Paul Flynn (politician)

Paul Philip Flynn (9 February 1935 – 17 February 2019) was a British Labour politician who served as Member of Parliament (MP) for Newport West from the 1987 general election until his death in 2019. He briefly served as Shadow Secretary of State for Wales and Shadow Leader of the House of Commons in 2016, becoming the oldest MP to hold a Shadow Cabinet position (aged 81).[2]

Paul Flynn
Flynn as an MP
Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
In office
4 July 2016 – 6 October 2016
LeaderJeremy Corbyn
Preceded byChris Bryant
Succeeded byValerie Vaz
Shadow Secretary of State for Wales
In office
3 July 2016 – 6 October 2016
LeaderJeremy Corbyn
Preceded byNia Griffith
Succeeded byJo Stevens
Member of Parliament
for Newport West
In office
11 June 1987 – 17 February 2019
Preceded byMark Robinson
Succeeded byRuth Jones
Personal details
Born
Paul Philip Flynn

(1935-02-09)9 February 1935
Cardiff, Wales
Died17 February 2019(2019-02-17) (aged 84)
NationalityBritish
Political partyLabour
Spouse(s)
Anne Harvey
​
(
m. 1962; div. 1984)

Samantha Morgan
(
m. 1985)
[1]
Children4
EducationSt Illtyd's Catholic High School
Alma materCardiff University
WebsiteOfficial website

Early life

Flynn was born in Cardiff to an Irish father and Welsh mother[3] in the Grangetown area of the city.[4] His father was a postman who was wounded in the First World War and died when Flynn was five years old, leaving him and his four siblings to be raised in poverty by their mother; it was she who taught him Welsh.[3][5] At the age of nine he was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis.[4] He was educated at the local Catholic grammar school St Illtyd's College and at University College, Cardiff.[5]

On leaving education in 1955, he worked as a chemist in the steel industry, where he remained until he was made redundant 1983.[5] He initially worked near Cardiff Docks, where he suffered serious loss of hearing from working in a nail factory, before taking up employment at Llanwern steelworks.[4] After a brief period as a broadcaster,[4] in 1984 he became a researcher for Llew Smith, a Labour Member of the European Parliament.[5]

Political career

Flynn had joined the Labour Party in 1956.[4] He was a member of Newport Borough Council from 1972 to 1981 and Gwent County Council from 1974 to 1982.[6] He unsuccessfully contested Denbigh at the October 1974 general election where he came third behind the Conservative and Liberal candidates, Geraint Morgan and D. L. Williams respectively, with a 20.24% share of the vote.[7] He was elected to the House of Commons for Newport West at the 1987 general election.[8]

Flynn was appointed as junior spokesman for Wales by Labour leader Neil Kinnock shortly after his election to the Commons. He joined the front bench in 1988, when he became a spokesman on health and social security and for social security in 1989. He resigned from the front bench in 1990, and was on the back benches for 26 years after that, until his appointment to Jeremy Corbyn's shadow cabinet, which followed a string of resignations.[4]

Flynn was a member of eight different Select committees, for twelve periods, three times each for the Public Administration Select Committee and Welsh Affairs Committee. He was a member of the Public Administration Select Committee for a period of over thirteen years between 2005 and his death. He joined the Transport Select Committee in 1992 and served thereon until the 1997 general election.[9]

On 30 June 2016, Flynn stood in on the party's front bench as Shadow Leader of the House of Commons following Chris Bryant's resignation, prior to a permanent replacement being appointed.[10][11] Believed to be the oldest person to speak from the front benches since William Gladstone in the 19th century, he joked that his appointment would improve the diversity of a Parliament whose front benches suffered from a "a total absence of octogenerians".[2] On 3 July 2016, Corbyn appointed Flynn Shadow Secretary of State for Wales.[12] On 6 October 2016, Flynn was replaced as Shadow Wales Secretary by Jo Stevens and as Shadow Leader of the House by Valerie Vaz.[13] Flynn said "Our glorious leader, in an act of pioneering diversity, courageously decided to give opportunities for geriatrics on the front bench and this was so successful that he decided to create opportunities for geriatrics on the back bench. I'm double blessed."[14]

Political views

Flynn was a republican and in 1996 tabled a bill to abolish the monarchy via a referendum.[15] He also supported replacement of the House of Lords with an elected second chamber and opposed the British honours system.[4]

Flynn opposed and campaigned against nuclear weapons.[4] He was also a long-standing opponent of nuclear power in the United Kingdom, especially the new Hinkley Point C nuclear power station across the Bristol Channel from his constituency.[16][17]

Flynn was a firm critic of the Iraq War and the War in Afghanistan. In 2009 he read out the 176 names of UK military personnel who had died in Iraq in a Commons speech.[4]

