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, before joining a small business involved in exporting goods from Halifax.[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.[5] 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.[6] 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.[7] Lynch was successful on election night and held the Halifax seat for Labour with a majority of only 428 votes over the Conservative candidate.[8]

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

In the 2017 general election, Lynch increased her majority to 5,376 (11.1% of those voting) over the Conservative candidate, Chris Pearson.[11]

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.[12] 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[13] and a Co-Chair of the British Museum group and of the Population, Development and Reproductive Health group.[10] Lynch has also been a member of All-Party Parliamentary Groups on Migration, Britain-Palestine, Labour Friends of Palestine and the Middle East, Art and Health, Kashmir, Policing and Rugby Union.[10]

She supported Owen Smith in the failed attempt to replace Jeremy Corbyn in the 2016 Labour Party (UK) leadership election.[14]

Following the October Shadow Cabinet reshuffle and the firing of Dame Rosie Winterton as Chief Whip, Lynch resigned as a whip.[15] 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.[16][17]

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.[18]

She endorsed Keir Starmer in the 2020 Labour Party leadership election.[19] Following Starmer's victory, Lynch was appointed as Shadow Minister for Immigration.[20]

Lynch married Chris Walker in December 2014.[21]

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.[22]

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