View source for Caroline Flint

{{short description|British Labour politician (born 1961)}}
{{Distinguish|Carol Flint}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}}
{{Use British English|date=November 2019}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix    = [[The Right Honourable]]
| name                = Caroline Flint
| image               = Official portrait of Caroline Flint crop 2.jpg
| caption             = Official portrait, 2017
| office2             = [[Minister of State for Europe]]
| primeminister2      = [[Gordon Brown]]
| term_start2         = 3 October 2008
| term_end2           = 5 June 2009
| predecessor2        = [[Jim Murphy]]
| successor2          = [[The Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead]]
| office3             = [[Minister of State for Housing and Planning]]
| primeminister3      = [[Gordon Brown]]
| term_start3         = 24 January 2008
| term_end3           = 3 October 2008
| predecessor3        = [[Yvette Cooper]]
| successor3          = [[Margaret Beckett]]
| office4             = [[Minister of State for Employment]]
| primeminister4      = [[Gordon Brown]]
| term_start4         = 28 June 2007
| term_end4           = 24 January 2008
| predecessor4        = [[Jim Murphy]]
| successor4          = [[Stephen Timms]]
| office5             = [[Regional minister#Yorkshire and the Humber|Minister for Yorkshire and the Humber]]
| primeminister5      = [[Gordon Brown]]
| term_start5         = 28 June 2007
| term_end5           = 24 January 2008
| predecessor5        = ''Office established''
| successor5          = [[Rosie Winterton]]
| office6             = [[Minister of State for Public Health]]
| primeminister6      = [[Tony Blair]]
| term_start6         = 10 May 2005
| term_end6           = 28 June 2007
| predecessor6        = [[Melanie Johnson]]
| successor6          = [[Dawn Primarolo]]
| office7             = [[Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Home Affairs]]
| primeminister7      = [[Tony Blair]]
| term_start7         = 13 June 2003
| term_end7           = 10 May 2005
| predecessor7        = [[Geoffrey Filkin, Baron Filkin|The Lord Filkin]]
| successor7          = [[Andy Burnham]]
| office9             = [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]]<br />for [[Don Valley (UK Parliament constituency)|Don Valley]]
| term_start9         = 1 May 1997
| term_end9           = 6 November 2019
| predecessor9        = [[Martin Redmond]]
| successor9          = [[Nick Fletcher (politician)|Nick Fletcher]]
| birth_date          = {{birth date and age|1961|9|20|df=y}}
| birth_place         = [[Twickenham]], [[Middlesex]], England
| party               = [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]
| spouse              = {{marriage|Phil Cole|2001}}
| alma_mater          = [[University of East Anglia]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])
| module              = {{Listen|pos=center|embed=yes|filename=Caroline Flint on offender learning.ogg|title=Caroline Flint's voice|type=speech|description=Flint on the government's offender learning prospectus<br />Recorded 12 March 2008}}
}}
'''Caroline Louise Flint''' (born 20 September 1961) is a British politician who served as [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]] (MP) for [[Don Valley (UK Parliament constituency)|Don Valley]] from 1997 to 2019. A member of the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]], she attended the [[Cabinet of the United Kingdom|Cabinet]] as [[Minister for Housing and Planning]] in 2008 and [[Minister for Europe]] from 2008 to 2009.

One of [[Blair Babe|101 female Labour]] MPs elected at the [[1997 United Kingdom general election|1997 general election]], Flint served in the government of [[Tony Blair]] as a junior [[Home Office]] Minister from 2003 to 2005 and [[Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Primary Care and Public Health|Public Health Minister]] from 2005 to 2007. She remained in government under [[Gordon Brown]] as both [[Minister of State for Employment|Employment Minister]] and a [[Regional Minister]] from 2007 until 2008, when she was promoted to the Cabinet. She resigned in 2009, citing disagreement with the leadership of the Prime Minister.

