Lyn Brown

Lyn Carol Brown (born 13 April 1960) is a British Labour Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for West Ham since 2005. She was a Shadow Minister at the Home Office from September 2015 to 28 June 2016.

Early life and career
Brown was born in London to Joseph and Iris Brown. She was educated at Drew Road Primary School, Silvertown and Plashet Comprehensive School before attending the Whitelands College, Putney (now part of Roehampton University). In 1984 she began work as a social worker for the London Borough of Ealing.

She was elected as a councillor to Newham London Borough Council in 1988. She unsuccessfully contested Wanstead and Woodford at the 1992 general election but was easily beaten by 16,885 votes by the Conservative James Arbuthnot.

Parliamentary career
The former minister and Labour member of parliament for West Ham constituency Tony Banks retired and Lyn Brown was selected to contest the safe Labour seat through an all-women shortlist. Lyn Brown became the seat's MP at the 2005 general election with a majority of 9,801 votes. She made her maiden speech on 23 May 2005.

In 2006, Brown became the Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Communities and Local Government Minister, Phil Woolas. In July 2007 she was appointed Parliamentary Private Secretary to John Denham, Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills.

In June 2009 she was promoted to become an Assistant Government Whip. She remained as a whip, in opposition, following the 2010 general election. At the 2010 election, she retained the seat with a significantly increased majority of 22,534.

In June 2011, Brown was criticised by campaigners for recruiting an unpaid intern whilst also supporting "a living wage for all". Gus Baker of Intern Aware stated Brown had replaced a paid member of staff with an unpaid intern, accusing her of double hypocrisy and noting how such conduct denied opportunities to poorer people such as those from Brown's constituency. Brown stated she "would like to pay everyone" in her office, but "did not have the resources to do so".

In October 2013, Brown became Shadow Minister (Communities and Local Government). In September 2015, she was appointed as a Shadow Home Office Minister by Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, a position from which she resigned on 28 June 2016.

In June 2017, one day before the 2017 general election, Brown temporarily replaced Diane Abbott as Shadow Home Secretary during a period of ill health for Abbott.

Personal life
In May 2008 Brown married John Cullen and exercised her privilege as a member of Parliament to hold the ceremony in the Chapel of St Mary Undercroft in the Palace of Westminster. The ceremony was performed by fellow Labour MP and former vicar Chris Bryant.

Until May 2009, Brown rented a central London flat using the second home allowance, despite her constituency being only a few miles from Westminster.

Brown's hobbies include reading crime fiction and walking.