In November 2017, Flynn said that President of the United States Donald Trump should be arrested for inciting racial hatred if he visited the UK.[18]

Flynn called for the legalisation of cannabis for medical purposes and decriminalisation for general use.[19] In August 2017 said in the House of Commons: "I would call on people to break the law. To come here and use cannabis here and see what happens".[20][8] In October 2017, Flynn sponsored a bill to legalise cannabis for medical purposes.[21][22]

Flynn was critical of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, arguing that the parliamentary expenses scheme should be replaced with a flat rate allowance dependent on the distance of each MP's constituency from Westminster. He claimed that the current procedure was too bureaucratic and time-consuming.[23]

Following the poisoning of Sergei and Yulia Skripal in March 2018, Flynn tweeted that the Conservative Party were "officially sponsored by NERVE GAS KILLERS R US". He later deleted the post.[24]

Flynn was a staunch pro-European, and described Brexit as "the biggest political disaster of (his) lifetime", despite Newport West voting to leave the EU by 56 to 44 percent. He served as a delegate to the Council of Europe and the Western European Union.[4] He called for Prime Minister Theresa May to promise a second referendum on membership of the European Union. He stated "second thoughts are always superior to first thoughts". May responded to his call by saying it was "out of the question".[25]

Endowment Justice

Endowment Justice, a company working on a contingency fee basis for borrowers, held talks with Flynn over its concerns about bad practices at several complaints-handling firms. In 2005 Flynn named them, however, in accusations about the whole sector. Flynn agreed to pay the company's legal costs of £35,450, plus £1,000 in damages, which the company said it would donate to the NSPCC. He also agreed to publish an apology on his website.[26]

War in Afghanistan

Flynn was a harsh critic of the War in Afghanistan, and particularly the decision of the Labour government to expand involvement with the Helmand province campaign in 2006.[4][27] Flynn read out the names of UK military personnel who had died in his commons speeches, and subsequently tabled motions naming all the military casualties so they were listed in Commons papers. After Britain withdrew from Afghanistan, Flynn stated the war, in which 456 British military lost their lives, could be the "worst military blunder in our history since the charge of the Light Brigade", and called for a public inquiry.[28][29]

On 18 September 2012, Flynn was suspended from the sittings of the House of Commons for five days and docked a month's wages, after he accused Defence Secretary Philip Hammond of lying to Parliament by saying that military operations in Afghanistan were not reduced following attacks on NATO troops operating as trainers, and subsequently refused to withdraw the allegation when instructed to do so by Speaker John Bercow.[30][31][32]

Ambassador to Israel

In November 2011, Flynn expressed concern that Matthew Gould, the UK's ambassador to Israel, had "proclaimed himself to be a Zionist".[33] Martin Bright, writing in The Jewish Chronicle, reported that when challenged, Flynn said that Gould was vulnerable to accusations "of having Jewish loyalty" and that the position should be given to "someone with roots in the UK". Flynn said, "there hasn't been a Jewish ambassador to Israel and I think that is a good decision – to avoid the accusation that they have gone native."[34] These comments drew criticism from Middle East Minister Alistair Burt, who stated that "Paul Flynn should take some time to consider his comments, which could easily be misconstrued. There is absolutely no reason why our ambassador to Israel should not be Jewish. Any allegations about Matthew Gould's conduct are utterly unsubstantiated. He is a first-class ambassador."[34]

Douglas Alexander, the Shadow Foreign Secretary, also criticised Flynn, stating that "The faith of any British diplomat is irrelevant to their capability to their job. To make suggestions otherwise is wrong and offensive."[34] Labour MP John Mann, chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group against Antisemitism, stated that Flynn should start preparing for his "retirement" and that "I suggest he starts his retirement with a workers' education course on understanding racism."[35] Flynn later apologised for his comments, saying "There is no reason that anyone of any race or religion should be debarred from public office."[36]

Intended retirement

In October 2018, Flynn announced that he would stand down as an MP before the next United Kingdom general election (eventually held on 12 December 2019) due to his rheumatoid arthritis.[8] He revealed that he was bed-bound and would step down "as soon as possible" but that he was "keen to carry on to represent the city as long as I can. The cost of a by-election is enormous. I want to avoid that if I can." He said that he would "go to the Commons on a stretcher if I have to" to take part in any Brexit deal vote in parliament.[37] However, he was the only MP (apart from the Speaker, Deputy Speakers, tellers and abstentionist Sinn Féin members) who did not vote in the House of Commons "meaningful vote" on the Brexit withdrawal Agreement on 15 January 2019.[38] He did not formally step down before his death the following month.

