It’s time to raise the level of debate

YESTERDAY’S funeral for Paul Flynn included some well-deserved tributes to the late MP from across the political spectrum.

A by-election campaign is already under way to choose his successor, and it is appropriate to reflect on what Mr Flynn’s career tells us about the kind of MP the constituency he represented for 32 years deserves.

While Mr Flynn was unmistakably a Labour MP, the qualities he had are desirable whatever the political complexion of the new MP.

Perhaps, above all, the greatest quality he had was the determination to speak his mind without fear or favour. When he saw injustice, he would call it out.

Unlike many MPs, he was not a slavish adherent to his own party’s line. During the Blair era, when New Labour control-freakery was at its height, he was disdainful of attempts to get him to put out statements in his own name that had been written by an apparatchik based at party HQ.

In terms of using the internet to propagate political ideas, he was a pioneer. Long before most MPs set up their own websites as a channel for their often unexceptional pronouncements, Mr Flynn established himself as a commentator with flair who was not afraid to satirise the shortcomings of his own party. His blog postings were invariably compelling, whether they related to a topical political issue, an historic anecdote or something happening in his beloved Newport.

Mr Flynn is irreplaceable as an individual, but it is not too much to expect that his successor should also aspire to emulate his forensic ability to scrutinise ministers and other figures of authority.

His performance at Commons committees was frequently dazzling, representing the best possible kind of parliamentary activity.

At a time when the daily horror show of Brexit is bringing British politics into disrepute, it would be good to see candidates in the Newport West by-election doing their best to raise the level of debate to one that Mr Flynn would have been comfortable with.

That would involve refraining from personal attacks, speaking honestly and candidly on the relevant issues and committing themselves to putting the public interest – in the widest sense – first.

If they do so, they will have performed an important service at a time when parliamentary democracy is under more threat than at any time since World War Two.