Liz Lynne
Encyclopedia
Elizabeth Lynne, known as Liz Lynne, (born 22 January 1948) is a British
politician, and has been a Member of the European Parliament
(MEP) for the West Midlands
for the Liberal Democrats
since her election at the 1999 European election. Previously she had been elected as Member of Parliament
(MP) for Rochdale
at the 1992 general election
but was defeated at the 1997 general election
.
Lynne was born in Woking
and educated at Dorking
County Grammar School. Between 1966 and 1989 she was an actress, appearing in The Mousetrap
. She also worked as a speech consultant between 1988 and 1992. Lynne is the founder and former chair of the Indonesia
n Co-ordination for the British Section of Amnesty International
. Whilst an MP she was the Liberal Democrats' spokesperson on Health and Community Care, and then spokesperson on Social Security
and Disability
. She is also one the patrons for the domestic violence charity Mankind Initiative
.
She is the 35th best out of all 785 MEPs and 9th best of the 78 UK MEPs on promoting transparency and reform according to eurosceptic think-tank Open Europe
. She is a founding member—and current Vice President of the European Parliament Intergroup MEPs Against Cancer
.
and is the only Liberal Democrat
MEP in the region. On 5 November 2011 she announced that she would be stepping down from the position in February 2012.
. Her votes were down in 2009 but she retained her seat.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
politician, and has been a Member of the European Parliament
Member of the European Parliament
A Member of the European Parliament is a person who has been elected to the European Parliament. The name of MEPs differ in different languages, with terms such as europarliamentarian or eurodeputy being common in Romance language-speaking areas.When the European Parliament was first established,...
(MEP) for the West Midlands
West Midlands (European Parliament constituency)
West Midlands is a constituency of the European Parliament. For 2009 it elected 6 MEPs using the d'Hondt method of party-list proportional representation. The constituency will also elect a "virtual MEP" who will be able to sit in the Parliament if the Treaty of Lisbon comes into effect...
for the Liberal Democrats
Liberal Democrats
The Liberal Democrats are a social liberal political party in the United Kingdom which supports constitutional and electoral reform, progressive taxation, wealth taxation, human rights laws, cultural liberalism, banking reform and civil liberties .The party was formed in 1988 by a merger of the...
since her election at the 1999 European election. Previously she had been elected as 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 Rochdale
Rochdale (UK Parliament constituency)
Rochdale is a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.-Boundaries:...
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 defeated at the 1997 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1997
The United Kingdom general election, 1997 was held on 1 May 1997, more than five years after the previous election on 9 April 1992, to elect 659 members to the British House of Commons. The Labour Party ended its 18 years in opposition under the leadership of Tony Blair, and won the general...
.
Lynne was born in Woking
Woking
Woking is a large town and civil parish that shares its name with the surrounding local government district, located in the west of Surrey, UK. It is part of the Greater London Urban Area and the London commuter belt, with frequent trains and a journey time of 24 minutes to Waterloo station....
and educated at Dorking
Dorking
Dorking is a historic market town at the foot of the North Downs approximately south of London, in Surrey, England.- History and development :...
County Grammar School. Between 1966 and 1989 she was an actress, appearing in The Mousetrap
The Mousetrap
The Mousetrap is a murder mystery play by Agatha Christie. The Mousetrap opened in the West End of London in 1952, and has been running continuously since then. It has the longest initial run of any play in history, with over 24,500 performances so far. It is the longest running show of the modern...
. She also worked as a speech consultant between 1988 and 1992. Lynne is the founder and former chair of the Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
n Co-ordination for the British Section of Amnesty International
Amnesty International
Amnesty International is an international non-governmental organisation whose stated mission is "to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights, and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated."Following a publication of Peter Benenson's...
. Whilst an MP she was the Liberal Democrats' spokesperson on Health and Community Care, and then spokesperson on Social Security
Social security
Social security is primarily a social insurance program providing social protection or protection against socially recognized conditions, including poverty, old age, disability, unemployment and others. Social security may refer to:...
and Disability
Disability
A disability may be physical, cognitive, mental, sensory, emotional, developmental or some combination of these.Many people would rather be referred to as a person with a disability instead of handicapped...
. She is also one the patrons for the domestic violence charity Mankind Initiative
Mankind Initiative
The ManKind Initiative is a domestic violence charity based in the United Kingdom and is at the forefront of providing support for male victims of domestic abuse and violence...
.
She is the 35th best out of all 785 MEPs and 9th best of the 78 UK MEPs on promoting transparency and reform according to eurosceptic think-tank Open Europe
Open Europe
Open Europe is an influential eurosceptic think-tank and interest group, founded in London by some UK business people, with offices in London and Brussels. While Open Europe does not advocate British withdrawal from the European Union, it is critical of the process of European integration and has...
. She is a founding member—and current Vice President of the European Parliament Intergroup MEPs Against Cancer
MEPs Against Cancer
MEPs Against Cancer is a group of 43 Members of the European Parliament who aim to "promot[e] action on cancer as an EU priority and [harness] European health policy to that end" and to encourage every country to develop a national plan for combating cancer...
.
Political career
Lynne has been a MP and an MEP. She currently is a MEP in the West MidlandsWest Midlands (European Parliament constituency)
West Midlands is a constituency of the European Parliament. For 2009 it elected 6 MEPs using the d'Hondt method of party-list proportional representation. The constituency will also elect a "virtual MEP" who will be able to sit in the Parliament if the Treaty of Lisbon comes into effect...
and is the only Liberal Democrat
Liberal Democrats
The Liberal Democrats are a social liberal political party in the United Kingdom which supports constitutional and electoral reform, progressive taxation, wealth taxation, human rights laws, cultural liberalism, banking reform and civil liberties .The party was formed in 1988 by a merger of the...
MEP in the region. On 5 November 2011 she announced that she would be stepping down from the position in February 2012.
2009 UK European Elections
Lynne is one of six MEPs in the West MidlandsWest Midlands (European Parliament constituency)
West Midlands is a constituency of the European Parliament. For 2009 it elected 6 MEPs using the d'Hondt method of party-list proportional representation. The constituency will also elect a "virtual MEP" who will be able to sit in the Parliament if the Treaty of Lisbon comes into effect...
. Her votes were down in 2009 but she retained her seat.
External links
- Liz Lynne MEP official site
- Liz Lynne profile at the European Parliament
- Liz Lynne profile at the site of the Liberal Democrats