Flint was [[2010 Labour Party  Shadow Cabinet election|elected to the shadow cabinet]] following Labour's 2010 election defeat, and appointed [[Shadow Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities|Shadow Communities and Local Government Secretary]] by opposition leader [[Ed Miliband]]. She was [[Shadow Secretary of State for Climate Change and Net Zero|Shadow Energy and Climate Change Secretary]] from 2011 to 2015, and finished third-place in the [[2015 Labour Party deputy leadership election|2015 deputy Labour leadership contest]]. Flint returned to the [[backbenches]] in 2015 and was defeated in her seat at the [[2019 United Kingdom general election|2019 general election]].

==Early life and career==
Caroline was born on 20 September 1961 at a home for unmarried mothers in [[Twickenham]], [[Middlesex]]. Her mother, Wendy Beasley, was a typist who gave birth to her at 17-years old.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2009-05-09 |title=Minister for Europe Caroline Flint describes her remarkable rise to power |url=http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2009/may/10/caroline-flint-uk-politics |access-date=2022-07-30 |website=The Guardian |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Turner |first=Janice |title=Caroline Flint: the night I lost my job on live TV |newspaper=[[The Times]] |language=en |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/caroline-flint-the-night-i-lost-my-job-on-live-tv-0btgbc28z |access-date=2022-07-29 |issn=0140-0460}}</ref> Caroline never knew her father's identity, but she was adopted at 2 year-old by TV technician Peter Flint after he married her mother. She grew-up in a one-bedroom flat with her parents and half-brother and sister, but lost contact with Peter after he divorced her mother during her early teens. After becoming a heavy drinker, Wendy died from liver failure at the age of 45.<ref name=":0" />

She was educated at [[Waldegrave School|Twickenham Girls' School]] and [[Richmond Tertiary College]].<ref name="guardianprofile">{{cite news |title=Caroline Flint: Electoral history and profile |work=[[The Guardian]] |location=London |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/person/1753/caroline-flint |url-status=live |access-date=4 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203060331/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/person/1753/caroline-flint |archive-date=3 December 2013}}</ref> Flint earned a [[Bachelor of Arts]] from the [[University of East Anglia]] in American Literature/History with Film Studies.<ref name="guardianarticle">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2008/may/16/1|title=Only Tony Blair himself has purer Blairite credentials ... ambition is the word that crops up most about her work|last=Clark|first=Tom|date=16 May 2008|work=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=4 January 2011|location=London|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150530205059/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2008/may/16/1|archive-date=30 May 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> She joined the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]] in 1979 and served as women's officer for the [[National Organisation of Labour Students]] from 1982 to 1984.<ref name="dlprofile">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/democracylive/hi/representatives/profiles/25645.stm|title=Democracy Live – Caroline Flint MP|work=[[BBC News]]|access-date=4 January 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110412025251/http://news.bbc.co.uk/democracylive/hi/representatives/profiles/25645.stm|archive-date=12 April 2011|url-status=live}}</ref>

Flint began her career at the [[Inner London Education Authority]], where she was management trainee from 1984 to 1985 and policy officer from 1985 to 1987.<ref name="debrett's">{{cite web |url=http://www.debretts.com/people/biographies/browse/f/19479/Caroline%20Louise+FLINT.aspx |title=Debrett's: The Rt Hon Caroline Flint MP |access-date=4 January 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130607204413/http://www.debretts.com/people/biographies/browse/f/19479/Caroline%20Louise%2BFLINT.aspx |archive-date=7 June 2013 }}</ref> She was head of the women's unit at the [[National Union of Students (United Kingdom)|National Union of Students]] from 1988 to 1989. Flint worked at [[Lambeth Council]] as an equal opportunities Officer from 1989 to 1991, and a welfare and staff development officer from 1991 to 1993.<ref name="debrett's" /> She was a senior researcher and political officer for the trade union [[GMB (trade union)|GMB]] from 1994 to 1997.<ref name="debrett's" />

