Holly Lynch

Lynch was born in Halifax, Calderdale, West Yorkshire and grew up in Northowram. Her mother was a nurse, and her father a police sergeant.[3] She attended Brighouse High School and studied Politics and History at Lancaster University.[4] She worked in a fast food outlet in Halifax town centre and a chemist in Savile Park before joining a small business involved in exporting goods from Halifax.[5][4]

Lynch was given just over six weeks to retain the marginal seat of Halifax for Labour having been selected as the party's candidate only at the end of March 2015.[6] 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.[7] 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.[8] Lynch was successful on election night and held the Halifax seat for Labour with a majority of only 428 votes over the Conservative candidate.[9]

Lynch made her maiden speech in the House of Commons on 9 June 2015.[10] She stated her priorities as being human rights, the UK's relations with Europe and the protection of services at Calderdale Royal Hospital.[11]

In the 2017 general election, Lynch increased her majority to 5,376 (11.1% of those voting) over the Conservative candidate, Chris Pearson.[12]

Lynch in 2017.

Lynch was a member of the Environmental Audit Committee from July to October 2015 and was appointed to the Procedure Committee in February 2016.[13] 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[14] and a Co-Chair of the British Museum group and of the Population, Development and Reproductive Health group.[11] Lynch has also been a member of All-Party Parliamentary Groups on Migration, Art and Health, Kashmir, Policing and Rugby Union.[11]

She supported Owen Smith in his attempt to replace Jeremy Corbyn in the 2016 Labour leadership election.[15]

Following the October Shadow Cabinet reshuffle and the firing of Dame Rosie Winterton as Chief Whip, Lynch resigned as a whip.[16] She was reappointed to the front bench by Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn on 3 July 2017, taking on the role of Shadow Flooding & Coastal Communities Minister within the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs team.[17][18]

In 2018, Lynch led the Protect the Protectors campaign to secure harsher sentences for people convicted of assaulting emergency service workers.[19] In the House of Commons chamber, she spoke about the experience of her parents, both of whom were emergancy service workers who had faced violence whilst on the job.[20] She also spoke about her experience shadowing a police constable from the West Yorkshire Police when he was involved in an altercation when attempting to make an arrest.[20] Following this, she sponsored the Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Bill, alongside colleague Chris Bryant, which became law in September 2018.[21]

In the 2019 general election, Lynch was re-elected to the Halifax constituency with 21,496 votes out of 46,458 cast, and a majority of 2,569.[22]

Lynch endorsed Keir Starmer in the 2020 Labour Party leadership election,[23] and was appointed as the Shadow Minister for Immigration following his victory in April 2020.[24] She held this position until the minor reshuffle in May 2021, when she swapped roles with Bambos Charalambous to become the Shadow Minister for Crime Reduction and Courts.[25]

In the November 2021 British shadow cabinet reshuffle she was made Shadow Minister for Security.[26] Since her appointment, she has focused on issues such Boris Johnson's relationship with Alexander Lebedev, hostile state threats, Martyn’s Law and the effectiveness of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA).[27][28] She also led the Labour Party's scrutinization of the National Security Bill from its introduction to Parliament in May 2022 to it becoming law in July 2023.[28]

In the 2023 British shadow cabinet reshuffle she was appointed Opposition Deputy Chief Whip in the House of Commons, with the responsibility for legislation.[29]

Lynch married Chris Walker in December 2014.[30]

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.[31]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Holly Lynch.

• Profile at Parliament of the United Kingdom
• Contributions in Parliament at Hansard
• Voting record at Public Whip
• Record in Parliament at TheyWorkForYou