Linda Riordan

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Linda Riordan MP
Member of Parliament for Halifax
Incumbent
Assumed office 5 May 2005
Preceded by	Alice Mahon

Born	31 May 1953 (1953-05-31) (age 55) Halifax
Nationality	British
Political party	Labour Co-operative
Alma mater	University of Bradford

Linda Riordan (b. 31 May 1953) is a British Labour and Co-operative politician. She was elected Member of Parliament for Halifax at the 2005 general election.

Riordan was born in Halifax and graduated from the University of Bradford. She was married to Alan Riordan until his death in April 2007.

Riordan, served as a Calderdale councillor for eleven years, representing the Ovenden ward from 1995 to 2006, when she stood down to devote herself full time to her role as an MP. She worked as private secretary for the previous Halifax MP Alice Mahon, and was active in the local Co-operative Party as secretary and treasurer. She was nominated as candidate by the Co-op Party but her candidature was at first opposed by the Party's ruling National Executive Committee. She was later allowed to stand. She is a member of the Socialist Campaign Group and has often rebeled against the Party leadership. Riordan serves on the Environmental Audit Select Committee and the all-Party Crossrail Committee.

On 13 August 2007, it was confirmed that Riordan had been overwhelmingly reselected to fight the next general election, winning the support of every branch and affiliated trades union.