==Parliamentary career==
Flint was elected as [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]] (MP) for [[Don Valley (UK Parliament constituency)|Don Valley]] at the [[1997 United Kingdom general election|1997 general election]].<ref name="dlprofile" /> She was re-elected at the [[2001 United Kingdom general election|2001]], [[2005 United Kingdom general election|2005]], [[2010 United Kingdom general election|2010]], [[2015 United Kingdom general election|2015]] and [[2017 United Kingdom general election|2017 general elections]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=BBC News {{!}} Election 2010 {{!}} Constituency {{!}} Don Valley |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/election2010/results/constituency/b39.stm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190715200146/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/election2010/results/constituency/b39.stm |archive-date=15 July 2019 |access-date=2019-12-14 |website=news.bbc.co.uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Don Valley – 2015 Election Results – General Elections Online |url=https://electionresults.parliament.uk/election/2015-05-07/results/Location/Constituency/Don%20Valley |access-date=2019-12-14 |website=electionresults.parliament.uk}}</ref> She is a member of the [[Fabian Society]] and of [[Labour Friends of Israel]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/anger-grows-within-labour-over-forced-palestinian-vote-9788395.html|title=Anger grows within Labour over forced Palestinian vote|publisher=Independent|date=10 October 2014|access-date=10 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180415021611/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/anger-grows-within-labour-over-forced-palestinian-vote-9788395.html|archive-date=15 April 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lfi.org.uk/in-parliament/|title=LFI Supporters in Parliament|access-date=8 September 2019|work=Labour Friends of Israel|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191002100511/https://www.lfi.org.uk/in-parliament/|archive-date=2 October 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Parliamentary Private Secretary (1999–2003) ===
Flint became [[Parliamentary Private Secretary]] (PPS) to [[Peter Hain]] in 1999, while he was a [[Minister of State]] at the [[Department of Trade and Industry (United Kingdom)|Department of Trade and Industry]] and [[Foreign Office]]. She changes roles to become PPS to [[John Reid, Baron Reid of Cardowan|John Reid]] in 2002, while he served as [[Leader of the House of Commons]] and [[Minister without portfolio (United Kingdom)|Minister without portfolio]].<ref name="dlprofile"/>

=== Junior Minister and Minister (2003–2008) ===
She entered government as a junior minister in June 2003, as a [[Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Home Affairs]]. During her tenure at the [[Home Office]], Flint reclassified [[magic mushrooms]] as a [[Class A drug]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Drugs Bill |url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200405/cmbills/017/2005017.pdf |url-status=live |access-date=12 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121204090939/http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200405/cmbills/017/2005017.pdf |archive-date=4 December 2012}}</ref> She pushed through the bill despite some concerns from Parliamentary colleagues.<ref>{{cite news |last=Honigsbaum |first=Mark |date=16 April 2005 |title=Peers and MPs join furore over 'rushed' ban on magic mushrooms |work=[[The Guardian]] |location=London |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2005/apr/16/drugsandalcohol.immigrationpolicy |url-status=live |access-date=12 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140517182111/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2005/apr/16/drugsandalcohol.immigrationpolicy |archive-date=17 May 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=18 July 2005 |title=Magic mushrooms ban becomes law |work=[[BBC News]] |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4691899.stm |url-status=live |access-date=12 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140517121625/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4691899.stm |archive-date=17 May 2014}}.</ref>

Flint was moved to the [[Public health]] portfolio at the [[Department of Health and Social Care|Department of Health]] in May 2005, initially as a [[Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State]] and as a [[Minister of State]] from May 2006.<ref name="dlprofile" /> As a health minister, she was responsible for government programmes such as the prevention of communicable diseases and [[sex education]]. She oversaw campaigns to tackle issues such as obesity, diabetes, heart disease and cancer.

In the [[2007 Labour Party deputy leadership election|2007 deputy Labour leadership election]], Flint was the campaign manager for cabinet minister [[Hazel Blears]]. Her bid was unsuccessful, and she finished sixth-place in the election.

