Lynne Jones | |
|---|---|
| Member of Parliament forBirmingham Selly Oak | |
| In office 9 April 1992 – 12 April 2010 | |
| Preceded by | Anthony Beaumont-Dark |
| Succeeded by | Steve McCabe |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1951-04-26)26 April 1951 (age 74) Birmingham,Warwickshire, England |
| Political party | Green Party of England and Wales (2024–present)[1] |
| Other political affiliations | Independent (2023–2024) Labour (1974–2023) |
| Spouse | Chris Kirk |
| Children | 2 sons |
| Alma mater | University of Birmingham |
| Profession | Biochemist |
| Website | lynnejones.org.uk |
Lynne Mary Jones (born 26 April 1951) is a British politician, who was theLabour PartyMember of Parliament (MP) forBirmingham Selly Oak from1992 until2010.
Jones was born inBirmingham, and attended the local[2]Bartley Green Girls' Grammar School (now the comprehensiveHillcrest School) inWoodgate. She studiedBiochemistry at theUniversity of Birmingham, eventually gaining herPh.D. in 1979. She also has a post-graduate Diploma in Housing Studies from Birmingham Polytechnic (nowBirmingham City University). She worked in research at the University of Birmingham from 1972–86. She was a housing association manager from 1987–92. She joined the Labour Party in 1974.
She has worked in both science and housing, and was a councillor onBirmingham City Council representingKings Norton ward from 1980–94.
She first studiedstimulus-response coupling in the ratparotid gland and atalpha adrenergic receptors. This led to a discovery that there arecell-surface receptors that are stimulated by hormones andneurotransmitters controlled bychanges of intracellularcalcium ion levels. It also involves the conversion ofinositol phospholipids in thecell membrane. She also worked on the process of agonist-stimulated incorporation ofradioactive phosphate into inositolphospholipids.
Jones was first elected to theHouse of Commons at the1992 general election. She was a member of theSocialist Campaign Group and took part in almost all of the backbench rebellions against the Labour government, describing herself in 2006 as "one of the usual suspects" among thebackbenchers.[3]
Jones was Chair of the Parliamentary Forum onTranssexualism, and is a patron ofPress for Change. From 1993–2001 she was on theScience and Technology Select Committee. During the 2005–10 parliament she was a member of theEnvironment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee. She also chaired the Socialist Campaign Group.[4]
In February 2006, she announced her intention to stand against then ChancellorGordon Brown in the Labour Party leadership contest expected to followPrime MinisterTony Blair's resignation if nobody else did, so that Brown could not simply be "crowned". Subsequently, Socialist Campaign Group ChairJohn McDonnell attempted to stand instead, but failed to gain enough nominations from MPs and Brown was unopposed.
Following boundary changes in Birmingham, which reduced its parliamentary representation from eleven to ten seats, Jones was expected to apply for selection for the redrawn Selly Oak constituency which contained wards from the former Selly Oak andHall Green constituencies. However, in January 2007 Jones announced her intention to stand down at the2010 general election. Jones refused to endorseRoger Godsiff in Hall Green, instead supporting theRespect candidateSalma Yaqoob, who came second.[5]
Following her retirement from the House of Commons in 2010, Jones re-founded the Labour branch inBrecon and Radnorshire.[4]
In 2022, Jones ran to be on Labour'sNational Executive Committee, challenging former Welsh First MinisterCarwyn Jones.[4]
In October 2023, Jones quit the Labour Party overKeir Starmer's comments on theGaza war that appeared to support Israel cutting off Palestinian access to power and water.[6] In May 2024, she joined theGreen Party of England and Wales after unsuccessfully backing ex-Labour independentJamie Driscoll in theNorth East mayoral election.[7][1]
She is married, and has two sons (including one born in January 1990). She married Chris Kirk in April 1994 inLambeth. He is Chief Executive of theBiochemical Society. She is a keen cyclist.
In November 2009, she announced she was having treatment forbreast cancer after a tumour was discovered at an early stage.[8]
| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of Parliament forBirmingham Selly Oak 1992 –2010 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| People | |
