Glenys Kinnock facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead
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Official portrait, 2009
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| Minister of State for Africa and the United Nations | |
| In office 13 October 2009 – 11 May 2010 |
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| Prime Minister | Gordon Brown |
| Preceded by | The Lord Malloch-Brown |
| Succeeded by | Henry Bellingham |
| Minister of State for Europe | |
| In office 5 June 2009 – 13 October 2009 |
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| Prime Minister | Gordon Brown |
| Preceded by | Caroline Flint |
| Succeeded by | Chris Bryant |
| Member of the House of Lords Lord Temporal |
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| In office 30 June 2009 – 9 April 2021 Life peerage |
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| Member of the European Parliament for Wales South Wales East (1994–1999) |
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| In office 19 July 1994 – 5 June 2009 |
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| Preceded by | Llew Smith |
| Succeeded by | Derek Vaughan |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Glenys Elizabeth Parry
7 July 1944 Roade, Northamptonshire, England |
| Died | 3 December 2023 (aged 79) London, England |
| Political party | Labour |
| Spouse | |
| Children |
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| Alma mater | Cardiff University |
Glenys Elizabeth Kinnock, Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead (born Glenys Elizabeth Parry; 7 July 1944 – 3 December 2023) was an important British politician and teacher. She was a member of the Labour Party.
Glenys Kinnock served as a government minister in the UK. From June to October 2009, she was the Minister of State for Europe. After that, from 2009 to 2010, she was the Minister of State for Africa and the United Nations. Before these roles, she was a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for Wales from 1994 to 2009.
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Her Early Life
Glenys Elizabeth Parry was born in a place called Roade in Northamptonshire, England. She went to Holyhead Comprehensive School on Anglesey, an island in Wales.
In 1965, she finished her studies at University College, Cardiff. She earned degrees in education and history. After university, she worked as a teacher at Moorland Primary School in Splott in 1966. While at university, she met Neil Kinnock, who she married in 1967.
Working in Europe
Glenys Kinnock represented Wales in the European Parliament for many years. She was an MEP from 1994 until 2009. The European Parliament is where elected members from different European countries work together on laws and policies for the whole of Europe.
She was part of the Party of European Socialists (PES) political group there. She also worked on important committees, like the Development and Co-operation Committee. This committee focused on helping countries around the world. From 2002 to 2009, she helped lead the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly. This group worked on issues between European countries and countries in Africa, the Caribbean, and the Pacific.
Her Role in the UK Government
In 2009, Glenys Kinnock became a government minister in the UK. This happened during a "cabinet reshuffle," which is when the Prime Minister changes who is in charge of different government departments. She was made the Minister of State for Europe.
To allow her to join the government, she was given a special title called a life peerage. This meant she became Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead and could join the House of Lords. The House of Lords is part of the UK Parliament, where members review and make laws.
While she was Minister for Europe, the Welsh language was given a higher status in the European Union. This meant it was treated equally with other minority languages, like Catalan. Glenys Kinnock said this showed the EU's commitment to promoting its diverse cultures.
From 2009 to 2010, she also served as the Minister of State for Africa and the United Nations. This role involved working on UK relations with countries in Africa and with the United Nations. After 2010, she continued to work in the House of Lords as a spokesperson for international development. She retired from the House of Lords in 2021.
Her Family Life
Glenys Kinnock was married to Neil Kinnock. Neil Kinnock was also a very well-known politician and led the Labour Party from 1983 to 1992. They had two children together, a son named Stephen and a daughter named Rachel. Stephen also became a politician.
Glenys Kinnock grew up speaking Welsh. In 2017, she was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. This is a condition that affects the brain, causing problems with memory and thinking. Her husband, Neil, often spoke about their experiences and how he supported her. Glenys Kinnock passed away at her home in London in December 2023, at the age of 79.
Images for kids
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Official portrait of Glenys Kinnock from 2009.
See also
In Spanish: Glenys Kinnock para niños