After [[Gordon Brown]] became Prime Minister, Flint moved to the [[Department for Work and Pensions]] as [[Department for Work and Pensions|Minister for Employment and Welfare Reform]].<ref name="dlprofile" /> She was also appointed to one of the new regional ministerial roles, as Minister for Yorkshire and the Humber.<ref name="dlprofile" />

=== Cabinet Minister (2008–2009) ===
In January 2008, Flint was promoted to attend the [[Cabinet of the United Kingdom]] as [[Minister of State for Housing and Planning]]. She was also appointed to the [[Privy Council (United Kingdom)|Privy Council]].<ref name="dlprofile" /> During her tenure in the role, Flint suggested unemployed council tenants should "actively seek work" as a condition of their occupancy.<ref>{{cite news|author= Wintour, Patrick|author-link = Patrick Wintour|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2008/feb/05/uk.topstories3 |title=Labour: if you want a council house, find a job|work=[[The Guardian]]|date= 5 February 2009|access-date = 10 October 2021}}</ref> She once inadvertently revealed house price forecasts when her briefing papers were visible to the press.<ref>.{{cite news| url = https://www.theguardian.com/money/2008/may/14/houseprices.property| title = Minister reveals housing fears in briefing gaffe|author= Wintour, Patrick|author-link = Patrick Wintour| work = [[The Guardian]]| date = 14 May 2008| access-date = 27 March 2019}}</ref>

Flint moved roles to become [[Minister of State for Europe]] in the October 2008 government reshuffle. Although remaining a Cabinet attendee, she was now only entitled to attend when her brief was on the agenda.<ref name="guardianprofile" /> Flint notably oversaw the implementation of the [[Lisbon Treaty]] into UK law in her role, and was criticised for admitting to not fully reading the document.<ref>{{cite news
 |url          = https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/5084584/Caroline-Flint-Europe-minister-hasnt-read-Lisbon-Treaty.html
 |title        = Caroline Flint, Europe minister, hasn't read Lisbon Treaty
 |author       = Rosa Prince
 |work         = Daily Telegraph
 |date         = 31 March 2009
 |location     = London
 |access-date  = 2 April 2018
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20100712182633/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/5084584/Caroline-Flint-Europe-minister-hasnt-read-Lisbon-Treaty.html
 |archive-date = 12 July 2010
 |url-status   = dead
}}</ref>

She resigned from government after the June 2009 reshuffle, asserting that Brown ran a "two-tier government" and treated her as "female window dressing".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.scotsman.com/politics/39Just-female-window-dressing39-.5340489.jp|title='Just female window dressing' – Full text of Caroline Flint's resignation letter|publisher=The Scotsman|access-date=5 June 2009|date=5 June 2009|location=Edinburgh|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090608151647/http://news.scotsman.com/politics/39Just-female-window-dressing39-.5340489.jp|archive-date=8 June 2009|url-status=live}}</ref> Flint renewed her attack on Brown in a subsequent ''[[The Observer|Observer]]'' article, complaining of "constant pressure" and "negative bullying".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2009/jun/07/caroline-flint-gordon-brown-resignation|title="Angry Flint in fresh attack on Brown" The Observer|publisher=Guardian|access-date=7 June 2009|first=Gaby|last=Hinsliff|date=7 June 2009|location=London|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130906181809/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2009/jun/07/caroline-flint-gordon-brown-resignation|archive-date=6 September 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>

In an investigation following the [[2009 expenses scandal]], she was required to repay £572 in over-claimed expenses.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8493634.stm | work=BBC News | title=Full list of MPs' expenses repayments | date=4 February 2010 | access-date=16 October 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150410113940/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8493634.stm | archive-date=10 April 2015 | url-status=live }}</ref> Flint voted in-favour of legislation which would have kept MPs' expense details secret.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bremner |first1=Charles |last2=Robertson |first2=David |date=20 May 2007 |title=How your MP voted on the FOI Bill |work=[[The Times]] |location=London |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article1816072.ece |url-status=dead |access-date=9 October 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090508020947/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article1816072.ece |archive-date=8 May 2009}}</ref>

=== Shadow Cabinet Minister and Deputy Leadership (2010–2015) ===
[[File:Redhill Holy Trinity Church Hall - Mar 2012 - Caroline Flint MP with Rhys.jpg|left|thumb|233x233px|Flint in 2012]]
Following Labour's defeat at the [[2010 United Kingdom general election|2010 general election]], Flint was [[2010 Labour Party Shadow Cabinet election|elected to the shadow cabinet]] in October 2010. She was appointed [[Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government]] by party leader [[Ed Miliband]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Flint gets CLG role in shadow cabinet |url=https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/news/flint-gets-clg-role-in-shadow-cabinet-23111 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191214223354/https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/news/flint-gets-clg-role-in-shadow-cabinet-23111 |archive-date=14 December 2019 |access-date=2019-12-14 |website=Inside Housing |language=En}}</ref> and reshuffled to [[Shadow Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change]] in October 2011. Flint abstained on the 2011 Commons vote on [[military intervention in Libya]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2011-03-22 |title=The full list of how MPs voted on Libya action |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-12816279 |access-date=2022-06-02}}</ref>

