View source for Glenys Kinnock

{{Short description|British peer and politician (1944–2023)}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2023}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix = [[The Right Honourable]]
| name             = The Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead
| honorific-suffix = {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|FRSA|PC}}
| image            = Baroness Kinnock.jpg
| caption          = Official portrait, 2009
| office           = [[Minister of State for Africa and the United&nbsp;Nations]]
| primeminister    = [[Gordon Brown]]
| term_start       = 13 October 2009
| term_end         = 11 May 2010
| predecessor      = [[Mark Malloch Brown|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 peer]]age
| parliament3      = European
| constituency_MP3 = [[Wales (European Parliament constituency)|Wales]]
| prior_term3      = [[South Wales East (European Parliament constituency)|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       = {{birth date|1944|7|7|df=y}}
| birth_place      = [[Roade]], Northamptonshire, England
| death_date       = {{death date and age|2023|12|03|1944|7|7|df=y}}
| death_place      = [[London]], England
| party            = [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]
| spouse           = {{marriage|[[Neil Kinnock]]|25 March 1967}}
| children         = 2, including [[Stephen Kinnock|Stephen]]
| alma_mater       = [[Cardiff University]]
}}

'''Glenys Elizabeth Kinnock, Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead, Baroness Kinnock''' {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|FRSA}} ({{nee|'''Parry'''}}; 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 (UK)|Labour Party]], she was previously a [[member of the European Parliament]] (MEP) for [[Wales (European Parliament constituency)|Wales]], formerly [[South Wales East (European Parliament constituency)|South Wales East]], from [[1994 European Parliament election in the United Kingdom|1994]] to [[2009 European Parliament election in the United Kingdom|2009]].

==Early life==
Glenys Elizabeth Parry was born in [[Roade]], Northamptonshire, and educated at [[Holyhead High School|Holyhead Comprehensive School]], [[Anglesey]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=3 December 2023 |title=Glenys Kinnock, ex-minister and wife of former Labour leader, dies aged 79 |work=[[The Times]] |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/article/glenys-kinnock-dies-ex-minister-wife-of-former-labour-leader-neil-dc2szvz96 |url-access=subscription |access-date=3 December 2023 |archive-date=3 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231203141751/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/glenys-kinnock-dies-ex-minister-wife-of-former-labour-leader-neil-dc2szvz96 |url-status=live }}</ref> She graduated in 1965 from [[University College, Cardiff]] in education and history.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Browne |first=Adrian |date=3 December 2023 |title=Glenys Kinnock: The political spouse who became a force in her own right |work=[[BBC News]] |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-58270490 |access-date=3 December 2023 |archive-date=3 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231203164047/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-58270490 |url-status=live }}</ref> Parry worked at Moorland Primary School, in [[Splott]], in 1966.<ref>{{Cite news |date=8 March 1991 |title=Glenys on hand for century |work=[[South Wales Echo]] |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/807502868/ |url-access=subscription |access-date=3 December 2023 |archive-date=3 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231203155804/https://www.newspapers.com/image/807502868/ |url-status=live }}</ref> She met [[Neil Kinnock]] at university<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ellam |first=Dennis |date=5 March 1989 |title=Profile: Glenys Kinnock |work=[[Wales on Sunday]] |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/938308136/ |url-access=subscription |access-date=3 December 2023 |archive-date=3 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231203155803/https://www.newspapers.com/image/938308136/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and married him in 1967.<ref name = Francis>{{cite news|url = https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-67606751|title = Glenys Kinnock: Former minister and wife of Neil Kinnock dies aged 79|last = Francis|first = Sam|date = 3 December 2023|access-date = 3 December 2023|work = [[BBC News]]|archive-date = 3 December 2023|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20231203134400/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-67606751|url-status = live}}</ref>