Other activities

Flynn learned Welsh while a pupil at St Illtyd's College and said he fell in love with the language at that time. As a fluent speaker he commented about issues on Welsh-language TV and radio. He was a member of the Gorsedd of Bards.[4] In 1996, he won The Spectator's Backbencher of the Year award, and in 1997 wrote a book, Commons Knowledge: How to Be a Backbencher.[5]

Flynn was one of the first MPs to use the Internet to communicate with constituents, and in 2000 won the New Statesman New Media Award for his website,[39] which was voted the best MP's website on many other occasions.[40] He was an early adopter of Hansard CD-ROMs, and wrote a book, Dragons Led by Poodles, about the devolution campaign in Wales in the 1990s, in which he criticised some of his fellow MPs severely.[41]

Flynn was chairman of the Broadcasting Council for Wales, and member of the South Wales Docks Board and the Council of University College, Cardiff.[39]

Flynn said that the best description of him was one by the late political sketch-writer Simon Hoggart, who had said he was "the thinking man's Dennis Skinner"; Flynn thought this could be his epitaph.[5]

Personal life

He was married twice, first to Anne Harvey in 1962, with whom he had two children, a son and a daughter; their daughter committed suicide in 1979, aged 16.[42] The couple divorced in 1984 and the following year he married Samantha Morgan Cumpstone, with whom he had two children.[43]

In 2007 Flynn suffered a transient ischaemic attack.[44]

Death

Paul Flynn died on 17 February 2019, eight days after his 84th birthday, after a long illness.[1] Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn described him as "an independent thinker who was a credit to the party" and Wales' First Minister Mark Drakeford called him a "giant of the Welsh Labour movement".[8] Speaking at Prime Minister's Questions on 20 February, Theresa May said of Flynn, "He was an outstanding Parliamentarian, a tireless campaigner and championed his constituency of Newport West and Wales with energy and enthusiasm for over 30 years."[45] Fellow Labour MP Jo Stevens described Flynn as a "kind, principled, fascinating man".[46] Constituency neighbour Jessica Morden stated in a blog post, "In his 31 years as Newport West’s MP he never let up campaigning against injustice, holding those in authority to account and championing his beloved City. He did this in his own inimitable style with wit, humour and as a passionate Newportonian."[47]

Publications
  • Television in Wales by Paul Flynn, 1974[43]
  • Commons Knowledge: How to Be a Backbencher by Paul Flynn, 1997, Seren Books ISBN 1-85411-206-6[5]
  • Baglu 'Mlaen (Cyfres Y Cewri) by Paul Flynn, 1998, Cyhoeddiadau Mei ISBN 0-86074-147-8[43]
  • Dragons Led by Poodles: Inside Story of a New Labour Stitch Up by Paul Flynn, 1999, Politico's Publishing ISBN 1-902301-24-2[43]
  • The Unusual Suspect by Paul Flynn, 2010, Biteback Publishing ISBN 978-1-84954-017-9[43]
  • How to Be an MP by Paul Flynn, 2012, Biteback Publishing ISBN 978-1-84954-220-3[43]
  • Clockwinder Who Wouldn’t Say No: The Life of David Taylor MP, 2012, ISBN 978-1-84954-221-0[43]
gollark: Desmos has a nice visualization which may help: https://www.desmos.com/calculator/o9am9ovjgs
gollark: ... no.
gollark: Um. I think you misunderstood it.
gollark: I see.
gollark: It isn't.