Following the [[2015 United Kingdom general election|2015 general election]], she stood as a candidate in the [[2015 Labour Party deputy leadership election|deputy Labour leadership election]]. Seen as an early front-runner, she gained 43 MP nominations but finished third-place.<ref>{{cite web |date=17 June 2015 |title=Yorkshire MP makes final five in fight to be Labour's deputy leader |url=http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/main-topics/politics/yorkshire-mp-makes-final-five-in-fight-to-be-labour-s-deputy-leader-1-7314172 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150725115217/http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/main-topics/politics/yorkshire-mp-makes-final-five-in-fight-to-be-labour-s-deputy-leader-1-7314172 |archive-date=25 July 2015 |access-date=30 July 2015 |work=[[Yorkshire Post]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Bush |first=Stephen |date=16 May 2015 |title=Caroline Flint launches bid for Labour's deputy leadership |work=[[New Statesman]] |url=http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2015/05/caroline-flint-launches-bid-labours-deputy-leadership |url-status=live |access-date=30 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150909231127/http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2015/05/caroline-flint-launches-bid-labours-deputy-leadership |archive-date=9 September 2015}}</ref>

=== Return to Backbenches (2015–2019) ===
In the [[List of MPs elected in the 2015 United Kingdom general election|2015 Parliament]], Flint was a member of the [[Public Accounts Committee (United Kingdom)|Public Accounts Committee]], [[Intelligence and Security Committee]], [[Administration Committee]], Education Sub-Committee, Education and Employment Committee, and Modernisation of the Commons Committee.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.parliament.uk/biographies/commons/caroline-flint/389|title=Caroline Flint MP|publisher=[[GOV.UK]]|access-date=29 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181029232433/https://www.parliament.uk/biographies/commons/caroline-flint/389|archive-date=29 October 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

She campaigned for Remain during the [[2016 EU referendum]], in opposition to her leave-voting constituency.<ref>{{Citation|title=Caroline Flint on Staying In the EU| date=27 May 2016 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJ9IK8BCdnE|language=en|access-date=2019-12-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170617044629/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJ9IK8BCdnE|archive-date=17 June 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.carolineflint.org/i_love_britain_we_re_stronger_in_the_eu|title=Caroline Flint says: "I Love Britain. I'm voting to REMAIN in the EU."|website=Caroline Flint|access-date=14 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191214223343/http://www.carolineflint.org/i_love_britain_we_re_stronger_in_the_eu|archive-date=14 December 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> Following the vote, Flint called for acceptance of the result to "allow the voices of her constituents to be heard".<ref name="editor">{{Cite news |last=Pidd |first=Helen |date=20 October 2019 |title='She has listened to us': constituents back Labour rebel Caroline Flint |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/oct/20/she-has-listened-to-us-constituents-back-labour-rebel-caroline-flint |url-status=live |access-date=14 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191210023322/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/oct/20/she-has-listened-to-us-constituents-back-labour-rebel-caroline-flint |archive-date=10 December 2019 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> She supported [[Owen Smith]] in the failed attempt to replace [[Jeremy Corbyn]] in the subsequent [[2016 Labour Party leadership election (UK)|Labour leadership election]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://labourlist.org/2016/07/which-mps-and-meps-have-nominated-owen-smith/|title=Full list of MPs and MEPs backing challenger Owen Smith|date=21 July 2016|website=LabourList|access-date=15 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190715214543/https://labourlist.org/2016/07/which-mps-and-meps-have-nominated-owen-smith/|archive-date=15 July 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

