Paul Flynn (politician)

Flynn was born in Cardiff to an Irish father and Welsh mother{{cite news |last1=Roth |first1=Andrew |title=Paul Flynn |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2001/mar/19/profiles.parliament10 |access-date=18 February 2019 |work=The Guardian |date=19 March 2001}} in the Grangetown area of the city. His father was a postman who was wounded in the First World War and died when Flynn was five years old, leaving him and his four siblings to be raised in poverty by their mother; it was she who taught him Welsh. At the age of nine he was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. He was educated at the local Catholic grammar school St Illtyd's College and at University College, Cardiff.

On leaving education in 1955, he worked as a chemist in the steel industry, where he remained until he was made redundant in 1983. He initially worked near Cardiff Docks, where he suffered serious loss of hearing from working in a nail factory, before taking up employment at Llanwern steelworks. After a brief period as a broadcaster, in 1984 he became a researcher for Llew Smith, a Labour Member of the European Parliament.

Flynn had joined the Labour Party in 1956. He was a member of Newport Borough Council from 1972 to 1981 and Gwent County Council from 1974 to 1982.{{cite web|url=http://ukpollingreport.co.uk/2015guide/newportwest/|title=UK Polling Report|access-date=20 February 2019|archive-date=19 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190219015814/http://ukpollingreport.co.uk/2015guide/newportwest/|url-status=dead}} He unsuccessfully contested Denbigh at the October 1974 general election where he came third behind the Conservative and Liberal candidates, Geraint Morgan and D. L. Williams respectively, with a 20.24% share of the vote.{{cite web|url=http://www.politicsresources.net/area/uk/ge74b/i06.htm|title=UK General Election results: October 1974 [Archive]|website=www.politicsresources.net|access-date=20 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811154424/http://www.politicsresources.net/area/uk/ge74b/i06.htm|archive-date=11 August 2011|url-status=dead}} He was elected to the House of Commons for Newport West at the 1987 general election.

Flynn was appointed as junior spokesman for Wales by Labour leader Neil Kinnock shortly after his election to the Commons. He joined the front bench in 1988, when he became a spokesman on health and social security and for social security in 1989. He resigned from the front bench in 1990, and was on the back benches for 26 years after that, until his appointment to Jeremy Corbyn's shadow cabinet, which followed a string of resignations.

Flynn was a member of eight different Select committees, for twelve periods, three times each for the Public Administration Select Committee and Welsh Affairs Committee. He was a member of the Public Administration Select Committee for a period of over thirteen years between 2005 and his death. He joined the Transport Select Committee in 1992 and served thereon until the 1997 general election.{{cite web |url=https://www.parliament.uk/biographies/commons/paul-flynn/545 |title=Paul Flynn |publisher=UK Parliament |work=House of Commons |access-date=12 March 2019}}

On 30 June 2016, Flynn stood in on the party's front bench as Shadow Leader of the House of Commons following Chris Bryant's resignation, prior to a permanent replacement being appointed.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-36672346 |title=Labour MP Paul Flynn claims promotion 'part of diversity project' |work=BBC News |date=30 June 2016 |access-date=30 June 2016}}{{cite news |url=http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/14589702.Rumours_MP_Paul_Flynn_appointed_shadow_leader_of_the_Commons_are_false/ |title=Rumours MP Paul Flynn appointed shadow leader of the Commons 'not true' |first=Ian |last=Craig |newspaper=The Argus |date=30 June 2016 |access-date=5 July 2016}} Believed to be the oldest person to speak from the front benches since William Gladstone in the 19th century, he joked that his appointment would improve the diversity of a Parliament whose front benches suffered from a "a total absence of octogenerians".{{cite news|last1=Cornock|first1=David|title='Trailblazer' octogenarian back on Commons front bench|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-36675087|access-date=4 July 2016|publisher=BBC|date=30 June 2016}} On 3 July 2016, Corbyn appointed Flynn Shadow Secretary of State for Wales.{{cite web |url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/newport-mp-paul-flynn-81-11560587 |author-last=Silk |author-first=Huw |title=Newport MP Paul Flynn, 81, appointed shadow Welsh secretary by Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn |publisher=WalesOnline |date=3 July 2016 |access-date=3 July 2016}} On 6 October 2016, Flynn was replaced as Shadow Wales Secretary by Jo Stevens and as Shadow Leader of the House by Valerie Vaz.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-37588143 |title=Labour's new shadow cabinet in full |work=BBC News |date=7 October 2016 |access-date=12 October 2016}} Flynn said "Our glorious leader, in an act of pioneering diversity, courageously decided to give opportunities for geriatrics on the front bench and this was so successful that he decided to create opportunities for geriatrics on the back bench. I'm double blessed."{{cite web|url=https://www.politicshome.com/news/uk/political-parties/labour-party/news/80697/excl-anger-81-year-old-paul-flynn-after-he-was |title=EXCL Anger of 81-year-old Paul Flynn after he was sacked from Shadow Cabinet|date=11 November 2016}}

