Glenys Kinnock Explained

Honorific-Prefix:The Right Honourable
The Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead
Office:Minister of State for Africa and the United Nations
Primeminister:Gordon Brown
Term Start:13 October 2009
Term End:11 May 2010
Predecessor:The Lord Malloch-Brown
Successor:Henry Bellingham
Office1:Minister of State for Europe
Primeminister1:Gordon Brown
Term Start1:5 June 2009
Term End1:13 October 2009
Predecessor1:Caroline Flint
Successor1:Chris Bryant
Office2:Member of the House of Lords
Status2:Lord Temporal
Term Start2:30 June 2009
Term End2:9 April 2021
Term Label2:Life peerage
Parliament3:European
Constituency Mp3:Wales
Prior Term3:South Wales East (1994–1999)
Term Start3:19 July 1994
Term End3:5 June 2009
Predecessor3:Llew Smith
Successor3:Derek Vaughan
Birth Name:Glenys Elizabeth Parry
Birth Date:7 July 1944
Birth Place:Roade, Northamptonshire, England
Death Place:London, England
Party:Labour
Children:2, including Stephen
Alma Mater:Cardiff University

Glenys Elizabeth Kinnock, Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead, (; 7 July 1944 – 3 December 2023), was a British politician and teacher who served as Minister of State for Europe from June to October 2009 and Minister of State for Africa and the United Nations from 2009 to 2010. A member of the Labour Party, she was previously a member of the European Parliament (MEP) for Wales, formerly South Wales East, from 1994 to 2009.

Early life

Glenys Elizabeth Parry was born in Roade, Northamptonshire, and educated at Holyhead Comprehensive School, Anglesey.[1] She graduated in 1965 from University College, Cardiff in education and history.[2] Parry worked at Moorland Primary School, in Splott, in 1966.[3] She met Neil Kinnock at university[4] and married him in 1967.[5]

European Parliament

Kinnock represented Wales in the European Parliament from 1994 until 2009, where she was a member of the Party of European Socialists (PES) political group.[6] She was a Member of the European Parliament's Development and Co-operation Committee[7] and a substitute member of the Committee on Citizens' Freedoms and Rights, Justice and Home Affairs.[8] She was a co-president of the African, Caribbean and Pacific-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly from 2002 to 2009, and Labour spokesperson on International Development in the European Parliament. In November 2006 Kinnock was criticised for "taking a junket" to Barbados to discuss world poverty issues.[9] Kinnock co-presided over the 12th ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly.[10]

Domestic political career

In the 2009 cabinet reshuffle, Kinnock was appointed minister for Europe following the resignation of Caroline Flint.[11] To enable her to join the government, she was awarded a life peerage and became Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead, of Holyhead in the County of Ynys Môn on 30 June 2009. She was introduced to the House of Lords on the same day.[12] [13]

In 2009, while she was minister for Europe, the status of the Welsh language was elevated to make it equal with several other European minority languages, such as Catalan. The cost of translation services was to be met by the Welsh Assembly and the Welsh Language Board. Kinnock commented "This demonstrates a clear commitment by the EU to promote its unique and diverse cultural heritage".[14]

From 2009 to 2010, Kinnock served as minister of state for Africa and the United Nations, filling a post left vacant after the resignation of Lord Malloch-Brown.[15] From 2010 to 2013 she was an Opposition spokesperson for the Department of International Development in the House of Lords.[16] Kinnock retired from the Lords on 9 April 2021.[17]

Personal life

She was the wife of Neil Kinnock, who was leader of the Labour Party from 1983 to 1992, and they had two children together, including Stephen.[18] When her husband was given a life peerage in 2005, she was entitled to the title Lady Kinnock, but decided against its use.[2] However, she became Lady (or Baroness) Kinnock in her own right when she was ennobled in 2009. Kinnock grew up speaking Welsh.

In 2017, Kinnock was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.[19] Her husband spoke about their experience with the disease and providing support for her.[20] She died from complications of the disease at her home in London, on 3 December 2023, aged 79.[21]

