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Kinnock, Neil Gordon (1942- )

British politician, Leader of the Labour Party (1983-1992). Kinnock was born in Tredegar, south Wales, the son of a miner and steelworker. Educated at Lewis Grammar School and University College, Cardiff, where he studied history and industrial relations, he joined the Workers' Educational Association as a tutor and organizer, and was elected to Parliament for Bedwellty in 1970. On the left wing of the party during the Labour government of Harold Wilson from 1974 to 1976, he voted against an increase in the Civil List, and resigned as parliamentary private secretary to Michael Foot. He refused posts offered by James Callaghan, preferring to cultivate the party's grass roots support. After the Conservative Party's general election victory in 1979 he accepted the position of junior education spokesman in the Shadow Cabinet. He supported Michael Foot, Callaghan's successor, but after the Labour Party's heavy defeat in the 1983 general election Foot resigned, and Kinnock was elected the party's youngest ever leader with 71 per cent of the vote. In 1983 he also changed his constituency from Bedwellty to Islwyn. His victory over the militant left wing helped restore the party's fortunes. Although defeated again, Labour did better in the 1987 election, and by 1992 were ahead in the polls. After an unexpected Conservative election victory in 1992, Kinnock resigned as leader of the Labour Party. In 1994 he was appointed a European Commissioner, with particular responsibility for transport. He resigned from Parliament in January 1995.