==European Parliament==
Kinnock represented [[South Wales East]] in the [[European Parliament]] from 1994 until 1999, and [[Wales (European Parliament constituency)|Wales]] from 1999 until 2009, where she was a member of the [[Party of European Socialists]] (PES) political group.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Socialist Group in the European Parliament|url=http://www.socialistgroup.eu/gpes/index.do?lg=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070103203356/http://www.socialistgroup.eu/gpes/index.do?lg=en|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 January 2007|access-date=14 October 2007}}</ref> She was a Member of the European Parliament's [[Committee on Development|Development and Co-operation Committee]]<ref>{{cite web|title=The European Parliament Development and Cooperation Committee|url=http://www.europarl.europa.eu/committees/deve_home_en.htm|access-date=18 April 2007|archive-date=6 April 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070406170140/http://www.europarl.europa.eu/committees/deve_home_en.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> and a substitute member of the [[Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs|Committee on Citizens' Freedoms and Rights, Justice and Home Affairs]].<ref>{{cite web |title=The European Parliament committee on Citizens' Freedoms and Rights |url=http://www.europarl.europa.eu/committees/libe_home_en.htm |access-date=18 April 2007 |archive-date=6 April 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070406165225/http://www.europarl.europa.eu/committees/libe_home_en.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> She was a co-president of the [[ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly|African, Caribbean and Pacific-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly]] from 2002 to 2009, and Labour spokesperson on International Development in the European Parliament.<ref name=":0" /> In November 2006 Kinnock was criticised for "taking a [[wikt:junket|junket]]" to [[Barbados]] to discuss world poverty issues.<ref>{{cite news |title=Politician Glenys Kinnock of Holyhead |url=http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/local-news/politician-glenys-kinnock-of-holyhead-2773097 |access-date=11 October 2015 |work=[[North Wales Daily Post]] |date=9 November 2009 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304095015/http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/local-news/politician-glenys-kinnock-of-holyhead-2773097 |url-status=live }}</ref> Kinnock co-presided over the 12th [[ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly]].<ref>{{cite web |title=The ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly |url=http://www.europarl.europa.eu/intcoop/acp/60_12/default_en.htm |access-date=18 April 2007 |archive-date=16 May 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070516121816/http://www.europarl.europa.eu/intcoop/acp/60_12/default_en.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Domestic political career==
In the [[2009 United Kingdom Cabinet reshuffle|2009 cabinet reshuffle]], Kinnock was appointed [[minister for Europe]] following the resignation of [[Caroline Flint]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Swaine |first=Jon |date=6 June 2009 |title=Former leader's wife hurried in as Flint's replacement |work=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/753733347/ |url-access=subscription |access-date=3 December 2023 |archive-date=7 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231207090031/https://www.newspapers.com/image/753733347/ |url-status=live }}</ref> To enable her to join the government, she was awarded a [[life peer]]age and became '''Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead''', ''of [[Holyhead]] in the County of [[Anglesey|Ynys Môn]]'' on 30 June 2009.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=59121|date=7 July 2009|page=11621}}</ref> She was introduced to the [[House of Lords]] on the same day.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200809/ldhansrd/text/90630-0001.htm|title=Lords Hansard text|date=30 June 2009|publisher=[[Parliament of the United Kingdom]]|access-date=12 July 2009|archive-date=24 April 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100424133537/http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200809/ldhansrd/text/90630-0001.htm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Gimson |first=Andrew |date=1 July 2009 |title=What the Dickens? Balls plays Wackford Squeers |work=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |url=https://www.newspapers.com./image/753704134/ |url-access=subscription |access-date=3 December 2023 |archive-date=3 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231203154723/https://www.newspapers.com/image/753704134/ |url-status=live }}</ref> 

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 language]]s, such as [[Catalan language|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".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thetranslationpeople.com/2009/07/welsh-language-welcomed-by-european-commission/|title=Welsh language welcomed by European Commission|date=12 July 2009|website=The Translation People|access-date=13 March 2021|archive-date=12 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210512224823/https://www.thetranslationpeople.com/2009/07/welsh-language-welcomed-by-european-commission/|url-status=live}}</ref>

From 2009 to 2010, Kinnock served as [[Minister of State for Africa and the United Nations|minister of state for Africa and the United Nations]], filling a post left vacant after the resignation of [[Lord Malloch-Brown]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2009/oct/12/chris-bryant-europe-minister|title=Chris Bryant replaces Glenys Kinnock|date=12 October 2009|work=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=12 October 2009|location=London|first=Andrew|last=Sparrow|archive-date=11 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131111194037/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2009/oct/12/chris-bryant-europe-minister|url-status=live}}</ref> From 2010 to 2013 she was an [[Her Majesty's Most Loyal Opposition (United Kingdom)|Opposition]] spokesperson for the [[Department of International Development]] in the [[House of Lords]].<ref>[http://www.parliament.uk/biographies/glenys-kinnock/28366 Lady Kinnock profile] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110514142351/http://www.parliament.uk/biographies/glenys-kinnock/28366|date=14 May 2011}}, parliament.uk; accessed 31 December 2013.</ref> Kinnock retired from the Lords on 9 April 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Retirements of Members – Tuesday 13 April 2021 – Hansard – UK Parliament|url=https://hansard.parliament.uk/Lords/2021-04-13/debates/B7F14490-2804-46D5-AF8E-B6AEC2127100/RetirementsOfMembershighlight=baroness+kinnock|access-date=9 July 2021|website=hansard.parliament.uk|language=en}}</ref>