References
  1. Langdon, Julia (18 February 2019). "Paul Flynn obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 February 2019.
  2. Cornock, David (30 June 2016). "'Trailblazer' octogenarian back on Commons front bench". BBC. Retrieved 4 July 2016.
  3. Roth, Andrew (19 March 2001). "Paul Flynn". The Guardian. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  4. "Paul Flynn obituary". The Guardian. 18 February 2019. Retrieved 20 February 2019.
  5. "Obituary: Newport West Labour MP Paul Flynn". BBC News. 18 February 2019. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  6. "UK Polling Report". Retrieved 20 February 2019.
  7. "UK General Election results: October 1974 [Archive]". www.politicsresources.net. Archived from the original on 11 August 2011. Retrieved 20 February 2019.
  8. "Veteran Labour MP Paul Flynn dies aged 84". BBC News. 17 February 2019. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  9. "Paul Flynn". House of Commons. UK Parliament. Retrieved 12 March 2019.
  10. "Labour MP Paul Flynn claims promotion 'part of diversity project'". BBC News. 30 June 2016. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
  11. Craig, Ian (30 June 2016). "Rumours MP Paul Flynn appointed shadow leader of the Commons 'not true'". The Argus. Retrieved 5 July 2016.
  12. Silk, Huw (3 July 2016). "Newport MP Paul Flynn, 81, appointed shadow Welsh secretary by Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn". WalesOnline. Retrieved 3 July 2016.
  13. "Labour's new shadow cabinet in full". BBC News. 7 October 2016. Retrieved 12 October 2016.
  14. "EXCL Anger of 81-year-old Paul Flynn after he was sacked from Shadow Cabinet". 11 November 2016.
  15. "Labour man seeks vote to end the monarchy". The Independent. 21 April 1996. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  16. Williamson, David (2 April 2013). "Paul Flynn in call for UK to pull out of nuclear power". Wales Online. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
  17. Craven, Neil (1 November 2015). "MPs attack 'desperate' £25bn Hinkley nuclear power station plan". This is Money. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
  18. "Donald Trump "should be arrested for inciting racial hatred": MP Paul Flynn". South Wales Argus. 30 November 2017. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  19. David Batty, Labour MPs support medicinal cannabis use, The Guardian, 24 May 2006.
  20. "Paul Flynn MP: People should take cannabis in Parliament to show the 'law is an ass' - Left Foot Forward". leftfootforward.org. 2 August 2017.
  21. Cedar, Ali (11 October 2017). "Hundreds of People Got High Outside Parliament". Vice. Retrieved 20 February 2019.
  22. "Legalisation of Cannabis (Medicinal Purposes) Bill 2017-19". www.parliament.uk. Retrieved 20 February 2019.
  23. McCann, Kate (30 August 2016). "Parliamentary expenses should be scrapped and MPs trusted with an allowance, says top Corbyn ally". The Telegraph. Telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  24. Bates, Liz (11 March 2018). "Former Labour frontbencher under fire over Tory 'nerve gas killers' tweet". PoliticsHome.com. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
  25. "Brexit: MP Paul Flynn urges second referendum - BBC News". Bbc.co.uk. 23 October 2017. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  26. Prosser, David (9 November 2005). "Labour MP Flynn faces £36,000 legal bill after losing libel action". The Independent. London. Retrieved 22 November 2007. Alt URL
  27. Flynn, Paul (5 September 2009). "We've wasted enough lives in this war". The Independent. Retrieved 12 March 2019.
  28. Mills, Jen (30 October 2014). "Newport MP calls for public inquiry into Afghanistan war". South Wales Argus. Retrieved 12 March 2019.
  29. Wheeler, Richard (30 October 2014). "Afghanistan campaign 'worst military blunder since Charge of the Light Brigade' says Welsh MP". Wales Online. Retrieved 12 March 2019.
  30. "Paul Flynn MP thrown out of Commons for lie accusation". BBC. 18 September 2012. Retrieved 25 January 2014.
  31. Prince, Rosa (18 September 2012). "Paul Flynn is thrown out of Commons for calling Philip Hammond a 'liar'". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  32. "Nato curbs Afghan joint patrols over 'insider' attacks". BBC. 18 September 2012. Retrieved 25 January 2014.
  33. Hansard Public Administration Committee 24 November 2011
  34. Bright, Martin (1 December 2011). "Jewish envoy not loyal to UK, says Labour MP". The Jewish Chronicle. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
  35. Lipman, Jennifer (1 December 2011). "MP who questioned Jewish envoy's loyalty should 'prepare to retire". The Jewish Chronicle.
  36. Lipman, Jennifer (7 December 2011). "MP sorry for saying Jewish envoy 'disloyal' to UK". The Jewish Chronicle.
  37. "Newport West MP Paul Flynn to stand down after 31 years". BBC News. 25 October 2018. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
  38. "European Union (Withdrawal) Act main Motion (Prime Minister) - CommonsVotes". commonsvotes.digiminster.com.
  39. "Members Of Parliament in Newport". South Wales Argus. Archived from the original on 19 July 2013. Retrieved 9 September 2013.
  40. "British Computer Society Awards Best MP Websites". British Computer Society. 8 November 2007. Retrieved 9 September 2013.
  41. Dragons and Poodles – a story of Welsh politics BBC News Wednesday, 15 September 1999
  42. "MP's pain at daughter suicide". WalesOnline. 16 March 2004. Retrieved 20 February 2019.
  43. "Paul, Who?". Paul Flynn MP. Retrieved 3 July 2016.
  44. Truscott, Claire (21 November 2007). "MP recovering after mini-stroke". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 22 May 2010.
  45. "Theresa May leads tributes to Paul Flynn". South Wales Argus. Retrieved 20 February 2019.
  46. Goodall, Lewis (18 February 2019). "Long-standing Labour MP Paul Flynn dies aged 84". Sky news. Retrieved 20 February 2019.
  47. Morden, Jessica (18 February 2019). "Paul Flynn MP (1935-2019)". Jessica Morden MP. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
Mark Robinson		 Member of Parliament
for Newport West
1987–2019		 Succeeded by
Ruth Jones
Political offices
Preceded by
Nia Griffith		 Shadow Secretary of State for Wales
2016		 Succeeded by
Jo Stevens
Preceded by
Chris Bryant		 Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
2016		 Succeeded by
Valerie Vaz
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