Lyn Brown (politician)
Encyclopedia
Lyn Carol Brown is a British
Labour Party
politician who has been the Member of Parliament
(MP) for West Ham
since 2005
.
and Plashet Comprehensive School
before attending the Whitelands College
, Putney (now part of Roehampton University
). In 1984 she began work as a social worker for the London Borough of Ealing
.
at the 1992 general election
but was easily beaten by 16,885 votes by the Conservative
James Arbuthnot
.
The former minister and Labour MP for West Ham Tony Banks
retired and Lyn Brown was selected to contest the safe Labour seat through a controversial all-women shortlist. Lyn Brown was duly elected at the 2005 general election
as MP for West Ham with a majority of 9,801 votes. She made her maiden speech
on 23 May 2005.
In 2006 Brown became the Parliamentary Private Secretary
to the Communities and Local Government Minister, Phil Woolas
. In July 2007 she was appointed Parliamentary Private Secretary to John Denham, Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills.
In June 2009 she was promoted to become an Assistant Government Whip
. She remained as a whip, in opposition, following the 2010 election.
At the 2010 General Election she retained the seat with a significantly increased majority of 22,534.
In June 2011 Brown was criticised by campaigners for recruiting an unpaid intern
whilst also purporting to support "a living wage
for all". Gus Baker of Intern Aware
stated Brown had replaced a paid member of staff with an unpaid intern, accusing her of double hypocrisy
and noting how such conduct denied opportunities to poorer people such as those from Brown's constituency. Brown stated she "would like to pay everyone" in her office, but "did not have the resources to do so".
In July 2011, Brown was called into the office of Labour's chief Whip, Rosie Winterton
. Winterton admonished her over an incident in the House of Commons, with political journalist Sean Dilley in which Brown barged into the back of the journalist. Dilley had his golden retriever guide dog with him at the time of the incident. Mrs Brown then swore at Mr. Dilley, telling him to "move out of my **** way". Mr. Dilley asked for Brown's name. Brown refused to give her name to him, saying "I'm not giving it to you, **** off." Dilley said that he would call security in order to get her name at which point, Brown threatened him saying "You do that and see what happens." The House of Commons security staff pursued her, with Brown claiming, they were harassing her. Police were called and an incident report was written up. After the meeting with the Chief Whip, Brown issued an apology to Mr Dilley claiming the incident had been a misunderstanding.
. The ceremony was performed by fellow Labour MP and former vicar Chris Bryant
.
Until May 2009, Brown rented a central London flat using the second home allowance, despite her constituency being only a few miles from Westminster.
Brown hobbies include reading crime fiction
and walking
.
, swearing at him to get out of her way. Several independent witnesses reported the matter to the Press, and to the Labour Chief Whip, Rosie Winterton
, who apparently proceeded to discipline Brown. Brown issued an unreserved apology shortly thereafter.
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
politician who has been the Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
(MP) for West Ham
West Ham (UK Parliament constituency)
West Ham is a parliamentary constituency in the London Borough of Newham, represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom...
since 2005
United Kingdom general election, 2005
The United Kingdom general election of 2005 was held on Thursday, 5 May 2005 to elect 646 members to the British House of Commons. The Labour Party under Tony Blair won its third consecutive victory, but with a majority of 66, reduced from 160....
.
Early life
Brown was born in London to Joseph and Iris Brown. She was educated at Drew Road Primary School, SilvertownSilvertown
Silvertown is an industrialised district on the north bank of the Thames in the London Borough of Newham. It was named after Samuel Winkworth Silver's former rubber factory which opened in 1852, and is now dominated by the Tate & Lyle sugar refinery and the John Knight ABP animal rendering...
and Plashet Comprehensive School
Plashet School
Plashet School is a secondary girls school in East Ham, London with approximately 1,350 students. It is a Leading Edge school and a Science and Maths Specialist College, previously a grammar school...
before attending the Whitelands College
Whitelands College
Whitelands College is one of the four constituent colleges of Roehampton University. One of the oldest higher education institutions in England, predating every university except Oxford, Cambridge, London and Durham, it was founded by the Church of England’s National Society in 1841 as a teacher...
