Paul Flynn (politician) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Paul Flynn
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Official portrait, 2005
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| Shadow Leader of the House of Commons | |
| In office 4 July 2016 – 6 October 2016 |
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| Leader | Jeremy Corbyn |
| Preceded by | Chris Bryant |
| Succeeded by | Valerie Vaz |
| Shadow Secretary of State for Wales | |
| In office 3 July 2016 – 6 October 2016 |
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| Leader | Jeremy Corbyn |
| Preceded by | Nia Griffith |
| Succeeded by | Jo Stevens |
| Member of Parliament for Newport West |
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| In office 11 June 1987 – 17 February 2019 |
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| Preceded by | Mark Robinson |
| Succeeded by | Ruth Jones |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Paul Philip Flynn
9 February 1935 Cardiff, Wales |
| Died | 17 February 2019 (aged 84) Newport, Wales |
| Political party | Labour |
| Spouses |
Anne Harvey
(m. 1962; div. 1984)Samantha Morgan
(m. 1985) |
| Children | 4 |
| Education | St Illtyd's Catholic High School |
| Alma mater | Cardiff University |
Paul Philip Flynn (born 9 February 1935 – died 17 February 2019) was a British politician. He was a member of the Labour Party. He served as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Newport West. He held this role from 1987 until his death in 2019.
In 2016, he briefly worked in the Shadow Cabinet. He was the Shadow Secretary of State for Wales and Shadow Leader of the House of Commons. At 81, he was the oldest MP to hold a Shadow Cabinet job.
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Early Life and Career
Paul Flynn was born in Cardiff, Wales. His father was Irish and his mother was Welsh. His father, a postman, died when Paul was five years old. His mother raised him and his four siblings in poverty. She also taught him to speak Welsh.
When he was nine, he was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. He went to St Illtyd's College and then to University College, Cardiff.
After finishing school in 1955, he worked as a chemist in the steel industry. He worked there until 1983. He lost some hearing from working in a nail factory. Later, he worked at Llanwern steelworks. After a short time as a broadcaster, he became a researcher for a politician in 1984.
Political Journey
Paul Flynn joined the Labour Party in 1956. He was a member of Newport Borough Council from 1972 to 1981. He also served on Gwent County Council from 1974 to 1982.
He first tried to become an MP in 1974 but did not win. In 1987, he was elected to the House of Commons for Newport West.
Soon after becoming an MP, he was made a junior spokesperson for Wales. He joined the front bench in 1988. He spoke on health and social security issues. He left the front bench in 1990 and worked as a backbencher for 26 years. He returned to the front bench in 2016. This happened after many politicians resigned from Jeremy Corbyn's team.
Working in Parliament
Flynn was a member of many different Select committees. These committees look closely at what the government is doing. He was on the Public Administration Select Committee for over 13 years. He also joined the Transport Select Committee in 1992.
In June 2016, he temporarily became Shadow Leader of the House of Commons. He was believed to be the oldest person to speak from the front benches in a long time. He joked about Parliament needing more older people. In July 2016, he became Shadow Secretary of State for Wales. He was replaced in both roles in October 2016. He humorously said he was "double blessed" to be given opportunities for older people.
Paul Flynn's Views
Flynn believed the UK should not have a king or queen. He wanted to replace the House of Lords with an elected chamber. He also did not like the British honours system.
He was strongly against nuclear weapons and nuclear power in the United Kingdom. He especially opposed the new Hinkley Point C nuclear power station.
Flynn was a strong critic of the Iraq War and the War in Afghanistan. In 2009, he read out the names of all UK military personnel who died in Iraq during a speech in Parliament.
He also believed that Donald Trump, the US President, should be arrested if he visited the UK. This was because of comments Trump had made.
Flynn was a big supporter of changing drug laws. He often asked questions in Parliament about this topic. He also hosted events to discuss drug law reform.
He thought the system for MPs' expenses was too complicated. He wanted a simpler system based on how far an MP lived from Parliament.
Flynn was very supportive of the European Union. He called Brexit "the biggest political disaster of (his) lifetime." He wanted a second referendum on leaving the EU. He believed "second thoughts are always superior to first thoughts." However, the Prime Minister at the time, Theresa May, said this was "out of the question."
Views on the War in Afghanistan
Flynn was a strong critic of the War in Afghanistan. He especially disagreed with the decision to send more troops to Helmand province campaign in 2006. He often read out the names of British soldiers who had died. He also asked for these names to be listed in official Parliament papers.
After Britain left Afghanistan, Flynn said the war was a huge mistake. He called for a public investigation into it. In 2012, he was suspended from Parliament for five days. This happened after he accused the Defence Secretary of lying and refused to take back his words.
Comments on Ambassador to Israel
In 2011, Paul Flynn made comments about Matthew Gould, the UK's ambassador to Israel. Flynn said he was concerned that Gould had called himself a Zionist. He suggested that the ambassador should not be Jewish to avoid accusations of "Jewish loyalty."
These comments caused a lot of criticism. Other politicians said his comments were wrong and offensive. Flynn later apologized for what he said. He stated that no one should be stopped from holding public office because of their race or religion.
Retirement Plans
In October 2018, Flynn announced he would step down as an MP. This was due to his rheumatoid arthritis. He said he was often bed-bound. He wanted to avoid a costly special election if possible. He said he would go to Parliament "on a stretcher" if needed for important votes. However, he did not formally resign before he passed away.
Other Interests
Paul Flynn learned Welsh at school and loved the language. He often spoke about issues on Welsh TV and radio. He was a member of the Gorsedd of Bards, a group that celebrates Welsh culture.
In 1996, he won an award for being a great backbencher. In 1997, he wrote a book called Commons Knowledge: How to Be a Backbencher.
He was one of the first MPs to use the Internet to talk to people in his area. In 2000, his website won an award for being the best MP's website. He also wrote a book called Dragons Led by Poodles. This book was about the campaign for devolution in Wales.
Flynn was also the chairman of the Broadcasting Council for Wales. He was a member of the South Wales Docks Board.
Personal Life
Paul Flynn was married twice. He first married Anne Harvey in 1962. They had two children, a son and a daughter. Their daughter passed away in 1979 when she was 16. They divorced in 1984. The next year, he married Samantha Morgan Cumpstone. They had two children together.
In 2007, he had a transient ischaemic attack, which is like a mini-stroke.
Death
Paul Flynn died in Newport, Wales, on 17 February 2019. He was 84 years old and had been ill for a long time.
Many people shared their sadness and respect for him. Jeremy Corbyn, the Labour leader, called him "an independent thinker." Wales' First Minister, Mark Drakeford, said he was a "giant of the Welsh Labour movement." Theresa May, the Prime Minister, praised him in Parliament. She said he was an "outstanding Parliamentarian" and a "tireless campaigner."