Flynn was a republican and in 1996 tabled a bill to abolish the monarchy via a referendum.{{Cite web|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/labour-man-seeks-vote-to-end-the-monarchy-1305898.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220525/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/labour-man-seeks-vote-to-end-the-monarchy-1305898.html |archive-date=25 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Labour man seeks vote to end the monarchy|date=21 April 1996|website=The Independent|language=en|access-date=18 February 2019}} He also supported replacement of the House of Lords with an elected second chamber and opposed the British honours system.

Flynn opposed and campaigned against nuclear weapons.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/feb/18/paul-flynn-obituary |title=Paul Flynn obituary |work=The Guardian |date=18 February 2019 |access-date=20 February 2019}} He was also a long-standing opponent of nuclear power in the United Kingdom, especially the new Hinkley Point C nuclear power station across the Bristol Channel from his constituency.{{cite news |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/paul-flynn-call-uk-pull-1836737 |title=Paul Flynn in call for UK to pull out of nuclear power |last=Williamson |first=David |newspaper=Wales Online |date=2 April 2013 |access-date=3 August 2018}}

Flynn was a firm critic of the Iraq War and the War in Afghanistan. In 2009 he read out the 176 names of UK military personnel who had died in Iraq in a Commons speech.

In November 2017, Flynn said that President of the United States Donald Trump should be arrested for inciting racial hatred if he visited the UK.{{cite web|url=http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/15694100.Donald_Trump__should_be_arrested_for_inciting_racial_hatred___MP/ |title=Donald Trump "should be arrested for inciting racial hatred": MP Paul Flynn |publisher=South Wales Argus |date=30 November 2017 |access-date=30 July 2018}}

Flynn was a "a titan in the UK drug law reform movement" according to the Transform Drug Policy Foundation, a think tank of which he was a patron. This involved asking numerous oral and written parliamentary questions at the request of Transform, tabling early day motions and private members bills, hosting events in Parliament on behalf of the charity, as well as doggedly raising the issue of drug law reform in the house in a series of memorable barnstorming speeches.(February 18, 2019). [https://transformdrugs.org/a-tribute-to-paul-flynn-mp-courageous-advocate-for-drug-law-reform/ Paul Flynn – a courageous advocate for drug law reform]. TransformDrugs.org His speeches included objecting to the classification of psilocybe mushrooms as illegal in the Drugs Act of 2005, in which he said: "We cannot make nature illegal. Magic mushrooms are part of the natural world. Some might describe them as a gift from God."(House of Commons at 11:30 am on 18th January 2005). [https://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=2005-01-18a.689.0#g711.1 Orders of the Day — Drugs Bill]. TheyWorkForYouLetcher, Andy (2006). Shrooms: A Cultural History of the Magic Mushroom. Faber and Faber. P.285 Flynn called for the legalisation of cannabis for medical purposes and decriminalisation for general use.David Batty, [https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2006/may/24/health.immigrationpolicy Labour MPs support medicinal cannabis use], The Guardian, 24 May 2006. In August 2017 he said in the House of Commons: "I would call on people to break the law. To come here and use cannabis here and see what happens".{{cite web|url=https://leftfootforward.org/2017/08/paul-flynn-mp-people-should-take-cannabis-in-parliament-to-show-the-law-is-an-ass/|title=Paul Flynn MP: People should take cannabis in Parliament to show the 'law is an ass' – Left Foot Forward|website=leftfootforward.org|date=2 August 2017}} In October 2017, Flynn sponsored a bill to legalise cannabis for medical purposes.{{cite news |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/hundreds-of-people-consumed-weed-in-front-of-parliament/ |title=Hundreds of People Got High Outside Parliament |work=Vice |first=Ali |last=Cedar |date=11 October 2017 |access-date=20 February 2019}}{{cite web |url=https://services.parliament.uk/bills/2017-19/legalisationofcannabismedicinalpurposes.html |title=Legalisation of Cannabis (Medicinal Purposes) Bill 2017–19 |work=www.parliament.uk |access-date=20 February 2019}}

