow Minister for Immigration.

Holly Lynch

MP
Lynch in 2020
Shadow Minister for Immigration
Assumed office
9 April 2020
LeaderKeir Starmer
Preceded byBell Ribeiro-Addy
Shadow Minister for Flooding & Coastal Communities
In office
3 July 2017 – 30 July 2018
LeaderJeremy Corbyn
Preceded bySue Hayman
Succeeded byLuke Pollard
Member of Parliament
for Halifax
Assumed office
7 May 2015[1]
Preceded byLinda Riordan
Majority2,569 (5.6%)
Personal details
Born (1986-10-08) 8 October 1986
Halifax, England
Political partyLabour
Spouse(s)
Chris Walker
​
(m. 2014)​
Alma materLancaster University
WebsiteOfficial website

Early life

Lynch was born in Halifax, Calderdale, West Yorkshire and grew up in Northowram. Her mother was a nurse, and her father a police sergeant.[3] She attended Brighouse High School and studied Politics and History at Lancaster University.[4] She worked in a fast food outlet in Halifax town centre, before joining a small business involved in exporting goods from Halifax.[4]

Political career

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.[5] 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.[6] 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.[7] Lynch was successful on election night and held the Halifax seat for Labour with a majority of only 428 votes over the Conservative candidate.[8]

Lynch made her maiden speech in the House of Commons on 9 June 2015.[9] She stated her priorities as being human rights, the UK's relations with Europe and the protection of services at Calderdale Royal Hospital.[10]

In the 2017 general election, Lynch increased her majority to 5,376 (11.1% of those voting) over the Conservative candidate, Chris Pearson.[11]

Lynch in 2017.

Lynch was a member of the Environmental Audit Committee from July to October 2015 and was appointed to the Procedure Committee in February 2016.[12] 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[13] and a Co-Chair of the British Museum group and of the Population, Development and Reproductive Health group.[10] 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.[10]

She supported Owen Smith in the failed attempt to replace Jeremy Corbyn in the 2016 Labour Party (UK) leadership election.[14]

Following the October Shadow Cabinet reshuffle and the firing of Dame Rosie Winterton as Chief Whip, Lynch resigned as a whip.[15] 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.[16][17]

In the 2019 general election, Lynch was re-elected to the Halifax constituency with 21,496 votes out of 46,458 cast, and a majority of 2,569.[18]

She endorsed Keir Starmer in the 2020 Labour Party leadership election.[19] Following Starmer's victory, Lynch was appointed as Shadow Minister for Immigration.[20]

Personal life

Lynch married Chris Walker in December 2014.[21]

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.[22]

References
  1. https://members.parliament.uk/member/4472/contact
  2. "Halifax". BBC News. Retrieved 8 May 2015.
  3. Bennett, Owen (11 June 2020). "Labour's new voice on immigration". TheArticle. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  4. "About – Holly Lynch MP". hollylynch.org.uk. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
  5. "Thrown in at the deepend in one of country's key marginals". Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 6 June 2015.
  6. "Halifax MP Linda Riordan to stand down at general election". BBC News. Retrieved 6 June 2015.
  7. "Halifax is 'Tories' key target seat'". Retrieved 6 June 2015.
  8. "Labour retain Halifax seat... just". Halifax Courier. Retrieved 6 June 2015.
  9. "European Union Referendum Bill: Part of the debate – in the House of Commons". www.theyworkforyou.com. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
  10. "In Parliament – Holly Lynch MP". hollylynch.org.uk. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
  11. "Halifax". BBC News. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  12. "Holly Lynch MP". UK Parliament. Retrieved 19 February 2016.
  13. "House of Commons – Register Of All-Party Parliamentary Groups as at 3 February 2016: Fairtrade". www.publications.parliament.uk. Retrieved 19 February 2016.
  14. "Full list of MPs and MEPs backing challenger Owen Smith". LabourList. 21 July 2016. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
  15. "Two Labour MPs resign as whips after Rosie Winterton sacking". The Guardian. 9 October 2016. Retrieved 9 October 2016.
  16. "Reshuffle 2: The Maintenance of the Malcontents". New Socialist. 8 July 2017. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
  17. "David Drew MP to oversee waste and recycling for Labour - letsrecycle.com". letsrecycle.com. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
  18. Hirst, Ian (13 December 2019). "General Election 2019: Labour's Holly Lynch reflects on retaining her Halifax seat". The Halifax Courier. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
  19. "Calderdale and Kirklees Labour MPs give views on new leader". www.batleynews.co.uk. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  20. Rodgers, Sienna (9 April 2020). "Shadow ministers appointed as Starmer completes frontbench". LabourList. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  21. "Labour candidate Holly Walker-Lynch proud to be fighting for Halifax seat". Halifax Courier. Retrieved 8 May 2015.
  22. "VIDEO: World Cup comes to town – Halifax Courier". halifaxcourier.co.uk. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
Linda Riordan		 Member of Parliament
for Halifax
2015–present		 Succeeded by
Incumbent
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