==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 Kinnock|Stephen]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=23 May 2009 |title='Don't say I'm retiring!' – Glenys Kinnock MEP |work=[[Wales Online]] |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/lifestyle/showbiz/dont-say-im-retiring---2107256 |access-date=3 December 2023 |archive-date=3 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231203191304/https://www.walesonline.co.uk/lifestyle/showbiz/dont-say-im-retiring---2107256 |url-status=live }}</ref> When her husband was given a [[life peerage]] in 2005, she was entitled to the title ''Lady Kinnock'', but decided against its use.<ref name=":0"/> However, she became Lady (or Baroness) Kinnock in her own right when she was ennobled in 2009. Kinnock grew up speaking [[Welsh language|Welsh]].<ref name=":0" />

In 2017, Kinnock was diagnosed with [[Alzheimer's disease]].<ref>{{cite news|author=<!--not stated-->|date=24 March 2022|title=Kinnock at 80: The former Labour leader on life, politics and his beloved wife|url=https://www.itv.com/news/wales/2022-03-24/kinnock-at-80-the-former-labour-leader-on-life-in-and-out-of-politics|work=ITV News|location=London|access-date=24 March 2022|archive-date=24 March 2022|archive-url=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|url-status=live}}</ref> Her husband spoke about their experience with the disease and providing support for her.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-03-27 |title=Alzheimer's: Neil Kinnock supporting wife through disease |language=en-GB |publisher=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-60835796 |access-date=2023-06-27 |archive-date=27 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230627161206/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-60835796 |url-status=live }}</ref> She died from complications of the disease at her home in London, on 3 December 2023, aged 79.<ref>{{cite news|url = https://news.sky.com/story/glenys-kinnock-former-mep-and-wife-of-ex-labour-leader-dies-aged-79-13021865|title = Glenys Kinnock: Former MEP, minister and wife of ex-Labour leader dies aged 79|date = 3 December 2023|access-date = 3 December 2023|publisher = [[Sky News]]|archive-date = 3 December 2023|archive-url = 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|url-status = live}}</ref>

==Publications==
* ''Beyond Band Aid: Charity Is Not Enough'' (1987; with [[Joan Lestor]] and David Ward)<ref>{{oclc|914784057}}</ref>
* ''Voices for One World'' (1987)<ref>{{oclc|19267903}}</ref>
* ''Eritrea: Images of War and Peace'' (1988)<ref>{{oclc|650371030}}</ref>
* ''Namibia: Women in War'' (1990; with Tessa Cleaver and Marion Wallace)<ref>{{oclc|782064549}}</ref>
* ''Namibia: Birth of a Nation'' (1991; with Jenny Matthews)<ref>{{oclc|21228094}}</ref>
* ''By Faith and Daring'' (1993; with [[Fiona Millar]])<ref>{{oclc|123764456}}</ref>
* ''The Gender Perspective'' (1995)<ref>{{oclc|958367787}}</ref>
* ''Changing States: A Labour Agenda for Europe'' (1996; with [[Glyn Ford]] and [[Arlene McCarthy]])<ref>{{oclc|36378142}}</ref>
* ''A Woman's Work Is Never Done'' (2006; with [[Elizabeth Andrews]] and [[Ursula Masson]])<ref>{{oclc|495356189}}</ref>