Flynn was critical of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, arguing that the parliamentary expenses scheme should be replaced with a flat rate allowance dependent on the distance of each MP's constituency from Westminster. He claimed that the current procedure was too bureaucratic and time-consuming.{{cite news|first=Kate |last=McCann |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/08/30/parliamentary-expenses-should-be-scrapped-and-mps-trusted-with-a/ |title=Parliamentary expenses should be scrapped and MPs trusted with an allowance, says top Corbyn ally |publisher=Telegraph.co.uk |date=30 August 2016 |access-date=30 July 2018|newspaper=The Telegraph }}

Following the poisoning of Sergei and Yulia Skripal in March 2018, Flynn tweeted that the Conservative Party were "officially sponsored by NERVE GAS KILLERS R US". He later deleted the post.{{cite web|last=Bates |first=Liz |url=https://www.politicshome.com/news/uk/political-parties/labour-party/news/93513/former-labour-frontbencher-under-fire-over-tory- |title=Former Labour frontbencher under fire over Tory 'nerve gas killers' tweet |publisher=PoliticsHome.com |date= 11 March 2018|access-date=8 August 2018}}

Flynn was a staunch pro-European, and described Brexit as "the biggest political disaster of (his) lifetime", despite Newport West voting to leave the EU by 54 to 46 percent.{{cite web |url=https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/brexit-votes-by-constituency/ |title=Brexit: votes by constituency |last=Dempsey |first=Noel |publisher=UK Parliament |work=House of Commons Library |date=6 February 2017 |access-date=21 April 2022}} He served as a delegate to the Council of Europe and the Western European Union. He called for Prime Minister Theresa May to promise a second referendum on membership of the European Union. He stated "second thoughts are always superior to first thoughts". May responded to his call by saying it was "out of the question".{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-wales-politics-41723410/brexit-mp-paul-flynn-urges-second-referendum |title=Brexit: MP Paul Flynn urges second referendum – BBC News |publisher=Bbc.co.uk |date=23 October 2017 |access-date=30 July 2018}}

Endowment Justice, a company working on a contingency fee basis for borrowers, held talks with Flynn over its concerns about bad practices at several complaints-handling firms. In 2005 Flynn named them, however, in accusations about the whole sector. Flynn agreed to pay the company's legal costs of £35,450, plus £1,000 in damages, which the company said it would donate to the NSPCC. He also agreed to publish an apology on his website.{{cite news| url=http://news.independent.co.uk/business/news/article325801.ece |title=Labour MP Flynn faces £36,000 legal bill after losing libel action|first=David |last=Prosser |work=The Independent|date=9 November 2005|access-date=22 November 2007|location=London }}{{dead link|date=August 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} [http://newportcity.blogspot.com.au/2005/11/paul-flynn-pays-out-36000.html Alt URL]

