Welsh Labour Grassroots is delighted to confirm its unequivocal endorsement of Lynne Jones for Welsh Rep on the Labour Party National Executive Committee (NEC).

Lynne was the Labour MP for Birmingham Selly Oak from 1992 until 2010, having joined the party in 1974. In Parliament, Lynne was Chair of the Socialist Campaign Group of Labour MPs and took part in most of the now lauded rebellions against the New Labour government of Tony Blair, including voting against the War in Iraq, tuition fees and the introduction of ID cards.

During her time as an MP, Lynne formed and chaired the Parliamentary Forum on Gender Identity – standing up for the rights of the trans community long before the vast majority of MPs were even willing to talk about the issue publicly.

A biochemist by training, Lynne earned a PhD from the University of Birmingham and has had several original papers published in learned journals.

Since retiring from the House of Commons in 2010, Lynne moved to Brecon and Radnorshire where she reformed her local branch Labour Party and served a stint as the Chair of her Constituency Labour Party (CLP).

Lynne has been an active union member all her working life, first joining the ASTMS (Association of Scientific, Technical and Managerial Staffs) in 1972 and remaining a member through merges into MSF (Manufacturing, Science and Finance Union) in 1988, Amicus in 2001 and Unite the Union in 2007.

The election for the Welsh Rep on Labour’s NEC will take place in July and August. CLPs and affiliates can nominate Lynne for the position. Your CLP should hold a nomination meeting in May or June, with the deadline for nominations being June 17^th. If your CLP has not organised a nomination meeting, please ask your CLP secretary to organise one.

From Friday 8^th July, the Labour Party will begin to send out ballots by email, or by post for those without an email address recorded on the party system. Fully paid-up members and affiliated supporters in Wales will be able to vote for Lynne Jones to be the Welsh Rep on the NEC and will have until Friday 5^th August to return their ballots.

We encourage all WLG members to nominate Lynne in your CLPs and affiliates and vote for her when your ballots arrive.

We are delighted that Lynne, a long-standing and strong voice for progressive policies with experience of the House of Commons, has agreed to stand. Now we need your support to make sure that she is elected.

If you can help with Lynne’s campaign in any way, please email Lynne at [email protected]