22 Facts About Melanie Onn

Melanie Onn was born on 19 June 1979 and is a British politician who has been Member of Parliament for Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes since 2024.

Melanie Onn grew up in the town and lived in two housing estates.

At the age of 17, after falling out with her aunt, with whom she had been living, Melanie Onn sought help from Doorstep, a Grimsby-based charity which provides housing support to young people.

Melanie Onn graduated from the University of Middlesex with a degree in politics, international studies, and philosophy.

Melanie Onn worked for 10 years at the Labour Party's head office, becoming the head of the party's Compliance Unit.

Melanie Onn was selected as the Labour candidate for Great Grimsby from an all-women shortlist in July 2014, following the announcement that the sitting MP, Austin Mitchell, would retire at the next election.

Melanie Onn is an advocate of the renewable energy industry and has worked to promote the industry in Grimsby, which Tom Bawden in a 2016 article in The Independent newspaper described as the 'renewable energy capital of England'.

At the final third reading, Melanie Onn voted against the Welfare Reform and Work Bill along with all Labour MPs.

In September 2015, Melanie Onn was appointed Shadow Deputy Leader of the House of Commons, working alongside Shadow Leader Chris Bryant.

Melanie Onn campaigned for Britain to remain in the European Union, despite her constituency voting to leave by one of the largest margins in the country.

Melanie Onn was among many shadow ministers from Labour's frontbench to resign in summer 2016 in opposition to Jeremy Corbyn's leadership.

Melanie Onn supported Owen Smith in the failed attempt to replace Corbyn in the 2016 Labour leadership election.

On 7 September 2016, Melanie Onn introduced a private members' bill to protect workers' rights in British law after Brexit.

Melanie Onn voted for Boris Johnson's Brexit withdrawal agreement in Autumn 2019.

Melanie Onn chaired the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

At the 2019 general election, Melanie Onn stood for re-election and was one of the many Labour MPs to be defeated.

Melanie Onn won 10,819 votes compared with 18,150 votes for the Conservatives.

At the 2024 general election, Melanie Onn was elected as the first MP for the redrawn constituency of Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes, winning with 15,336 votes.

Melanie Onn had a majority of 4,803 over the second place candidate, Oliver Freeston of Reform UK.

Melanie Onn served as deputy chief executive of RenewableUK from February 2020 to January 2023.

Melanie Onn married Christopher Jenkinson, a regional secretary for the trade union, UNISON, in 2014.

Melanie Onn is an Ambassador for the kinship care charity Mentor and a supporter of the Family Rights Group.