Flynn was a harsh critic of the War in Afghanistan, and particularly the decision of the Labour government to expand involvement with the Helmand province campaign in 2006.{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/commentators/paul-flynn-weve-wasted-enough-lives-in-this-war-1782114.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220525/https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/commentators/paul-flynn-weve-wasted-enough-lives-in-this-war-1782114.html |archive-date=25 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=We've wasted enough lives in this war |last=Flynn |first=Paul |website=The Independent |date=5 September 2009 |access-date=12 March 2019}} Flynn read out the names of UK military personnel who had died in his commons speeches, and subsequently tabled motions naming all the military casualties so they were listed in Commons papers. After Britain withdrew from Afghanistan, Flynn stated the war, in which 456 British military lost their lives, could be the "worst military blunder in our history since the charge of the Light Brigade", and called for a public inquiry.{{cite news |url=https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/11570401.newport-mp-calls-for-public-inquiry-into-afghanistan-war/ |title=Newport MP calls for public inquiry into Afghanistan war |last=Mills |first=Jen |newspaper=South Wales Argus |date=30 October 2014 |access-date=12 March 2019}}{{cite news |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/afghanistan-campaign-worst-military-blunder-8023778 |title=Afghanistan campaign 'worst military blunder since Charge of the Light Brigade' says Welsh MP |last=Wheeler |first=Richard |newspaper=Wales Online |date=30 October 2014 |access-date=12 March 2019}}

On 18 September 2012, Flynn was suspended from the sittings of the House of Commons for five days and docked a month's wages, after he accused Defence Secretary Philip Hammond of lying to Parliament by saying that military operations in Afghanistan were not reduced following attacks on NATO troops operating as trainers, and subsequently refused to withdraw the allegation when instructed to do so by Speaker John Bercow.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-19636286 |title=Paul Flynn MP thrown out of Commons for lie accusation |publisher=BBC |date=18 September 2012 |access-date=25 January 2014}}{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/labour/9550853/Paul-Flynn-is-thrown-out-of-Commons-for-calling-Philip-Hammond-a-liar.html |title=Paul Flynn is thrown out of Commons for calling Philip Hammond a 'liar' |first=Rosa |last=Prince |newspaper=Daily Telegraph |date=18 September 2012 |access-date=26 January 2014}}{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-19632779 |title=Nato curbs Afghan joint patrols over 'insider' attacks |publisher=BBC |date=18 September 2012 |access-date=25 January 2014}}

In November 2011, Flynn expressed concern that Matthew Gould, the UK's ambassador to Israel, had "proclaimed himself to be a Zionist".Hansard Public Administration Committee 24 November 2011 Martin Bright, writing in The Jewish Chronicle, reported that when challenged, Flynn said that Gould was vulnerable to accusations "of having Jewish loyalty" and that the position should be given to "someone with roots in the UK". Flynn said, "there hasn't been a Jewish ambassador to Israel and I think that is a good decision – to avoid the accusation that they have gone native."{{cite news|last=Bright|first=Martin|url=http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/59300/jewish-envoy-not-loyal-uk-says-labour-mp|title=Jewish envoy not loyal to UK, says Labour MP|work=The Jewish Chronicle|date=1 December 2011|access-date=23 November 2015}} These comments drew criticism from Middle East Minister Alistair Burt, who stated that "Paul Flynn should take some time to consider his comments, which could easily be misconstrued. There is absolutely no reason why our ambassador to Israel should not be Jewish. Any allegations about Matthew Gould's conduct are utterly unsubstantiated. He is a first-class ambassador."

Douglas Alexander, the Shadow Foreign Secretary, also criticised Flynn, stating that "The faith of any British diplomat is irrelevant to their capability to their job. To make suggestions otherwise is wrong and offensive." Labour MP John Mann, chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group Against Antisemitism, stated that Flynn should start preparing for his "retirement" and that "I suggest he starts his retirement with a workers' education course on understanding racism."{{cite news|last=Lipman|first=Jennifer|url=http://thejc.com/news/uk-news/59309/mp-who-questioned-jewish-envoys-loyalty-should-prepare-retire|title=MP who questioned Jewish envoy's loyalty should 'prepare to retire|work=The Jewish Chronicle|date=1 December 2011}} Flynn later apologised for his comments, saying "There is no reason that anyone of any race or religion should be debarred from public office."{{cite news|last=Lipman|first=Jennifer|url=http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/59739/mp-sorry-saying-jewish-envoy-disloyal-uk|title=MP sorry for saying Jewish envoy 'disloyal' to UK|work=The Jewish Chronicle|date=7 December 2011}}