Flint was a frequent rebel against the Labour leadership's Brexit position, defying the party whip on several votes to support the government and oppose pro-EU bills and amendments.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Walker |first=Peter |date=11 September 2017 |title=Former Europe minister Caroline Flint to defy Labour whips on EU bill |language=en-GB |work=[[The Guardian]] |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/sep/11/former-europe-minister-caroline-flint-to-defy-labour-whips-on-eu-bill |url-status=live |access-date=14 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191214223330/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/sep/11/former-europe-minister-caroline-flint-to-defy-labour-whips-on-eu-bill |archive-date=14 December 2019 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=23 June 2019 |title=Labour MP Caroline Flint says she would vote to help Boris Johnson pass a Brexit deal |url=https://www.politicshome.com/news/uk/foreign-affairs/brexit/news/104771/labour-mp-caroline-flint-says-she-would-vote-help-boris |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190624160630/https://www.politicshome.com/news/uk/foreign-affairs/brexit/news/104771/labour-mp-caroline-flint-says-she-would-vote-help-boris |archive-date=24 June 2019 |access-date=2019-12-14 |website=PoliticsHome.com |language=en}}</ref> She was one of six Labour MPs to vote in favour of Prime Minister [[Boris Johnson]]'s [[Brexit withdrawal agreement]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Helm |first=Toby |date=19 October 2019 |title=Johnson 'faces fresh court action' after urging rejection of Brexit delay |work=[[The Guardian]] |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/oct/19/humiliated-boris-johnson-under-huge-pressure-to-seek-brexit-delay |url-status=live |access-date=20 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191020005323/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/oct/19/humiliated-boris-johnson-under-huge-pressure-to-seek-brexit-delay |archive-date=20 October 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |date=26 October 2019 |title=Caroline Flint: why I'm backing this Brexit deal |url=https://www.spectator.co.uk/2019/10/the-labour-renegade/ |url-status=live |language=en-US |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191214223334/https://www.spectator.co.uk/2019/10/the-labour-renegade/ |archive-date=14 December 2019 |access-date=2019-12-14 |magazine=[[The Spectator]]}}</ref><ref name="editor" />

Following flooding in her constituency in [[2019–20 United Kingdom floods|November 2019]], she called on the Prime Minister to declare a national emergency to provide financial help to affected families.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/flood-warnings-remain-in-place-as-corbyn-visits-deluged-community-38676208.html|title=Flood warnings remain in place as Corbyn visits deluged community|work= [[Belfast Telegraph]]|access-date=14 December 2019|language=en-GB|issn=0307-1235|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191214223335/https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/flood-warnings-remain-in-place-as-corbyn-visits-deluged-community-38676208.html|archive-date=14 December 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/latest-news/jeremy-corbyn-calls-for-south-yorkshire-floods-to-be-declared-a-national-emergency-1-10095236|title=Jeremy Corbyn calls for South Yorkshire floods to be declared a national emergency|last=Hayes|first=Dan|date=9 November 2019|website=Yorkshire Post|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191214223341/https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/latest-news/jeremy-corbyn-calls-for-south-yorkshire-floods-to-be-declared-a-national-emergency-1-10095236|archive-date=14 December 2019}}</ref>