=== Articles ===
* "The Rape of Darfur", 2006 (''[[The Guardian]]'')<ref>{{Cite news|title=The rape of Darfur|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2006/jan/18/foreignpolicy.comment|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|first=Glenys|last=Kinnock|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181129135200/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2006/jan/18/foreignpolicy.comment|archive-date=29 November 2018|location=London|date=18 January 2006|url-status=live}}</ref>
* "A Lethal Bully That Must Be Tackled", 2006 (''[[The Times]]'')<ref>{{Cite news|title=A lethal bully that must be tackled|first=Glenys|last=Kinnock|url=https://www.thetimes.com/comment/register/article/a-lethal-bully-that-must-be-tackled-qkp0z082sbz|work=[[The Times]]|date=13 September 2006|location=London|access-date=4 December 2023|archive-date=4 December 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231204002117/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/a-lethal-bully-that-must-be-tackled-qkp0z082sbz|url-status=live}}</ref><!--
* "The Need for an Ethical Foreign Policy, Mark II", 2007 (''[[The Independent]]'')-->
* "Cambodia's Brazen U.N. Bird", 2012 (''[[The New York Times]]'')<ref>{{Cite news|title=Cambodia's Brazen U.N. Bid|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/17/opinion/cambodias-brazen-un-bid.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181130070924/https://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/17/opinion/cambodias-brazen-un-bid.html|archive-date=30 November 2018|work=The New York Times|first=Glenys|last=Kinnock|date=16 October 2012|url-status=live}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.europarl.europa.eu/members/public/geoSearch/view.do?country=GB&partNumber=1&zone=Wales&language=EN&id=2123 Profile at European Parliament website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071022211329/http://www.europarl.europa.eu/members/public/geoSearch/view.do?country=GB&partNumber=1&zone=Wales&language=EN&id=2123 |date=22 October 2007 }}
* [http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sidesSearch/search.do?type=CRE&language=EN&term=6&author=2123 Speeches made in the European Parliament]
* [http://www.europarl.europa.eu/intcoop/acp/50_01/default_en.htm Mrs Kinnock, co-president of the ACP EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061020005559/http://www.europarl.europa.eu/intcoop/acp/50_01/default_en.htm |date=20 October 2006 }}
* {{Cite news|title=The need for an ethical foreign policy, Mark II|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/glenys-kinnock-the-need-for-an-ethical-foreign-policy-mark-ii-453169.html|work=[[The Independent]]|year=2007|location=London}}{{dead link|date=January 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}
* {{imdb name|1572560}}
* {{discogs artist|Glenys Kinnock}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-par|eu}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Llew Smith]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Member of European Parliament]] for [[Wales (European Parliament constituency)|Wales]]<br>{{small|[[South Wales East (European Parliament constituency)|South Wales East]] ([[1994 European Parliament election in the United Kingdom|1994]]–[[1999 European Parliament election in the United Kingdom|1999]])}}|years=[[1994 European Parliament election in the United Kingdom|1994]]–[[2009 European Parliament election in the United Kingdom|2009]]}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Derek Vaughan]]}}
|-
{{s-off}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Caroline Flint]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Minister of State for Europe]]|years=2009}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Chris Bryant]]|as=Under-Secretary of State for Europe and Asia}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Mark Malloch Brown, Baron Malloch-Brown|The Lord Malloch-Brown]]|as=Minister of State for Africa, Asia and the United Nations}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Foreign and Commonwealth Office|Minister of State for Africa and the United Nations]]|years=2009–2010}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Henry Bellingham]]|as=Under-Secretary of State for Africa and the United Nations}}
{{s-end}}
{{Ministers for Europe}}
{{Neil Kinnock}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kinnock, Glenys}}
[[Category:1944 births]]
[[Category:2023 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century British women politicians]]
[[Category:20th-century British women writers]]
[[Category:20th-century women MEPs for Wales]]
[[Category:21st-century British women politicians]]
[[Category:21st-century British women writers]]
[[Category:21st-century women MEPs for Wales]]
[[Category:Alumni of Cardiff University]]
[[Category:British critics of religions]]
[[Category:Deaths from Alzheimer's disease in England]]
[[Category:Deaths from dementia in England]]
[[Category:Kinnock family|Glenys]]
[[Category:Labour Friends of Israel]]
[[Category:Labour Party (UK) life peers]]
[[Category:Life peeresses created by Elizabeth II]]
[[Category:Life peers created by Elizabeth II]]
[[Category:MEPs for Wales 1994–1999]]
[[Category:MEPs for Wales 1999–2004]]
[[Category:MEPs for Wales 2004–2009]]
[[Category:Peers retired under the House of Lords Reform Act 2014]]
[[Category:People educated at Holyhead High School]]
[[Category:People from Holyhead]]

[[Category:Schoolteachers from Northamptonshire]]
[[Category:Spouses of life peers]]
[[Category:Welsh Labour MEPs]]
[[Category:Welsh humanists]]
[[Category:Welsh socialists]]
[[Category:Welsh-speaking politicians]]
[[Category:Fellows of the Royal Society of Arts]]