In October 2018, Flynn announced that he would stand down as an MP before the 2019 general election due to his rheumatoid arthritis. He revealed that he was bed-bound and would step down "as soon as possible" but that he was "keen to carry on to represent the city as long as I can. The cost of a by-election is enormous. I want to avoid that if I can." He said that he would "go to the Commons on a stretcher if I have to" to take part in any Brexit deal vote in parliament.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-45975674 |title=Newport West MP Paul Flynn to stand down after 31 years |work=BBC News |date=25 October 2018 |access-date=22 November 2018}} However, he was the only MP (apart from the Speaker, Deputy Speakers, tellers and abstentionist Sinn Féin members) who did not vote in the House of Commons "meaningful vote" on the Brexit withdrawal Agreement on 15 January 2019.{{cite web|url=https://commonsvotes.digiminster.com/Divisions/Details/562#notrecorded|title=European Union (Withdrawal) Act main Motion (Prime Minister) – CommonsVotes|website=commonsvotes.digiminster.com|access-date=15 January 2019|archive-date=16 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190116050335/https://commonsvotes.digiminster.com/Divisions/Details/562#notrecorded|url-status=dead}} He did not formally step down before his death the following month.

Flynn learned Welsh while a pupil at St Illtyd's College and said he fell in love with the language at that time. As a fluent speaker he commented about issues on Welsh-language TV and radio. He was a member of the Gorsedd of Bards. In 1996, he won The Spectator{{'}}s Backbencher of the Year award, and in 1997 wrote a book, Commons Knowledge: How to Be a Backbencher.{{cite web|url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-40643614|title= Obituary: Newport West Labour MP Paul Flynn|work=BBC News|date=18 February 2019|access-date= 18 February 2019}}

Flynn was one of the first MPs to use the Internet to communicate with constituents, and in 2000 won the New Statesman New Media Award for his website, which was voted the best MP's website on many other occasions.{{cite web |url=http://www.bcs.org/content/ConWebDoc/15718 |title=British Computer Society Awards Best MP Websites |publisher=British Computer Society |date=8 November 2007 |access-date=9 September 2013 |archive-date=27 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171127154659/http://www.bcs.org/content/ConWebDoc/15718 |url-status=dead }} He was an early adopter of Hansard CD-ROMs, and wrote a book, Dragons Led by Poodles, about the devolution campaign in Wales in the 1990s, in which he criticised some of his fellow MPs severely.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/447605.stm Dragons and Poodles – a story of Welsh politics] BBC News Wednesday, 15 September 1999

Flynn was chairman of the Broadcasting Council for Wales, and member of the South Wales Docks Board and the Council of University College, Cardiff.{{cite web|url=http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/li/member_of_parliament.in.Newport/ |title=Members Of Parliament in Newport |publisher=South Wales Argus |access-date=9 September 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130719015658/http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/li/member_of_parliament.in.Newport/ |archive-date=19 July 2013 }}

Flynn said that the best description of him was one by the late political sketch-writer Simon Hoggart, who had said he was "the thinking man's Dennis Skinner"; Flynn thought this could be his epitaph.

He was married twice, first to Anne Harvey in 1962, with whom he had two children, a son and a daughter; their daughter died by suicide in 1979, aged 16.{{cite news |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/mps-pain-at-daughter-suicide-2445677 |title=MP's pain at daughter suicide |work=WalesOnline |date=16 March 2004 |access-date=20 February 2019}} The couple divorced in 1984 and the following year he married Samantha Morgan Cumpstone, with whom he had two children.{{cite web|url=http://www.paulflynnmp.co.uk/contact.html|title=Paul, Who?|website=Paul Flynn MP|access-date=3 July 2016}}

In 2007 Flynn suffered a transient ischaemic attack.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2007/nov/21/politicalnews.uk |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |title=MP recovering after mini-stroke |first=Claire |last=Truscott |date=21 November 2007 |access-date=22 May 2010}}

