Holly Lynch (politician)

This article is about the British politician. For the actress, see Holly Lynch (actress).
Holly Lynch
MP
Member of Parliament
for Halifax
Assumed office
7 May 2015
Preceded by Linda Riordan
Majority 428 (1.0%)
Personal details
Born (1986-10-08) 8 October 1986
Halifax, England
Political party Labour
Spouse(s) 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 has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for Halifax since the 2015 general election.[1]

Lynch was given just over six weeks to retain the marginal seat of Halifax for Labour having only been selected as the party’s candidate 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 just 428 votes over the Conservative candidate.[5]

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.[6] 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.[6]

Political career

Lynch made her maiden speech in the House of Commons on 9 June 2015.[7] She stated her priorities as being Human Rights, the UK's relations with Europe and the protection of services at Calderdale Royal Hospital.[8]

Lynch was a member of the Environmental Audit Committee from July to October 2015 and was appointed to the Procedure Committee in February 2016.[9]

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[10] and a Co-Chair of the British Museum group and Population, Development and Reproductive Health group.[8]

Lynch is 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.[8]

Following the October Shadow Cabinet reshuffle and the firing of Dame Rosie Winterton as Chief Whip, Walker-Lynch resigned as a whip.[11]

Personal life

Lynch married Chris Walker in December 2014.[12]

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.[13]

References

  1. ↑ "Halifax". BBC News. Retrieved 8 May 2015.
  2. ↑ "Thrown in at the deepend in one of country's key marginals". Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 6 June 2015.
  3. ↑ "Halifax MP Linda Riordan to stand down at general election". BBC News. Retrieved 6 June 2015.
  4. ↑ "Halifax is 'Tories' key target seat'". Retrieved 6 June 2015.
  5. ↑ "Labour retain Halifax seat... just". Halifax Courier. Retrieved 6 June 2015.
  6. 1 2 "About - Holly Lynch MP". hollylynch.org.uk. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
  7. ↑ "European Union Referendum Bill: Part of the debate – in the House of Commons". www.theyworkforyou.com. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
  8. 1 2 3 "In Parliament - Holly Lynch MP". hollylynch.org.uk. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
  9. ↑ "Holly Lynch MP". UK Parliament. Retrieved 19 February 2016.
  10. ↑ "House of Commons - Register Of All-Party Parliamentary Groups as at 3 February 2016: Fairtrade". www.publications.parliament.uk. Retrieved 19 February 2016.
  11. ↑ "Two Labour MPs resign as whips after Rosie Winterton sacking". The Guardian. 9 October 2016. Retrieved 9 October 2016.
  12. ↑ "Labour candidate Holly Walker-Lynch proud to be fighting for Halifax seat". Halifax Courier. Retrieved 8 May 2015.
  13. ↑ "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 		Incumbent
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 10/9/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.