Publications

Articles

External links

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Notes and References

  1. News: 3 December 2023 . Glenys Kinnock, ex-minister and wife of former Labour leader, dies aged 79 . . subscription . 3 December 2023 . 3 December 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231203141751/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/glenys-kinnock-dies-ex-minister-wife-of-former-labour-leader-neil-dc2szvz96 . live .
  2. News: Browne . Adrian . 3 December 2023 . Glenys Kinnock: The political spouse who became a force in her own right . . 3 December 2023 . 3 December 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231203164047/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-58270490 . live .
  3. News: 8 March 1991 . Glenys on hand for century . . subscription . 3 December 2023 . 3 December 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231203155804/https://www.newspapers.com/image/807502868/ . live .
  4. News: Ellam . Dennis . 5 March 1989 . Profile: Glenys Kinnock . . subscription . 3 December 2023 . 3 December 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231203155803/https://www.newspapers.com/image/938308136/ . live .
  5. News: Glenys Kinnock: Former minister and wife of Neil Kinnock dies aged 79. Francis. Sam. 3 December 2023. 3 December 2023. BBC News. 3 December 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231203134400/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-67606751. live.
  6. Web site: The Socialist Group in the European Parliament. https://web.archive.org/web/20070103203356/http://www.socialistgroup.eu/gpes/index.do?lg=en. dead. 3 January 2007. 14 October 2007.
  7. Web site: The European Parliament Development and Cooperation Committee. 18 April 2007. 6 April 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20070406170140/http://www.europarl.europa.eu/committees/deve_home_en.htm. live.
  8. Web site: The European Parliament committee on Citizens' Freedoms and Rights . 18 April 2007 . 6 April 2007 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070406165225/http://www.europarl.europa.eu/committees/libe_home_en.htm . live .
  9. News: Politician Glenys Kinnock of Holyhead . 11 October 2015 . . 9 November 2009 . 4 March 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304095015/http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/local-news/politician-glenys-kinnock-of-holyhead-2773097 . live .
  10. Web site: The ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly . 18 April 2007 . 16 May 2007 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070516121816/http://www.europarl.europa.eu/intcoop/acp/60_12/default_en.htm . live .
  11. News: Swaine . Jon . 6 June 2009 . Former leader's wife hurried in as Flint's replacement . . subscription . 3 December 2023 . 7 December 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231207090031/https://www.newspapers.com/image/753733347/ . live .
  12. Web site: Lords Hansard text. 30 June 2009. Parliament of the United Kingdom. 12 July 2009. 24 April 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100424133537/http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200809/ldhansrd/text/90630-0001.htm. live.
  13. News: Gimson . Andrew . 1 July 2009 . What the Dickens? Balls plays Wackford Squeers . . subscription . 3 December 2023 . 3 December 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231203154723/https://www.newspapers.com/image/753704134/ . live .
  14. Web site: Welsh language welcomed by European Commission. 12 July 2009. The Translation People. 13 March 2021. 12 May 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210512224823/https://www.thetranslationpeople.com/2009/07/welsh-language-welcomed-by-european-commission/. live.
  15. News: Chris Bryant replaces Glenys Kinnock. 12 October 2009. The Guardian. 12 October 2009. London. Andrew. Sparrow. 11 November 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131111194037/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2009/oct/12/chris-bryant-europe-minister. live.
  16. http://www.parliament.uk/biographies/glenys-kinnock/28366 Lady Kinnock profile
  17. Web site: Retirements of Members – Tuesday 13 April 2021 – Hansard – UK Parliament. 9 July 2021. hansard.parliament.uk. en.
  18. News: 23 May 2009 . 'Don't say I'm retiring!' – Glenys Kinnock MEP . . 3 December 2023 . 3 December 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231203191304/https://www.walesonline.co.uk/lifestyle/showbiz/dont-say-im-retiring---2107256 . live .
  19. News: . 24 March 2022. Kinnock at 80: The former Labour leader on life, politics and his beloved wife. ITV News. London. 24 March 2022. 24 March 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220324092108/https://www.itv.com/news/wales/2022-03-24/kinnock-at-80-the-former-labour-leader-on-life-in-and-out-of-politics. live.
  20. News: 2022-03-27 . Alzheimer's: Neil Kinnock supporting wife through disease . en-GB . BBC News . 2023-06-27 . 27 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230627161206/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-60835796 . live .
  21. News: Glenys Kinnock: Former MEP, minister and wife of ex-Labour leader dies aged 79. 3 December 2023. 3 December 2023. Sky News. 3 December 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231203135030/http://news.sky.com/story/glenys-kinnock-former-mep-and-wife-of-ex-labour-leader-dies-aged-79-13021865. live.
  22. News: The rape of Darfur. The Guardian. Glenys. Kinnock. https://web.archive.org/web/20181129135200/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2006/jan/18/foreignpolicy.comment. 29 November 2018. London. 18 January 2006. live.
  23. News: A lethal bully that must be tackled. Glenys. Kinnock. The Times. 13 September 2006. London. 4 December 2023. 4 December 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231204002117/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/a-lethal-bully-that-must-be-tackled-qkp0z082sbz. live.
  24. News: Cambodia's Brazen U.N. Bid. https://web.archive.org/web/20181130070924/https://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/17/opinion/cambodias-brazen-un-bid.html. 30 November 2018. The New York Times. Glenys. Kinnock. 16 October 2012. live.

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