, Putney (now part of Roehampton University
Roehampton University
The University of Roehampton is a campus university in the United Kingdom, situated on three major sites in Roehampton, south-west London.-History:...
). In 1984 she began work as a social worker for the London Borough of Ealing
London Borough of Ealing
The London Borough of Ealing is a borough in west London.-Location:The London Borough of Ealing borders the London Borough of Hillingdon to the west, the London Borough of Harrow and the London Borough of Brent to the north, the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham to the east and the London...
.
Politics
She was elected as a councillor to Newham Borough Council in 1988. She unsuccessfully contested Wanstead and WoodfordWanstead and Woodford (UK Parliament constituency)
Wanstead and Woodford was a constituency in north-east London, represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elected one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election...
at the 1992 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1992
The United Kingdom general election of 1992 was held on 9 April 1992, and was the fourth consecutive victory for the Conservative Party. This election result was one of the biggest surprises in 20th Century politics, as polling leading up to the day of the election showed Labour under leader Neil...
but was easily beaten by 16,885 votes by the Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
James Arbuthnot
James Arbuthnot
James Norwich Arbuthnot, MP is a British Conservative Party politician. He is the Member of Parliament for North East Hampshire.-Early life:...
.
The former minister and Labour MP for West Ham Tony Banks
Tony Banks, Baron Stratford
Anthony Louis Banks, Baron Stratford was a British Labour Party politician, who was a Member of Parliament from 1983 to 2005, before being made a Member of the House of Lords. In government, he served for two years as Minister for Sport...
retired and Lyn Brown was selected to contest the safe Labour seat through a controversial all-women shortlist. Lyn Brown was duly elected at the 2005 general election
United Kingdom general election, 2005
The United Kingdom general election of 2005 was held on Thursday, 5 May 2005 to elect 646 members to the British House of Commons. The Labour Party under Tony Blair won its third consecutive victory, but with a majority of 66, reduced from 160....
as MP for West Ham with a majority of 9,801 votes. She made her maiden speech
Maiden speech
A maiden speech is the first speech given by a newly elected or appointed member of a legislature or parliament.Traditions surrounding maiden speeches vary from country to country...
on 23 May 2005.
In 2006 Brown became the Parliamentary Private Secretary
Parliamentary Private Secretary
A Parliamentary Private Secretary is a role given to a United Kingdom Member of Parliament by a senior minister in government or shadow minister to act as their contact for the House of Commons; this role is junior to that of Parliamentary Under-Secretary, which is a ministerial post, salaried by...
to the Communities and Local Government Minister, Phil Woolas
Phil Woolas
Philip James Woolas was a British Labour Party politician who was the Member of Parliament for Oldham East and Saddleworth from his election in 1997 to 2010. He was the Minister of State for Borders and Immigration in the Home Office, as well as being the Minister of State for the Treasury...
. In July 2007 she was appointed Parliamentary Private Secretary to John Denham, Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills.
In June 2009 she was promoted to become an Assistant Government Whip
Whip (politics)
A whip is an official in a political party whose primary purpose is to ensure party discipline in a legislature. Whips are a party's "enforcers", who typically offer inducements and threaten punishments for party members to ensure that they vote according to the official party policy...
. She remained as a whip, in opposition, following the 2010 election.
At the 2010 General Election she retained the seat with a significantly increased majority of 22,534.