Flint lost her seat at the [[2019 United Kingdom general election|2019 general election]] to [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] candidate [[Nick Fletcher (politician)|Nick Fletcher]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk/news/politics/don-valley-labours-caroline-flint-loses-seat-after-22-years-conservatives-1340210|title=DON VALLEY: Labour's Caroline Flint loses seat after 22 years to the Conservatives|website=www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk|language=en|access-date=2019-12-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191214223339/https://www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk/news/politics/don-valley-labours-caroline-flint-loses-seat-after-22-years-conservatives-1340210|archive-date=14 December 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> She attributed the defeat to Corbyn's leadership,<ref name="news.sky.com">{{Cite web |date=14 December 2019 |title=Caroline Flint loses seat and asks: 'What is the point of the Labour Party?' |url=https://news.sky.com/video/caroline-flint-loses-seat-and-asks-what-is-the-point-of-the-labour-party-11885177 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191214223330/https://news.sky.com/video/caroline-flint-loses-seat-and-asks-what-is-the-point-of-the-labour-party-11885177 |archive-date=14 December 2019 |access-date=14 December 2019 |website=Sky News |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/politics/caroline-flint-tears-into-jeremy-corbyn-after-losing-her-doncaster-seat-to-conservative-party-1-10151926|title=Caroline Flint tears into Jeremy Corbyn after losing her Doncaster seat to Conservative Party|website=www.yorkshirepost.co.uk|language=en|access-date=2019-12-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191214010905/https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/politics/caroline-flint-tears-into-jeremy-corbyn-after-losing-her-doncaster-seat-to-conservative-party-1-10151926|archive-date=14 December 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> criticising the party for losing public trust and being too city-centric and anti-Brexit.<ref>{{Cite web |title='I'm sorry we didn't give you a Labour party you could trust' – Caroline Flint in parting shot to Jeremy Corbyn as she loses Don Valley to Conservatives |url=https://www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk/news/politics/im-sorry-we-didnt-give-you-labour-party-you-could-trust-caroline-flint-parting-shot-jeremy-corbyn-she-loses-don-valley-conservatives-1340247 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191214223337/https://www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk/news/politics/im-sorry-we-didnt-give-you-labour-party-you-could-trust-caroline-flint-parting-shot-jeremy-corbyn-she-loses-don-valley-conservatives-1340247 |archive-date=14 December 2019 |access-date=2019-12-14 |website=www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk |language=en}}</ref> In a later interview, she claimed that shadow cabinet minister [[Emily Thornberry]] had called northern Brexit voters "stupid".<ref name="yorkshirepost.co.uk">{{Cite web |title=Caroline Flint 'stands by' comments about Emily Thornberry as Shadow Foreign Secretary threatens her with court action |url=https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/politics/caroline-flint-stands-by-comments-about-emily-thornberry-as-shadow-foreign-secretary-threatens-her-with-court-action-1-10155887 |access-date=2020-01-07 |work=The Yorkshire Post |language=en}}</ref> Thornberry denied the allegation and threatened legal action against Flint.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Emily Thornberry accuses Caroline Flint of 'making up s***' about her and says she is taking legal action |url=https://www.itv.com/news/2019-12-15/thornberry-criticises-total-and-utter-lie-shared-by-labour-colleague/ |access-date=2020-01-07 |website=ITV News |language=en}}</ref> Following her election defeat, she was described by Prime Minister [[Boris Johnson]] as "first-rate" and mentioned by Cabinet Minister [[Michael Gove]] as the Labour Leader he would have feared most.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Johnson |first=Boris |title=Boris Johnson: Perhaps my campaign was 'clunking'. But sometimes, clunking is what you need {{!}} The Spectator |url=https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/boris-johnson-perhaps-my-campaign-was-clunking-but-sometimes-clunking-is-what-you-need |access-date=2022-07-29 |website=www.spectator.co.uk |date=18 December 2019 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Hewitt |first=Daniel |date=December 17, 2019 |title=I asked Michael Gove who he most fears as leader of the Labour Party. |url=https://twitter.com/DanielHewittITV/status/1206874528393187330}}</ref>

==Post-parliamentary career==
Flint was appointed to chair the [[Humber Teaching NHS Foundation Trust]] in May 2021 and [[Committee on Fuel Poverty]] in January 2022.<ref>{{cite news |date=11 May 2021 |title=Ex-health minister to chair trust |publisher=Health Service Journal |url=https://www.hsj.co.uk/workforce/ex-health-minister-to-chair-trust/7030055.article |access-date=4 July 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Caroline Flint appointed Chair of the Committee on Fuel Poverty |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/caroline-flint-appointed-chair-of-the-committee-on-fuel-poverty |access-date=2022-07-29 |website=GOV.UK |language=en}}</ref>

She made several appearances on [[GB News]] from August 2021,<ref>{{Cite web|author=News Desk|title=Esther McVey and Caroline Flint discuss 'fast fashion' in the UK|work=The Global Herald|url=https://theglobalherald.com/news/esther-mcvey-and-caroline-flint-discuss-fast-fashion-in-the-uk/|date=14 August 2021|access-date=20 November 2021|language=en-US}}</ref> but ceased to appear several months later.<ref>An episode in November of the ''For the Many Podcast'' with [[Iain Dale]] and [[Jacqui Smith]]</ref>