Flynn died in Newport, Wales,{{cite web |title= DOR Q1/2019 in NEWPORT (836-1B) |id= Entry Number 518616843 |url=https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificates/indexes_search.asp#Results |website=GRO Online Indexes |publisher=General Register Office for England and Wales |url-access=registration |access-date=28 October 2022}} on 17 February 2019, eight days after his 84th birthday, after a long illness.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/feb/18/paul-flynn-obituary |title=Paul Flynn obituary |work=The Guardian |first= Julia |last= Langdon |date=18 February 2019 |access-date=21 February 2019|author-link=Julia Langdon }} Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn described him as "an independent thinker who was a credit to the party" and Wales' First Minister Mark Drakeford called him a "giant of the Welsh Labour movement".{{cite news |title=Veteran Labour MP Paul Flynn dies aged 84 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-47274312 |work=BBC News |access-date=18 February 2019 |date=17 February 2019}} Speaking at Prime Minister's Questions on 20 February, Theresa May said of Flynn, "He was an outstanding Parliamentarian, a tireless campaigner and championed his constituency of Newport West and Wales with energy and enthusiasm for over 30 years."{{cite web|url=https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/17447212.theresa-may-leads-tributes-to-paul-flynn/|title=Theresa May leads tributes to Paul Flynn|website=South Wales Argus|date=20 February 2019 |access-date=20 February 2019}} Fellow Labour MP Jo Stevens described Flynn as a "kind, principled, fascinating man".{{cite news |url=https://news.sky.com/story/labour-mp-paul-flynn-dies-local-association-confirms-11640758 |title=Long-standing Labour MP Paul Flynn dies aged 84 |work=Sky news |first= Lewis |last= Goodall |date=18 February 2019 |access-date=20 February 2019}} Constituency neighbour Jessica Morden stated in a blog post, "In his 31 years as Newport West's MP he never let up campaigning against injustice, holding those in authority to account and championing his beloved City. He did this in his own inimitable style with wit, humour and as a passionate Newportonian."{{Cite web|title=Paul Flynn MP (1935–2019)|url=https://www.jessicamorden.com/news/2019/02/18/paul-flynn-mp-1935-2019/|last=Morden|first=Jessica|date=18 February 2019|website=Jessica Morden MP|language=en-GB|access-date=2020-05-22}}

• Television in Wales by Paul Flynn, 1974
• Commons Knowledge: How to Be a Backbencher by Paul Flynn, 1997, Seren Books {{ISBN|1-85411-206-6}}
• Baglu 'Mlaen (Cyfres Y Cewri) by Paul Flynn, 1998, Cyhoeddiadau Mei {{ISBN|0-86074-147-8}}
• Dragons Led by Poodles: Inside Story of a New Labour Stitch Up by Paul Flynn, 1999, Politico's Publishing {{ISBN|1-902301-24-2}}
• The Unusual Suspect by Paul Flynn, 2010, Biteback Publishing {{ISBN|978-1-84954-017-9}}
• How to Be an MP by Paul Flynn, 2012, Biteback Publishing {{ISBN|978-1-84954-220-3}}
• Clockwinder Who Wouldn't Say No: The Life of David Taylor MP, 2012, {{ISBN|978-1-84954-221-0}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

• [http://www.paulflynnmp.co.uk/ Paul Flynn MP official constituency website]
• [http://paulflynnmp.typepad.com/ Paul Flynn's blog]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20140203025440/http://www.welshlabour.org.uk/mps/paul-flynn-mp/ Paul Flynn MP], Welsh Labour Party profile
• [https://archives.parliament.uk/collections/getrecord/GB61_OL Parliamentary Archives, Records of Paul Flynn MP]
• {{UK MP links | parliament = paul-flynn/545 | hansard = mr-paul-flynn | hansardcurr = 3266 | guardian = 1760/paul-flynn | publicwhip = Paul_Flynn | theywork = paul_flynn | record = Paul-Flynn/Newport-West/183 | bbc = 25647.stm | journalisted = paul-flynn }}
• {{C-SPAN|25152}}

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