In June 2011 Brown was criticised by campaigners for recruiting an unpaid intern
Intern
Internship is a system of onthejob training for white-collar jobs, similar to an apprenticeship. Interns are usually college or university students, but they can also be high school students or post graduate adults seeking skills for a new career. They may also be as young as middle school or in...
whilst also purporting to support "a living wage
Living wage
In public policy, a living wage is the minimum hourly income necessary for a worker to meet basic needs . These needs include shelter and other incidentals such as clothing and nutrition...
for all". Gus Baker of Intern Aware
Intern Aware
Intern Aware is a British-based pressure group, calling for reform of the internship system, focusing on the issue of pay and the minimum wage. The organisation started as a Facebook group named "Interns Must Be Paid The Minimum Wage". It has led campaigns focused on the non-payment of...
stated Brown had replaced a paid member of staff with an unpaid intern, accusing her of double hypocrisy
Hypocrisy
Hypocrisy is the state of pretending to have virtues, moral or religious beliefs, principles, etc., that one does not actually have. Hypocrisy involves the deception of others and is thus a kind of lie....
and noting how such conduct denied opportunities to poorer people such as those from Brown's constituency. Brown stated she "would like to pay everyone" in her office, but "did not have the resources to do so".
In July 2011, Brown was called into the office of Labour's chief Whip, Rosie Winterton
Rosie Winterton
Rosalie "Rosie" Winterton is a British Labour Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament for Doncaster Central since 1997. Formerly a minister within both the Blair and Brown Governments, she first entered the Shadow Cabinet in May 2010 as the Shadow Leader of the House of Commons...
. Winterton admonished her over an incident in the House of Commons, with political journalist Sean Dilley in which Brown barged into the back of the journalist. Dilley had his golden retriever guide dog with him at the time of the incident. Mrs Brown then swore at Mr. Dilley, telling him to "move out of my **** way". Mr. Dilley asked for Brown's name. Brown refused to give her name to him, saying "I'm not giving it to you, **** off." Dilley said that he would call security in order to get her name at which point, Brown threatened him saying "You do that and see what happens." The House of Commons security staff pursued her, with Brown claiming, they were harassing her. Police were called and an incident report was written up. After the meeting with the Chief Whip, Brown issued an apology to Mr Dilley claiming the incident had been a misunderstanding.
Personal
In May 2008 Brown married John Cullen and exercised her privilege as a member of Parliament to hold the ceremony in the Chapel of St Mary Undercroft in the Palace of WestminsterPalace of Westminster
The Palace of Westminster, also known as the Houses of Parliament or Westminster Palace, is the meeting place of the two houses of the Parliament of the United Kingdom—the House of Lords and the House of Commons...
. The ceremony was performed by fellow Labour MP and former vicar Chris Bryant
Chris Bryant
Christopher John Bryant is a British Labour Party politician, who has been the Member of Parliament for Rhondda since 2001...
.
Until May 2009, Brown rented a central London flat using the second home allowance, despite her constituency being only a few miles from Westminster.
Brown hobbies include reading crime fiction
Crime fiction
Crime fiction is the literary genre that fictionalizes crimes, their detection, criminals and their motives. It is usually distinguished from mainstream fiction and other genres such as science fiction or historical fiction, but boundaries can be, and indeed are, blurred...
and walking
Walking
Walking is one of the main gaits of locomotion among legged animals, and is typically slower than running and other gaits. Walking is defined by an 'inverted pendulum' gait in which the body vaults over the stiff limb or limbs with each step...
.
Incident with blind reporter
On 16 July 2011 Brown was reported to have shoved Talksport's blind Political Editor, Sean Dilley, and his guide dog inside Portcullis HousePortcullis House
Portcullis House is an office building in Westminster, London, UK, that was commissioned in 1992 and opened in 2001 to provide offices for 213 Members of Parliament and their staff, augmenting limited space in the Palace of Westminster and surroundings....
, swearing at him to get out of her way. Several independent witnesses reported the matter to the Press, and to the Labour Chief Whip, Rosie Winterton
Rosie Winterton
Rosalie "Rosie" Winterton is a British Labour Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament for Doncaster Central since 1997. Formerly a minister within both the Blair and Brown Governments, she first entered the Shadow Cabinet in May 2010 as the Shadow Leader of the House of Commons...
, who apparently proceeded to discipline Brown. Brown issued an unreserved apology shortly thereafter.
External links
- Lyn Brown MP official constituency website
- Newham Labour Party