==Personal life==
Flint's first marriage was to Saief Zammel, a Tunisian stockbroker, with whom she had a son, Karim, and daughter, [[Hanna Flint|Hanna]].<ref name="Fairford">{{cite news |last=Fairford |first=Lucy |date=10 May 2009 |title=Sexism, motherhood, ambition – and looking good. By the Europe minister |newspaper=[[The Observer]] |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2009/may/10/caroline-flint-interview-europe-minister |url-status=live |access-date=5 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170205185706/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2009/may/10/caroline-flint-interview-europe-minister |archive-date=5 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="Leach">{{cite news |last1=Leach |first1=Ben |last2=Lefort |first2=Rebecca |date=10 July 2010 |title=MP's scandals covered up on Wikipedia |work=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/7883064/MPs-scandals-covered-up-on-Wikipedia.html |url-status=dead |access-date=5 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110127054658/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/7883064/MPs-scandals-covered-up-on-Wikipedia.html |archive-date=27 January 2011}}</ref> In 1990, she divorced Zammel, who was charged with violent disorder and later deported from England after an incident involving her.<ref name="Langley">{{cite news |last=Langley |first=William |date=18 May 2008 |title=An all-too-revealing peek at the briefs of Caroline Flint |work=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/personal-view/3558457/An-all-too-revealing-peek-at-the-briefs-of-Caroline-Flint.html |url-status=live |access-date=5 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170205184918/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/personal-view/3558457/An-all-too-revealing-peek-at-the-briefs-of-Caroline-Flint.html |archive-date=5 February 2017}}</ref>

She remarried to Phil Cole, a [[public relations|PR]] professional and former Labour Party officer, in July 2001. Flint later employed him as her constituency office manager, and he has been a Member of [[Doncaster Council]] since 2012.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Caroline Flint {{!}} IPSA |url=https://www.theipsa.org.uk/ |access-date=2022-06-14 |website=Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=29 June 2015 |title=One in five MPs employs a family member: the full list revealed |work=The Daily Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/mps-expenses/11706561/One-in-four-MPs-employs-a-family-member-the-full-list-revealed.html |url-status=live |access-date=29 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170402065627/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/mps-expenses/11706561/One-in-four-MPs-employs-a-family-member-the-full-list-revealed.html |archive-date=2 April 2017}}</ref> They reside in [[Sprotbrough]], South Yorkshire.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://doncaster.moderngov.co.uk/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=157 |title=Sprotbrough |access-date=31 May 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160609233644/http://doncaster.moderngov.co.uk/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=157 |archive-date=9 June 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=About Caroline|url=http://carolineflintdonvalley.com/about-caroline|access-date=30 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111214084051/http://www.carolineflintdonvalley.com/about-caroline|archive-date=14 December 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Along with several other Labour women MPs, she was a member of a [[tap dancing]] troupe known as the Division Belles.<ref name="times 18 nov">{{cite news |last=Crompton |first=Simon |date=18 November 2006 |title=The nation's top nanny |work=[[The Times]] |location=London |url=http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/families/article639007.ece |url-status=dead |access-date=4 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615172906/http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/families/article639007.ece |archive-date=15 June 2011}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{UK MP links | parliament = caroline-flint/389 | hansard = ms-caroline-flint | hansardcurr = 3261 | guardian = 1753/caroline-flint | publicwhip = Caroline_Flint | theywork = caroline_flint | record = Caroline-Flint/Don-Valley/182 | bbc = 25645.stm | journalisted = caroline-flint }}
* {{Twitter | id= carolineflintmp | name= Caroline Flint }}
*[https://www.theguardian.com/profile/caroline-flint Caroline Flint] on [[The Guardian]]
*{{C-SPAN|83882}}

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{{Labour Party deputy leadership election, 2015}}
{{Ministers for Europe}}
{{Brown Cabinet}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Flint, Caroline}}
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